Meeting Gokhale

I must skip many of the recollections of South Africa.

I must leave out many of my memories of South Africa.

At the conclusion of the Satyagraha struggle in 1914, I received Gokhale’s instructions to return home via London. So in July Kasturbai, Kallenbach and I sailed for England.

At the end of the Satyagraha struggle in 1914, Gokhale told me to return home by way of London. So in July, Kasturbai, Kallenbach, and I sailed for England.

During Satyagraha I had begun travelling third class. I therefore took third class passages for this voyage. But there was a good deal of difference between third class accommodation on the boat on this route and that provided on Indian coastal boats or railway trains. There is hardly sufficient sitting, much less sleeping, accommodation in the Indian service, and little cleanliness. During the voyage to London, on the other hand, there was enough room, and equal cleanliness, and the steamship company had provided special facilities for us. The company had provided reserved closet accommodation for us, and as we were fruitarians, the steward had orders to supply us with fruits and nuts. As a rule third class passengers get little fruit or nuts. These facilities made our eighteen days on the boat quite comfortable.

During Satyagraha, I had begun traveling third class. So I bought third-class tickets for this voyage. But third-class accommodation on this route was quite different from that on Indian coastal boats or trains. On Indian boats and trains, there is hardly enough room to sit, much less sleep, and little cleanliness. On the voyage to London, however, there was enough room, and it was equally clean. The steamship company had also made special arrangements for us. It had reserved a toilet for us, and since we were fruitarians, the steward had orders to supply us with fruit and nuts. Third-class passengers usually get little fruit or nuts. These arrangements made our eighteen days on the boat quite comfortable.

Some of the incidents during the voyage are well worth recording. Mr. Kallenbach was very fond of binoculars, and had one or two costly pairs. We had daily discussions over one of these. I tried to impress on him that this possession was not in keeping with the ideal of simplicity that we aspired to reach. Our discussions came to a head one day, as we were standing near the porthole of our cabin.

Some incidents during the voyage are worth recording. Mr. Kallenbach was very fond of binoculars and had one or two expensive pairs. We discussed one of these pairs every day. I tried to impress on him that owning it did not fit the ideal of simplicity we hoped to achieve. Our discussions came to a head one day as we stood near the porthole of our cabin.

‘Rather than allow these to be a bone of contention between us, why not throw them into the sea, and be done with them?’ said I.

‘Rather than let these cause an argument between us, why not throw them into the sea and be done with them?’ I said.

‘Certainly throw the wretched things away,’ said Kallenbach.

‘Of course, throw those awful things away,’ said Kallenbach.

‘I mean it,’ said I.

‘I mean it,’ I said.

‘So do I,’ quickly came the reply.

‘So do I,’ came the quick reply.

And forthwith I flung them into the sea. They were worth some £7, but their value lay less in their price than in Mr. Kallenbach’s infatuation for them. But having got rid of them he never regretted it.

And I immediately threw them into the sea. They were worth about £7, but their value lay less in their price than in Mr. Kallenbach’s attachment to them. But once he had gotten rid of them, he never regretted it.

This is but one out of the many incidents that happened between Mr. Kallenbach and me.

This is just one of the many incidents that happened between Mr. Kallenbach and me.

Every day we had to learn something new in this way, for both of us were trying to tread the path of Truth. In the march towards Truth, anger, selfishness, hatred, etc., naturally give way, for otherwise Truth would be impossible to attain. A man who is swayed by passions may have good enough intentions, may be truthful in word, but he will never find the Truth. A successful search for Truth means complete deliverance from the dual throng such as of love and hate, happiness and misery.

Every day we had to learn something new in this way, because both of us were trying to follow the path of Truth. As we move toward Truth, anger, selfishness, hatred, and the like naturally fall away. Otherwise, Truth would be impossible to attain. A person ruled by passions may have good intentions and may speak truthfully, but will never find the Truth. A successful search for Truth means complete freedom from opposing feelings such as love and hate, happiness and misery.

Not much time had elapsed since my fast when we started on our voyage. I had not regained my normal strength. I used to stroll on deck to get a little exercise, so as to revive my appetite and digest what I ate. But even this exercise was beyond me, causing pain in the calves, so much so that on reaching London I found that I was worse rather than better. There I came to know Dr. Jivraj Mehta. I gave him the history of my fast and subsequent pain, and he said, ‘If you do not take complete rest for a few days, there is a fear of your legs going out of use.’

Not long after my fast, we set out on our voyage. I had not regained my normal strength. I used to walk on deck for a little exercise, to improve my appetite and digest my food. But even this was too much for me. It caused pain in my calves, and by the time I reached London, I was worse rather than better. There I met Dr. Jivraj Mehta. I told him about my fast and the pain that followed. He said, ‘If you do not rest completely for a few days, you may lose the use of your legs.’

It was then that I learnt that a man emerging from a long fast should not be in a hurry to regain lost strength, and should also put a curb on his appetite. More caution and perhaps more restraint are necessary in breaking a fast than in keeping it.

It was then that I learned that a man coming out of a long fast should not rush to regain his strength. He should also keep his appetite in check. Breaking a fast requires more caution, and perhaps more restraint, than keeping it.

In Madeira we heard that the great War might break out at any moment. As we entered the English Channel we received the news of its actual outbreak, and we were stopped for some time. It was a difficult business to tow the boat through the submarine mines which had been laid throughout the Channel, and it took about two days to reach Southampton.

In Madeira, we heard that the Great War might break out at any moment. As we entered the English Channel, we learned that the war had begun, and we were stopped for some time. Towing the boat through the submarine mines laid throughout the Channel was difficult. It took about two days to reach Southampton.

War was declared on the 4th of August. We reached London on the 6th.

War was declared on August 4. We arrived in London on August 6.