With Gokhale in Poona

The moment I reached Bombay Gokhale sent me word that the Governor was desirous of seeing me, and that it might be proper for me to respond before I left for Poona. Accordingly I called on His Excellency. After the usual inquiries, he said:

As soon as I reached Bombay, Gokhale sent word that the Governor wanted to see me. He suggested that I should meet the Governor before leaving for Poona. So I visited the Governor. After the usual inquiries, he said:

‘I ask one thing of you. I would like you to come and see me whenever you propose to take any steps concerning Government.’

‘I ask one thing of you. Please come and see me whenever you plan to take any action concerning the Government.’

I replied:

I replied:

‘I can very easily give the promise, inasmuch as it is my rule, as a Satyagrahi, to understand the viewpoint of the party I propose to deal with, and to try to agree with him as far as may be possible. I strictly observed the rule in South Africa and I mean to do the same here.’

‘I can easily make that promise. As a Satyagrahi, I make it a rule to understand the viewpoint of the person I intend to deal with. I also try to agree with him as far as possible. I strictly followed this rule in South Africa, and I intend to do the same here.’

Lord Willingdon thanked me and said:

Lord Willingdon thanked me and said:

‘You may come to me whenever you like, and you will see that my Government do not wilfully do anything wrong.’

‘You can come to me whenever you like, and you will see that my government does not deliberately do anything wrong.’

To which I replied: ‘It is that faith which sustains me.’

I replied: ‘That faith is what keeps me going.’

After this I went to Poona. It is impossible for me to set down all the reminiscences of this precious time. Gokhale, and the members of the Servants of India Society overwhelmed me with affection. So far as I recollect, Gokhale had summoned all of them to meet me. I had a frank talk with them all on every sort of subject.

After this I went to Poona. I cannot write down all my memories of that precious time. Gokhale and the members of the Servants of India Society overwhelmed me with affection. As far as I remember, Gokhale had asked all the members to meet me. I spoke openly with them all about every kind of subject.

Gokhale was very keen that I should join the Society, and so was I. But the members felt that as there was a great difference between my ideals and methods of work, and theirs, it might not be proper for me to join the Society. Gokhale believed, that in spite of my insistence on my own principles, I was equally ready and able to tolerate theirs.

Gokhale was very eager for me to join the Society, and so was I. But the members felt that my ideals and methods of work were very different from theirs. For that reason, they thought it might not be right for me to join the Society. Gokhale believed that although I insisted on my own principles, I was equally willing and able to tolerate theirs.

‘But,’ he said, ‘the members of the Society have not yet understood your readiness for compromise. They are tenacious of their principles, and quite independent. I am hoping that they will accept you, but if they don’t, you will not for a moment think that they are lacking in respect or love for you. They are hesitating to take any risk, lest their high regard for you should be jeopardized. But whether you are formally admitted as a member or not, I am going to look upon you as one.’

‘But,’ he said, ‘the members of the Society do not yet understand how willing you are to compromise. They hold firmly to their principles and are quite independent. I hope they will accept you. But if they don’t, please don’t think for a moment that they lack respect or love for you. They hesitate to take any risk that might put their high regard for you in danger. But whether you are formally admitted as a member or not, I will consider you one.’

I informed Gokhale of my intentions. Whether I was admitted as a member or not, I wanted to have an Ashram where I could settle down with my Phœnix family, preferably somewhere in Gujarat, as, being a Gujarati, I thought I was best fitted to serve the country through serving Gujarat. Gokhale liked the idea. He said: ‘You should certainly do so. Whatever may be the result of your talks with the members, you must look to me for the expenses of the Ashram which I will regard as my own.’

I told Gokhale about my plans. Whether or not I was admitted as a member, I wanted an Ashram where I could settle with my Phœnix family. I preferred somewhere in Gujarat because, as a Gujarati, I thought I could best serve the country by serving Gujarat. Gokhale liked the idea. He said: ‘You should certainly do that. Whatever comes of your talks with the members, you must rely on me to cover the Ashram’s expenses. I will regard the Ashram as my own.’

My heart overflowed with joy. It was a pleasure to feel free from the responsibility of raising funds, and to realise that I should not be obliged to set about the work all on my own, but that I should be able to count on a sure guide whenever I was in difficulty. This took a great load off my mind.

My heart overflowed with joy. I was glad to be free from the responsibility of raising funds. I was also glad that I would not have to take on the work all by myself. I could count on a reliable guide whenever I ran into difficulty. All this took a great weight off my mind.

So the late Dr. Dev was summoned and told to open an account for me in the Society’s books and to give me whatever I might require for the Ashram and for public expenses.

So the late Dr. Dev was called in and told to open an account for me in the Society’s records. He was also told to give me whatever I needed for the Ashram and public expenses.

I now prepared to go to Shantiniketan. On the eve of my departure Gokhale arranged a party of selected friends, taking good care to order refreshments of my liking, i. e., fruits and nuts. The party was held just a few paces from his room, and yet he was hardly in a condition to walk across and attend it. But his affection for me got the better of him and he insisted on coming. He came, but fainted and had to be carried away. Such fainting was not a new thing with him, and so when he came to, he sent word that we must go on with the party.

I now prepared to go to Shantiniketan. The night before I left, Gokhale arranged a party for a select group of friends. He took care to order refreshments I liked, that is, fruits and nuts. The party was held only a few steps from his room. Yet he was hardly well enough to walk over and attend. But his affection for me overcame him, and he insisted on coming. He came, but fainted and had to be carried away. This was not the first time he had fainted. So when he regained consciousness, he sent word that we should continue the party.

This party was of course no more than a conversazione in the open space opposite the Society’s guest-house, during which friends had heart to heart chats over light refreshments of groundnuts, dates and fresh fruits of the season.

Of course, the party was just a gathering in the open space opposite the Society’s guesthouse. Friends had heart-to-heart chats over light refreshments of peanuts, dates, and fresh seasonal fruit.

But the fainting fit was to be no common event in my life.

But this fainting spell would be no ordinary event in my life.