Gandhi was back in India after
twelve long years.
A great reception awaited him in
Bombay. Gandhi was overwhelmed by the great love shown to him by the people. Gokhale
was in Poona (now Pune) and he was in poor health, so Gandhi went to see him.
He was received with great affection. Gandhi told Gokhale that his plan was to
build an ashram where he could settle down with his Phoenix family. They had
already reached India and were at satiniketan. Gokhale approved of the idea and
promised whatever help he could give.
Gandhi went to Rajkot and Porbandar
to meet his relatives and then went on to Santiniketan. The teachers and
students gave him a warm welcome. There Gandhi met Tagore for the first time
and also C.F. Andrews who was visiting Santiniketan.
During his short stay at
Santiniketan Gandhi heard the sad news that Gokhale had passed away. He
immediately left for Poona. C.F. Andrews accompanied him as far as Burdwan.
“Do you think,” Andrews asked
Gandhi,” that a time will come for Satyagraha in India? If so, how soon will it
be?
“It is difficult to say” replied
Gandhi,” For one year I am to do nothing. Gokhal made promise that I would
travel in India for one year to gain experience and that I would express no
opinion until I had finished this period of probation. So I do not think here
will be any occasion for Satyagraha for five years.”
After attending the shraddha
ceremony of Gokhale, Gandhi met the leaders of the Servants of India Society. Out
of respect for Gokhale Gandhi would have joined the Society, but there was
opposition from a certain section of the members.
Gandhi visited Rangoon (now
yangoon) for a short period and on his return he went to Hardwar during the
time of the Kumbha Fair. About seventeen hundred thousand people attended the
Fair. Volunteer corps from different organizations had gone to Hardwar to be of
service to the big crowds that was flowing in. Gandhi was invited to go there
with the Phoenix party to help the volunteers. The phoenix group went there and
Gandhi joined them. Gandhi was pained at the many happenings and shortcomings
at the great religious fair. There was corruption, cheating and many other
anti-social activities. Scant care was taken about sanitary arrangements.
All this made Gandhi feel very
sad./ He thought a great deal about the problem of how to improve the Indian
character.
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