My Role in the War

On arrival in England I learnt that Gokhale had been stranded in Paris where he had gone for reasons of health, and as communication between Paris and London had been cut off, there was no knowing when he would return. I did not want to go home without having seen him, but no one could say definitely when he would arrive.

When I arrived in England, I learned that Gokhale was stranded in Paris, where he had gone for his health. Communication between Paris and London had been cut off, so there was no way to know when he would return. I did not want to go home without seeing him, but no one could say for certain when he would arrive.

What then was I to do in the meanwhile? What was my duty as regards the War? Sorabji Adajania, my comrade in jail and a Satyagrahi, was then reading for the bar in London. As one of the best Satyagrahis he had been sent to England to qualify himself as а barrister, so that he might take my place on return to South Africa. Dr. Pranjivandas Mehta was finding his expenses. With him, and through him, I had conferences with Dr. Jivraj Mehta and others who were prosecuting their studies in England. In consultation with them, a meeting of the Indian residents in Great Britain and Ireland was called. I placed my views before them.

What was I to do in the meantime? What was my duty regarding the War? Sorabji Adajania, my fellow prisoner and a Satyagrahi, was then studying law in London. He was one of the best Satyagrahis and had been sent to England to qualify as a barrister. The plan was for him to take my place when he returned to South Africa. Dr. Pranjivandas Mehta was paying his expenses. I met with Sorabji and, through him, with Dr. Jivraj Mehta and others studying in England. After consulting with them, we called a meeting of Indian residents in Great Britain and Ireland. I presented my views to them.

I felt that Indians residing in England ought to do their bit in the War. English students had volunteered to serve in the army, and Indians might do no less. A number of objections were taken to this line of argument. There was, it was contended, a world of difference between the Indians and the English. We were slaves and they were masters. How could a slave cooperate with the master in the hour of the latter’s need? Was it not the duty of the slave, seeking to be free, to make the master’s need his opportunity? This argument failed to appeal to me then. I knew the difference of status between an Indian and an Englishman, but I did not believe that we had been quite reduced to slavery. I felt then that it was more the fault of individual British officials than of the British system, and that we could convert them by love. If we would improve our status through the help and cooperation of the British, it was our duty to win their help by standing by them in their hour of need. Though the system was faulty, it did not seem to me to be intolerable, as it does today. But if having lost my faith in the system, I refuse to cooperate with the British Government today, how could those friends then do so, having lost their faith not only in the system but in the officials as well?

I felt that Indians living in England should do their part in the War. English students had volunteered for the army, and Indians should do no less. Many people objected to this argument. They said there was a world of difference between Indians and the English. We were slaves, and they were masters. How could a slave cooperate with a master in the master’s hour of need? Was it not the duty of a slave seeking freedom to use the master’s need as an opportunity? That argument did not appeal to me then. I knew that Indians and Englishmen had different statuses, but I did not believe we had been reduced to slavery. At the time, I felt that individual British officials were more at fault than the British system. I also felt that we could change the officials through love. If we wanted to improve our status with British help and cooperation, it was our duty to earn their help. We had to stand by them in their hour of need. Though the system was flawed, it did not seem intolerable to me then, as it does today. I have now lost faith in the system and refuse to cooperate with the British Government. So how could I have expected those friends to cooperate then? They had lost faith not only in the system but also in the officials.

The opposing friends felt that that was the hour for making a bold declaration of the Indian demands and for improving the Indians’ status.

The friends who disagreed felt it was time to boldly declare the Indians’ demands and improve their status.

I thought that England’s need should not be turned into our opportunity, and that it was more becoming and farsighted not to press our demands while the War lasted. I therefore adhered to my advice and invited those who would to enlist as volunteers. There was a good response, practically all the provinces and all the religions being represented among the volunteers.

I believed we should not turn England’s need into an opportunity for ourselves. I thought it was more appropriate and farsighted not to press our demands while the War lasted. So I stood by my advice and invited anyone willing to enlist as a volunteer. Many responded. Nearly all the provinces and all the religions were represented among the volunteers.

I wrote a letter to Lord Crewe, acquainting him with these facts, and expressing our readiness to be trained for ambulance work, if that should be considered as a condition precedent to the acceptance of our offer.

I wrote to Lord Crewe about these facts. I said we were ready to train for ambulance work if that was required for our offer to be accepted.

Lord Crewe accepted the offer after some hesitation, and thanked us for having tendered our services to the Empire at that critical hour.

After some hesitation, Lord Crewe accepted the offer. He thanked us for offering our services to the Empire at that critical time.

The volunteers began their preliminary training in first aid to the wounded under the well-known Dr. Cantlie. It was a short course of six weeks, but it covered the whole course of first aid.

The volunteers began their initial first aid training under the well-known Dr. Cantlie. The course lasted only six weeks, but it covered all of first aid.

We were a class of about 80. In six weeks we were examined, and all except one passed. For these the Government now provided military drill and other training. Colonel Baker was placed in charge of this work.

Our class had about 80 people. After six weeks, we took an exam, and all but one passed. The Government then provided military drills and other training for those who passed. Colonel Baker was put in charge of this training.

London in these days was a sight worth seeing. There was no panic, but all were busy helping to the best of their ability. Able-bodied adults began training as combatants, but what were the old, the infirm and the women to do? There was enough work for them, if they wanted. So they employed themselves in cutting and making clothes and dressings for the wounded.

London was a sight worth seeing in those days. There was no panic, but everyone was busy helping as best they could. Able-bodied adults began training to fight, but what could older people, those in poor health, and women do? There was plenty of work for them if they wanted it. So they set about cutting and making clothes and dressings for the wounded.

The Lyceum, a ladies’ club, undertook to make as many clothes for the soldiers as they could. Shrimati Sarojini Naidu was a member of this club, and she threw herself whole-heartedly into the work. This was my first acquaintance with her. She placed before me a heap of clothes which had been cut to pattern, and asked me to get them all sewn up and return them to her. I welcomed her demand and with the assistance of friends got as many clothes made as I could manage during my training for first aid.

The Lyceum, a women’s club, took on the task of making as many clothes for the soldiers as possible. Shrimati Sarojini Naidu was a member of the club, and she devoted herself wholeheartedly to the work. This was when I first met her. She gave me a pile of clothes that had been cut from patterns. She asked me to have them all sewn and returned to her. I welcomed her request. With help from friends, I had as many clothes made as I could manage while training in first aid.