Gandhi's train journey

After a week in Durban, he left for Pretoria to attend to the case for which he had been engaged. With a first-class ticket he boarded the train. At the next stop an Englishman got into his compartment.

He looked at Gandhi with contempt, called the conductor, and said, “Take this coolie out and put him in the place where he belongs. I will not travel with a colored man.”

“Yes, sir,” said the conductor.

He then turned to Gandhi.” Hey, Sami,” he said, “come along with me to the next compartment.”

“No, I will not,” said Gandhi calmly. “I have bought a first-class ticket and I have every right to be here.”

A constable was called in who pushed Gandhi out of the train, bag and baggage. The train steamed away leaving him on the platform. Gandhi spent the night shivering in the dark waiting room.

Gandhi took this experience to heart and resolved that day that whatever the cost might be, he would fight all such injustices. He sent a note of protest to the General Manager of the railways but the official justified the conduct of his men.

Gandhi journey to South Africa

It was a long journey from India to South Africa. Gandhi reached the port of Natal towards the end of May 1893. The first thing he noticed was that the Indians there were. Treated with little respect. Within a week of his arrival in Durban, he visited the court with Abdulla Seth of Dada Abdulla & co.

No sooner had he sat down than the magistrate pointed his plum finger at him.

“You must remove your turban,” he said sternly.

Gandhi was surprised. He looked around and saw several Muslims and Parsees wearing turbans. He could not understand why he was singled out to be rebuked.

Gandhi got offer from South Africa

As his ship steamed into Bombay harbor, Gandhi saw his brother waiting at the quayside. He ran down the gangway to meet him. As they exchanged greetings, Mohandas noticed that his brother looked sad.

“You have bad news for me?” he asked.

“Yes,” his brother replied with tears in his eyes. “We did not want to disturb you during your examinations. Our dear mother… she died a few weeks back.”

Mohandas was shocked. His mother had meant so much to him. He had come back to tell her that he had kept the promises he had made before he went abroad, but now she was no more. What a sad homecoming!

Gandhi in law organization

It was the tradition of the Inns of Court, a law organization for the students, to dine together at least six times each year. The first time Gandhi dined with his fellow students, he felt shy and nervous. He was sure that the boys would make fun of him for refusing meat and wine.

When wine was offered, he said, “No, thank you.”

The boy sitting next to him said, “I say, Gandhi, don’t you really want your share? You pay for it, you know!”

When Gandhi replied that he never touched wine, the boy shouted to his friends, “By Jove, fellows, we are in luck to have this chap sitting with us. That gives us an extra half bottle.”

“You can have my share of roast, too,” Gandhi told them, looking quite content with his bread, boiled potatoes, and cabbage. He was pleasantly surprised to find that his queer habits did not make him unpopular. The next time he went for the dinner, he had a pile of law books with him. He was taking the books to his room to study.

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.

Gandhi after passing high school

 After passing his high school examination, Mohandas joined the Samaldas Arts College at Bhawnagar. As he did not find the classes interesting, he returned home after the first term.

There a big surprise awaited him. His eldest brother and a family friend suggested that Mohandas should go to England to study and become a barrister. Mohandas was thrilled. Here was a chance for him to see the worlds.

But his mother did not like the idea of his going to England. She did not want her youngest son to stay away from her. There was also the problem of money. Moreover, she feared that Mohandas would lose his caste if he crossed the ocean. The family friend assured her that there would be no such difficulty and everything would be all right. But his mother was still opposed to the idea.

Gandhi traveled England "On September 4, 1888, Mohandas left Bombay (now Mumbai) for England"

Mohandas was sorrowful when he left Rajkot for Bombay, because he had to leave behind his mother, his wife and his son who was only a few months old.

On September 4, 1888, Mohandas left Bombay (now Mumbai) for England. He wore a black suit, a white shirt with a stiff collar and a necktie. Thus dressed, he stood on the deck as the ship slowly steamed out of the harbor. He was said, but he was also excited.

Mohandas never forgot his first morning on board. He felt most uncomfortable. The stiff collar pinched him.

It was quite a job to knot his tie properly. The tight, short coat also made him ill at ease. He thought that Indian dress was much more comfortable. Yet a glance in the mirror made him feel proud of himself. He though he looked very impressive.

Mohandas was shy. He rarely left his cabin. He even ate his food there alone. He was not sure of all those unknown dishes served on the ship. He thought they might contain meat. He did not wish to break his vow to his mother, so he lived mainly on the sweets he had taken with him.

Gandhi education"his mother did not like the idea of his going to England", gandhi education, mk gandhi education, mahatma gandhi early education 

Gandhi education"his mother did not like the idea of his going to England"

 After passing his high school examination, Mohandas joined the Samaldas Arts College at Bhawnagar. As he did not find the classes interesting, he returned home after the first term.

There a big surprise awaited him. His eldest brother and a family friend suggested that Mohandas should go to England to study and become a barrister. Mohandas was thrilled. Here was a chance for him to see the worlds.

But his mother did not like the idea of his going to England. She did not want her youngest son to stay away from her. There was also the problem of money. Moreover, she feared that Mohandas would lose his caste if he crossed the ocean. The family friend assured her that there would be no such difficulty and everything would be all right. But his mother was still opposed to the idea.

“I know many reasons why it is dangerous for a Hindu to leave India,” she explained to him. “You will have to eat meat. They drink wine there and you will be tempted to follow their ways. Then you might fall into bad company, and there are many other temptations which may spoil you.”

“No, mother.” said Mohandas.”I am no longer a child. I can look after myself.”

He pleaded with her to allow him to go.

Putlibai at last gave in and allowed him to go to England. But before that he vowed never to eat meat and drink alcohol, and never to indulge in any activity that might cast a slur on his family name and honour.

Gandhi education"his mother did not like the idea of his going to England", gandhi education, mk gandhi education, mahatma gandhi early education