After South Africa mission

Gandhi now felt that his mission in South Africa was over and he wanted to return to India.

At that time Gopal Krishna Gokhale was in England. He wanted Gandhi to meet him in London before returning to India. Gandhi promised to do so.

Gandhi announced his decision to Kasturbai.

“You are going to London with me, “he said. “ From England we will go back to India.”

Gandhi, with kasturbai and kallenbach, sailed for England on July 18, 1914 .On August 4, two days before he reached London, the First World War was declared.

Gandhi in London

   On landing at Southampton he looked around. He saw that all the people were in dark clothes, wearing bowler hats and carrying overcoats flung over their arms. Mohandas was embarrassed to find that he was the only one wearing white flannels.

In London he stayed at first at the Victoria Hotel. Dr. P. J.Mehta, a friend of the Gandhi family, was the first to meet him. Mohandas was impressed with Dr. Mehta’s silk top hat. Mohandas was impressed with Dr. Mehta’s silk top hat. Out of curiosity, he passed his hand over it and disturbed the pile of the silk. Dr. Mehta then gave him his first lesson in European manners.