Gokhale’s Generosity

I have already referred to the attack of pleurisy I had in England. Gokhale returned to London soon after. Kallenbach and I used regularly to go to him. Our talks were mostly about the War, and as Kallenbach had the geography of Germany at his finger tips, and had travelled much in Europe, he used to show him on the map the various places in connection with the War.

I have already mentioned the attack of pleurisy I had in England. Gokhale returned to London soon afterward. Kallenbach and I visited him regularly. Our talks were mostly about the War. Kallenbach knew the geography of Germany very well and had traveled widely in Europe. He would show Gokhale the various places connected with the War on a map.

When I got pleurisy this also became a topic of daily discussion. My dietetic experiments were going on even then. My diet consisted, among other things, of groundnuts, ripe and unripe bananas, lemon, olive oil, tomatoes and grapes. I completely eschewed milk, cereals, pulses and other things.

When I got pleurisy, it too became a topic of daily discussion. I was still experimenting with my diet. Among other things, I ate peanuts, ripe and unripe bananas, lemon, olive oil, tomatoes, and grapes. I completely avoided milk, grains, pulses, and other foods.

Dr. Jivraj Mehta treated me. He pressed me hard to resume milk and cereals, but I was obdurate. The matter reached Gokhale’s ears. He had not much regard for my reasoning in favour of a fruitarian diet, and he wanted me to take whatever the doctor prescribed for my health.

Dr. Jivraj Mehta treated me. He urged me to start taking milk and cereals again, but I refused. Gokhale heard about it. He did not think much of my reasons for eating only fruit. He wanted me to take whatever the doctor prescribed for my health.

It was no easy thing for me not to yield to Gokhale’s pressure. When he would not take a refusal, I begged him to give me twenty four hours for thinking over the question. As Kallenbach and I returned home that evening, we discussed where my duty lay. He had been with me in my experiment. He liked it, but I saw that he was agreeable to my giving it up if my health demanded it. So I had to decide for myself according to the dictates of the inner voice.

It was not easy for me to resist Gokhale’s pressure. When he would not accept my refusal, I begged him to give me twenty-four hours to think it over. As Kallenbach and I returned home that evening, we discussed what my duty was. He had taken part in my experiment and liked it. But I saw that he was willing to let me give it up if my health required it. So I had to decide for myself, following my inner voice.

I spent the whole night thinking over the matter. To give up the experiment would mean renouncing all my ideas in that direction, and yet I found no flaw in them. The question was how far I should yield to Gokhale’s loving pressure, and how far I might modify my experiment in the so-called interests of health. I finally decided to adhere to the experiment in so far as the motive behind was chiefly religious, and to yield to the doctor’s advice where the motive was mixed. Religious considerations had been predominant in the giving up of milk. I had before me a picture of the wicked processes the govals in Calcutta adopted to extract the last drop of milk from their cows and buffaloes. I also had the feeling that just as meat was not man’s food, even so animal’s milk could not be man’s food. So I got up in the morning with the determination to adhere to my resolve to abstain from milk. This greatly relieved me. I dreaded to approach Gokhale, but I trusted him to respect my decision.

I spent the whole night thinking about the matter. Giving up the experiment would mean abandoning all my ideas in that direction, yet I could find no flaw in them. The question was how much I should yield to Gokhale’s loving pressure. I also wondered how much I could change my experiment in the so-called interests of health. Finally, I decided to continue the experiment where my motive was chiefly religious. Where my motives were mixed, I would follow the doctor’s advice. Religious considerations had been the main reason I gave up milk. I pictured the cruel methods the govals in Calcutta used to get the last drop of milk from their cows and buffaloes. I also felt that animal milk was not food for humans, just as meat was not. So I got up in the morning determined to keep my resolve to abstain from milk. This decision brought me great relief. I dreaded approaching Gokhale, but I trusted him to respect my decision.

In the evening Kallenbach and I called on Gokhale at the National Liberal Club. The first question he asked me was: ‘Well, have you decided to accept the doctor’s advice?’

That evening, Kallenbach and I visited Gokhale at the National Liberal Club. His first question was: ‘Well, have you decided to follow the doctor’s advice?’

I gently but firmly replied: ‘I am willing to yield on all points except one about which I beg you not to press me. I will not take milk, milk-products or meat. If not to take these things should mean my death, I feel I had better face it.’

I replied gently but firmly: ‘I am willing to give way on everything except one point. Please do not press me on it. I will not have milk, milk products or meat. If going without these things means I will die, I feel I would rather face death.’

‘Is this your final decision?’ asked Gokhale.

‘Is this your final decision?’ asked Gokhale.

‘I am afraid I cannot decide otherwise,’ said I. ‘I know that my decision will pain you, but I beg your forgiveness.’

‘I’m afraid I can’t make a different decision,’ I said. ‘I know my decision will hurt you, but please forgive me.’

With a certain amount of pain but with deep affection, Gokhale said: ‘I do not approve of your decision. I do not see any religion in it. But I won’t press you any more.’ With these words he turned to Dr. Jivraj Mehta and said: ‘Please don’t worry him any more. Prescribe anything you like within the limit he has set for himself.’

With some pain but deep affection, Gokhale said: ‘I don’t approve of your decision. I don’t see anything religious in it. But I won’t press you any further.’ He then turned to Dr. Jivraj Mehta and said: ‘Please don’t trouble him any further. Prescribe whatever you like within the limit he has set for himself.’

The doctor expressed dissent but was helpless. He advised me to take mung soup, with a dash of asafoetida in it. To this I agreed. I took it for a day or two, but it increased my pain. As I did not find it suitable, I went back to fruits and nuts. The doctor of course went on with his external treatment. The latter somewhat relieved my pain, but my restrictions were to him a sore handicap.

The doctor disagreed but could do nothing. He advised me to have mung soup with a little asafoetida in it. I agreed. I had the soup for a day or two, but it made my pain worse. Since it did not suit me, I went back to fruits and nuts. The doctor, of course, continued treating me externally. That treatment eased my pain somewhat, but my restrictions made his work much harder.

Meanwhile Gokhale left for home, as he could not stand the October fogs of London.

Meanwhile, Gokhale left for home because he could not stand the October fogs in London.