The First Experience

Before I reached home, the party which had started from Phœnix had already arrived. According to our original plan I was to have preceded them, but my preoccupation in England with the War had upset all our calculations, and when I saw that I had to be detained in England indefinitely I was faced with the question of finding a place for accommodating the Phœnix party. I wanted them all to stay together in India, if possible, and to live the life they had led at Phœnix. I did not know of any Ashram where I could recommend them to go, and therefore I cabled to them to meet Mr. Andrews and do as he advised.

Before I reached home, the group from Phœnix had already arrived. Our original plan was for me to arrive before them. But my involvement with the War in England had upset all our plans. When I realized I would have to remain in England indefinitely, I had to find a place for the Phœnix group to stay. I wanted them all to stay together in India, if possible, and live as they had at Phœnix. I did not know of any Ashram I could recommend to them. So I sent them a telegram telling them to meet Mr. Andrews and follow his advice.

So they were first put in the Gurukul, Kangri, where the late Swami Shraddhanandji treated them as his own children. After this they were put in the Shantiniketan Ashram, where the Poet and his people showered the same love upon them. The experiences they gathered at both these places served them and me in good stead.

So they were first sent to Gurukul, Kangri. There, the late Swami Shraddhanandji treated them as his own children. After this, they were sent to Shantiniketan Ashram, where the Poet and his people showed them the same love. Their experiences at both places benefited them and me.

The Poet, Shraddhanandji and Principal Sushil Rudra, as I used to say to Andrews, composed his trinity. When in South Africa he was never tired of speaking of them, and of the many sweet memories of South Africa, Mr. Andrews’ talks, day in and day out, of this great trinity, are amongst the sweetest and most vivid. Mr. Andrews therefore put the Phœnix party in touch also with Sushil Rudra. Principal Rudra had no Ashram, but he had a home which he placed completely at the disposal of the Phœnix family. Within a day of their arrival, his people made them feel so thoroughly at home that they did not seem to miss Phœnix at all.

As I used to tell Andrews, the Poet, Shraddhanandji and Principal Sushil Rudra made up his trinity. In South Africa, he never tired of speaking about them. Among my many sweet memories of South Africa, Mr. Andrews’ daily talks about this great trinity are among the sweetest and most vivid. Mr. Andrews therefore also put the Phœnix party in touch with Sushil Rudra. Principal Rudra had no Ashram, but he offered the Phœnix family full use of his home. Within a day of their arrival, his household made them feel so welcome that they did not seem to miss Phœnix at all.

It was only when I landed in Bombay that I learnt that the Phœnix party was at Shantiniketan. I was therefore impatient to meet them as soon as I could after my meeting with Gokhale.

Only when I landed in Bombay did I learn that the Phœnix party was at Shantiniketan. So I was eager to meet them as soon as I could after meeting Gokhale.

The receptions in Bombay gave me an occasion for offering what might be called a little Satyagraha.

The receptions in Bombay gave me a chance to practice what might be called a little Satyagraha.

At the party given in my honour, at Mr. Jehangir Petit’s place, I did not dare to speak in Gujarati. In those palatial surroundings of dazzling splendour I, who had lived my best life among indentured labourers, felt myself a complete rustic. With my Kathiawadi cloak, turban and dhoti, I looked somewhat more civilised than I do today, but the pomp and splendour of Mr. Petit’s mansion made me feel absolutely out of my element. However I acquitted myself tolerably well, having taken shelter under Sir Phirozeshah’s protecting wing. Then there was the Gujarati function. The Gujaratis would not let me go without a reception, which was organised by the late Uttamlal Trivedi. I had acquainted myself with the programme beforehand. Mr. Jinnah was present, being a Gujarati, I forget whether as president or as the principal speaker. He made a short and sweet little speech in English. As far as I remember most of the other speeches were also in English. When my turn came, I expressed my thanks in Gujarati, explaining my partiality for Gujarati and Hindustani, and entering my humble protest against the use of English in a Gujarati gathering. This I did, not without some hesitation, for I was afraid lest it should be considered discourteous for an inexperienced man, returned home after a long exile, to enter his protest against established practices. But no one seemed to misundertand my insistence on replying in Gujarati. In fact I was glad to note that every one seemed reconciled to my protest.

At the party given in my honour at Mr. Jehangir Petit’s home, I did not dare speak Gujarati. I had spent the best part of my life among indentured labourers. In those palace-like surroundings, with their dazzling splendour, I felt like a complete country bumpkin. In my Kathiawadi cloak, turban and dhoti, I looked somewhat more civilised than I do today. But the pomp and splendour of Mr. Petit’s mansion made me feel completely out of place. Still, I managed reasonably well under Sir Phirozeshah’s protective wing. Then there was the Gujarati gathering. The Gujaratis would not let me leave without a reception, which was organised by the late Uttamlal Trivedi. I had read the programme beforehand. Mr. Jinnah was there, being a Gujarati, though I forget whether he was the chairman or the principal speaker. He gave a short and sweet speech in English. As far as I remember, most of the other speeches were also in English. When my turn came, I gave my thanks in Gujarati. I explained my preference for Gujarati and Hindustani and humbly protested against using English at a Gujarati gathering. I hesitated before doing so. I feared that my protest against established practices might seem discourteous. After all, I was an inexperienced man who had returned home after a long exile. But no one seemed to misunderstand my insistence on replying in Gujarati. In fact, I was glad to see that everyone seemed to accept my protest.

The meeting thus emboldened me to think that I should not find it difficult to place my new-fangled notions before my countrymen.

The meeting encouraged me to think that I would have little trouble presenting my new ideas to my fellow countrymen.

After a brief stay in Bombay, full of these preliminary experiences, I went to Poona where Gokhale had summoned me.

After a short stay in Bombay, where I had these early experiences, I went to Poona. Gokhale had called me there.