On the Anvil

The Ashram had been in existence only a few months when we were put to a test, such as I had scarcely expected. I received a letter from Amritlal Thakkar to this effect: ‘A humble and honest untouchable family is desirous of joining your Ashram. Will you accept them?’

The Ashram had existed for only a few months when we faced a test I had hardly expected. I received a letter from Amritlal Thakkar saying: ‘A humble and honest untouchable family wants to join your Ashram. Will you accept them?’

I was perturbed. I had never expected, that an untouchable family, with an introduction from no less a man than Thakkar Bapa, would so soon be seeking admission to the Ashram. I shared the letter with my companions. They welcomed it.

I was troubled. I had never expected an untouchable family to seek admission to the Ashram so soon. And they had a letter of introduction from none other than Thakkar Bapa. I shared the letter with my companions. They welcomed the request.

I wrote to Amritlal Thakkar expressing our willingness to accept the family, provided all the members were ready to abide by the rules of the Ashram.

I wrote to Amritlal Thakkar to say we were willing to accept the family if all its members were ready to follow the Ashram’s rules.

The family consisted of Dudabhai, his wife Danibehn and their daughter Lakshmi, then a mere toddling babe. Dudabhai had been a teacher in Bombay. They all agreed to abide by the rules and were accepted.

The family consisted of Dudabhai, his wife Danibehn, and their daughter Lakshmi, who was just a toddler. Dudabhai had been a teacher in Bombay. They all agreed to follow the rules and were accepted.

But their admission created a flutter amongst the friends who had been helping the Ashram. The very first difficulty was found with regard to the use of the well, which was partly controlled by the owner of the bungalow. The man in charge of the water-lift objected that drops of water from our bucket would pollute him. So he took to swearing at us, and molesting Dudabhai. I told every one to put up with the abuse and continue drawing water at all cost. When he saw that we did not return his abuse, the man became ashamed and ceased to bother us.

But admitting them caused concern among the friends who had been helping the Ashram. The first difficulty was over the use of the well, which was partly controlled by the bungalow’s owner. The man in charge of the water-lift objected that drops from our bucket would pollute him. So he began swearing at us and harassing Dudabhai. I told everyone to put up with the abuse and keep drawing water at all costs. When the man saw that we did not swear back at him, he became ashamed and stopped bothering us.

All monetary help however was stopped. The friend, who had asked that question about an untouchable being able to follow the rules of the Ashram, had never expected that any such would be forthcoming.

However, all financial help stopped. The friend who had asked whether an untouchable could follow the Ashram's rules had never expected one to come forward.

With the stopping of monetary help came rumours of proposed social boycott. We were prepared for all this. I had told my companions, that if we were boycotted, and denied the usual facilities, we would not leave Ahmedabad. We would rather go and stay in the untouchables’ quarter and live on whatever we could get by manual labour.

When the financial support stopped, rumors began to spread that we might face a social boycott. We were prepared for all of this. I had told my companions that we would not leave Ahmedabad if we were boycotted and denied the usual facilities. Instead, we would move to the untouchables’ quarter and live on whatever we could earn through manual labor.

Matters came to such a pass that Maganlal Gandhi one day gave me this notice: ‘We are out of funds, and there is nothing for the next month.’

Things reached a point where Maganlal Gandhi told me one day: ‘We are out of funds, and there is nothing for next month.’

I quietly replied: ‘Then we shall go to the untouchables’ quarter.’

I quietly replied: ‘Then we will go to the untouchables’ neighborhood.’

This was not the first time I had been faced with such a trial. On all such occasions God has sent help at the last moment. One morning, shortly after Maganlal had given me warning of our monetary plight, one of the children came and said that a Sheth was waiting in a car outside, and that he wanted to see me. I went out to him. ‘I want to give the Ashram some help. Will you accept it?’ he asked.

This was not the first time I had faced such a trial. On all such occasions, God has sent help at the last moment. One morning, shortly after Maganlal had warned me about our financial troubles, one of the children came to me. The child said that a Sheth was waiting in a car outside and wanted to see me. I went out to him. ‘I want to give the Ashram some help. Will you accept it?’ he asked.

‘Most certainly,’ said I. ‘And I confess I am at the present moment at the end of my resources.’

‘Certainly,’ I said. ‘And I admit that I have run out of resources for now.’

‘I shall come tomorrow at this time,’ he said. ‘Will you be here?’

‘I’ll come tomorrow at this time,’ he said. ‘Will you be here?’

‘Yes,’ said I, and he left.

‘Yes,’ I said, and he left.

Next day, exactly at the appointed hour, the car drew up near our quarters, and the horn was blown. The children came with the news. The Sheth did not come in. I went out to see him. He placed in my hands currency notes of the value of Rs. 13,000, and drove away.

The next day, the car pulled up near our quarters at exactly the appointed time, and the horn sounded. The children came to tell us. The Sheth did not come in. I went out to see him. He handed me currency notes worth Rs. 13,000 and drove away.

I had never expected this help, and what a novel way of rendering it! The gentleman had never before visited the Ashram. So far as I can remember I had met him only once. No visit, no enquiries, simply rendering help and going away! This was a unique experience for me. The help deferred the exodus to the untouchables’ quarter. We now felt quite safe for a year.

I had never expected this help, and what an unusual way to offer it! The gentleman had never visited the Ashram before. As far as I can remember, I had met him only once. No visit, no questions, just help, and then he went away! This was a unique experience for me. The help postponed our move to the untouchables’ quarter. We now felt quite secure for a year.

Just as there was a storm outside, so was there a storm in the Ashram itself. Though in South Africa untouchable friends used to come to my place and live and feed with me, my wife and other women did not seem quite to relish the admission into the Ashram of the untouchable friends. My eyes and ears easily detected their indifference, if not their dislike, towards Danibehn. The monetary difficulty had caused me no anxiety, but this internal storm was more than I could bear. Danibehn was an ordinary woman. Dudabhai was a man with slight education but of good understanding. I liked his patience. Sometimes he did flare up, but on the whole I was well impressed with his forbearance. I pleaded with him to swallow minor insults. He not only agreed but prevailed upon his wife to do likewise.

Just as there was a storm outside, there was a storm within the Ashram. In South Africa, untouchable friends had come to my home to live and eat with me. Even so, my wife and the other women did not seem entirely happy about admitting untouchable friends to the Ashram. I could easily see and hear their indifference, if not their dislike, toward Danibehn. The financial difficulty had not worried me, but this storm within the Ashram was more than I could bear. Danibehn was an ordinary woman. Dudabhai had little education but understood things well. I liked his patience. He sometimes lost his temper, but on the whole I was impressed by his restraint. I pleaded with him to put up with minor insults. He not only agreed but persuaded his wife to do the same.

The admission of this family proved a valuable lesson to the Ashram. In the very beginning we proclaimed to the world that the Ashram would not countenance untouchability. Those who wanted to help the Ashram were thus put on their guard, and the work of the Ashram in this direction was considerably simplified. The fact, that it is mostly the real orthodox Hindus who have met the daily growing expenses of the Ashram, is perhaps a clear indication that untouchability is shaken to its foundation. There are indeed many other proofs of this, but the fact that good Hindus do not scruple to help an Ashram where we go the length of dining with the untouchables is no small proof.

Admitting this family taught the Ashram a valuable lesson. From the very beginning, we announced to the world that the Ashram would not tolerate untouchability. Those who wanted to help the Ashram were therefore forewarned. This made the Ashram’s work against untouchability much easier. The Ashram’s expenses grow daily, and they have been met mostly by truly orthodox Hindus. This is perhaps a clear sign that untouchability has been shaken to its foundations. There are indeed many other signs of this. But it is no small proof that good Hindus have no hesitation in helping an Ashram where we even dine with untouchables.

I am sorry that I should have to skip over quite a number of things pertaining to this subject, how we tackled delicate questions arising out of the main question, how we had to overcome some unexpected difficulties, and various other matters which are quite relevant to a description of experiments with Truth. The chapters that follow will also suffer from the same drawback. I shall have to omit important details, because most of the characters in the drama are still alive, and it is not proper without permission to use their names in connection with events with which they are concerned. It is hardly practicable to obtain their consent or to get them every now and then to revise the chapters concerning themselves. Besides, such procedure is outside the limit of this autobiography. I therefore fear, that the rest of the story, valuable as it is in my opinion to seekers after Truth, will be told with inevitable omissions. Nevertheless, it is my desire and hope, God willing, to bring this narrative down to the days of Non-co-operation.

I am sorry that I must leave out quite a number of things related to this subject. These include how we dealt with delicate questions arising from the main issue and overcame some unexpected difficulties. They also include various other matters that are quite relevant to an account of experiments with Truth. The chapters that follow will have the same drawback. I must leave out important details because most of the people involved are still alive. It would not be proper to use their names in connection with events involving them without their permission. It is hardly practical to obtain their consent or ask them to review the chapters about themselves from time to time. Besides, that process is beyond the scope of this autobiography. I therefore fear that the rest of the story will have unavoidable omissions. Yet, in my opinion, it is valuable to seekers after Truth. Nevertheless, I wish and hope, God willing, to carry this narrative through to the days of Non-co-operation.