Heading Home

Mr. Kallenbach had accompanied me to England, with a view to going to India. We were staying together, and of course wanted to sail by the same boat. Germans however were under such strict surveillance that we had our doubts about Mr. Kallenbach getting a passport. I did my best to get it and Mr. Roberts, who was in favour of his getting his passport, sent a cable to the Viceroy in this behalf. But straight came Lord Hardinge’s reply: ‘Regret Government of India not prepared to take any such risk.’ All of us understood the force of the reply.

Mr. Kallenbach had come with me to England, intending to go on to India. We were staying together and, of course, wanted to sail on the same ship. But Germans were under such close surveillance that we doubted whether Mr. Kallenbach could get a passport. I did my best to obtain one for him. Mr. Roberts supported his request and sent a cable to the Viceroy on his behalf. But Lord Hardinge replied at once: ‘Regret Government of India not prepared to take any such risk.’ We all understood the force of his reply.

It was a great wrench for me to part from Mr. Kallenbach, but I could see that his pang was greater. Could he have come to India, he would have been leading today the simple happy life of a farmer and weaver. Now he is in South Africa leading his old life and doing brisk business as an architect.

It was very painful for me to part from Mr. Kallenbach, but I could see that it was even more painful for him. If he could have come to India, he would be living the simple, happy life of a farmer and weaver today. Instead, he is in South Africa, living as he did before and doing brisk business as an architect.

We wanted a third class passage, but as there was none available on P. and O. boats, we had to go second.

We wanted to travel third class, but P. and O. boats had no third class. So we had to travel second class.

We took with us the dried fruit we had carried from South Africa, as most of it would not be procurable on the boat where fresh fruit was easily available.

We took the dried fruit we had brought from South Africa. Most of it would not be available on the boat, though fresh fruit was easy to get there.

Dr. Jivraj Mehta had bandaged my ribs with ‘Mede’s Plaster’ and had asked me not to remove it till we reached the Red Sea. For two days I put up with the discomfort, but finally it became too much for me. It was with considerable difficulty that I managed to undo the plaster and regain the liberty of having a proper wash and bath.

Dr. Jivraj Mehta had bandaged my ribs with ‘Mede’s Plaster’ and told me not to remove it until we reached the Red Sea. I put up with the discomfort for two days, but finally it became too much. With considerable difficulty, I managed to remove the plaster and was free to wash and bathe properly again.

My diet consisted mostly of nuts and fruits. I found that I was improving every day and felt very much better by the time we entered the Suez Canal. I was weak, but felt entirely out of danger, and I gradually went on increasing my exercise. The improvement I attributed largely to the pure air of the temperate zone.

My diet was mostly nuts and fruits. I found that I was improving every day. By the time we entered the Suez Canal, I felt much better. I was weak, but I felt completely out of danger, and I gradually increased my exercise. I believed that my improvement was largely due to the pure air of the temperate zone.

Whether it was due to past experience or to any other reason, I do not know, but the kind of distance I noticed between the English and Indian passengers on the boat was something I had not observed even on my voyage from South Africa. I did talk to a few Englishmen, but the talk was mostly formal. There were hardly any cordial conversations such as had certainly taken place on the South African boats. The reason for this was, I think, to be found in the conscious or unconscious feeling at the back of the Englishman’s mind that he belonged to the ruling race, and the feeling at the back of the Indian’s mind that he belonged to the subject race.

I do not know whether it was because of past experience or something else. But I noticed a distance between the English and Indian passengers on the boat. I had not seen anything like it even on my voyage from South Africa. I did talk to a few Englishmen, but our conversations were mostly formal. There were hardly any friendly conversations, such as I had certainly had on the South African boats. I think the reason lay in a feeling, conscious or unconscious, in the Englishman’s mind that he belonged to the ruling race. The Indian, in turn, felt that he belonged to the subject race.

I was eager to reach home and get free from this atmosphere.

I was eager to get home and escape this atmosphere.

On arriving at Aden we already began to feel somewhat at home. We knew the Adenwallas very well, having met Mr. Kekobad Kavasji Dinshaw in Durban and come in close contact with him and his wife.

When we arrived in Aden, we already felt somewhat at home. We knew the Adenwallas very well. We had met Mr. Kekobad Kavasji Dinshaw in Durban and had become close to him and his wife.

A few days more and we reached Bombay. It was such a joy to get back to the homeland after an exile of ten years.

A few days later, we reached Bombay. I was so happy to return to my homeland after ten years in exile.

Gokhale had inspired a reception for me in Bombay, where he had come in spite of his delicate health. I had approached India in the ardent hope of merging myself in him, and thereby feeling free. But fate had willed it otherwise.

Gokhale had arranged a reception for me in Bombay. He had come there despite his fragile health. As I approached India, I eagerly hoped to lose myself in his work and so feel free. But fate had other plans.