Gandhi decided to stay in Transvaal

Gandhi kept his promise. He reached Natal in time to lead the Indian deputation, but Joseph Chamberlain gave the deputation a cold reception. The Indians felt disheartened. From Natal, Chamberlain proceeded to the Transvaal. The Indians there also wanted Gandhi to present their grievances to him.

Before the Boer war, Indians had been free to enter the Transvaal at any time, but now they had to obtain a permit from the newly –created Asiatic Department. The new rule was designed to separate Indians from the whites. To get a permit was no easy matter.

The officers of the Asiatic Department did their best to prevent Gandhi from entering the Transvaal but he had his way in the end. He got a permit and went to Pretoria. But he was not allowed to lead a deputation and present the memorandum he had drafted.

Gandhi now decided to stay in the Transvaal and fight the colour bar which was taking an ugly shape there. He realized that now he would not be able to leave the country as he had hoped to do. He, therefore, settled down and prepared to do his utmost for the cause of the colored people. Particularly his country men.

He was enrolled in the Supreme Court at Johannesburg. He rented a place and established his office. He made good earnings from his practice, but his heart was in the service of the people.

Meanwhile, he continued his experiments with vegetarianism. He gave up all luxuries and pleasures. His idea was to tune his physical body to his spiritual self.

It was at his time that a friend, Madanjit, came to Gandhi with a proposal to start a journal called Indian Opinion. Gandhi liked the idea and in 1904 the journal was launched. Mansukhlal Naazar was the editor. Gandhi helped the journal generously, contributing money from his own earnings. He also organized the work and wrote the editorial column. The Journal, published every week in Gujarati and English reflected his ideals and gave the Indian readers a liberal education. With absolute frankness Gandhi pointed out to them their failings and prejudices. Indian Opinion also gave the Europeans a correct picture of the difficulties faced by the Indians in South Africa.

After the rains in 1904 there was a sudden outbreak of plague in one of the gold-mining areas near Johannesburg. It soon spread to the Indian quarters. Gandhi rushed to the spot and organized preventive measures. With the help of friends, he set up improvised hospitals and looked after the sick.