Hermann kallenbach, a white farmer,
was so impressed with the peaceful way of life at phoenix that he offered
Gandhi his own big farm near. Johannesburg to start another colony. He
suggested that all those who had lost their jobs and homes by their participation
in the Satyagraha could be settled there.
The new colony was established in
1910 and named “Tolstoy Farm’, after the Great Russian writer whom Gandhi much
admired. Here people who were different in nationality, religion and colour
lived together like one family. They worked hard and shared the fruits of their
labour.
Gandhi spent much of his time at
Tolstoy Farm. He was engaged in teaching the children, and in other
constructive activities.
Gandhi’s efforts to persuade
General Smuts to change the attitude of the government towards the Indian had
failed. Meanwhile, the struggle continued against the black Act and the
poll-tax. And now hundreds of Indian women, including Kasturbai, joined the
movement.