Gandhi Nehru relations

Gandhi and Nehru  relations

The relations between Gandhi and Nehru  were complex. In May 1934, hearing that Gandhi fasting again, Nehru said “ religion is not familiar ground to me, and I have grown older I have definitely drifted from it away from it. “ . Above all Gandhi fasting was something he could not like.

“ it is hard to be so far from you, and yet it would be harder to be near to you. This crowded world is very lonely place and you to make it still loonier. Life and death  matter little, or should matter little. I have loved life - the mountain and sea, the sun and rain and storm and snow, and animals, and books apart and human beings and life  was good to me. We cannot but think again of Kim and holy one.

In August  1934 Nehru wrote of shock he had received when he heard of reasons Gandhi advanced for with drawing from civil disobedience. “ I had  a sudden and intense feeling that something broke inside me, bond that I had valued very greatly had snapped. I felt terribly lonely in this wide world. I have always felt a little lonely even from child hood up. But few bonds strengthened me, a few strong supports hold me up. That loneness never went but it was lessened. But now I fell absolutely alone, left high and dry on a desert island “
Gandhi was not plaintive toward Nehru - that a crucial difference between them- but he did use considerable variety of tones with him, all with general intention of warmth and gaiety. Without falsifying himself, Gandhi found dozen ways to charm and  attach to Nehru .

Kamala Nehru died abroad in Feb. 1936. Gandhi saw her in Bombay before she sailed. After her death Gandhi said she had had more peace of mind than ever before. “ her mental disturbance had vanished “ . He claimed to have known her intimately for years.

After this time Nehru autobiography was published. Gandhi read it and claim to be closer to him in feelings  than ever before, although further away from his opinions. He told Nehru  that it was a brilliant literary production, but he was too hard on liberals like Shastri.  Nehru was of course by then a leader in international left wing.     

gandhi in his sixties dealing with dead locked problems of india

Gandhi in his sixties dealing with deadlocked problems of India.

Congress working committee to met  March 5 to endorse the Gandhi Irwin agreement , directing all congress committees to discontinue civil obedience. He Gandhi elaborated  upon each of provisions urging congress men  “ honorably and fully” to implement every cause. A day later Irwin wrote to thank Gandhi . Irwin wrote “ it has been great privilege to me to be given this opportunity of meeting and knowing you- that history may say you  and I were permitted to be instruments in doing some thing good for India and humanity.

On March 23, Gandhi tested the power and limits of his new friendship, in a letter to Irwin  Gandhi passionately appealed for commutation  of death sentences passed on Bhagat Singh and other two terrorists. Gandhi wrote warning that executions if carried out would  endanger peace. A general strike protesting the death of those martyrs was called by Nehru , Sub ash Bose whose hatred for British rule blazed on the eve of meeting congress held that  year in Karachi. Many young delegates at Karachi congress were apprehensive over Gandhi settlement  with Irwin  and told him so. “You decision may gone wrong “ Gandhi admitted.

On May 13, Gandhi went up to Sim-la to meet with new viceroy Lord Willing don, former governor of Bombay a more conservatively rigid imperialist than Irwin, whose Vice royal term ended in April. By late June of 1931 Gandhi prepared his entourage for round table trip, since his first visit to London since he had gone there from South Africa. Charlie Andrews managed the  mundane housing details of his from London  accepting Muriel Lester’s  offer to accommodate Gandhi in small entourage in her East End  welfare settlement, kingly hall. Gandhi confirmed for them “ I will be living same sort of people as those for whom I spent my life. He decided to bring along Mahadev Desai,  Pyarelal and his son Devdas to serve as his London secretariat. Neither of Vallabhai Patel nor Jawaharlal Nehru was invited though both had eager to join him.

It was raining when Gandhi reached London on September 12, 1931. The second round table conference had already begun and Gandhi addressed “ I am but poor humble agent acting on behalf of Indian national congress “ he told addressing the assembly of more than a hundred elegantly attired delegates, twenty three representing bejeweled princes of Indian states, sixty nine from British India , twenty representatives of Britain. Gandhi began with history  of congress which he represented he told them  all Indian interests and all classes. He stressed however its commitment to the dumb semi -starved  millions living in India 700,000 villages. Time was when I prided my self , British subject I would far rather be called a rebel than a subject.”

Next day Gandhi met with Ag Khan at his suite in Ritz but did not result in any breakthrough agreement leading to Hindu midlands, Gandhi  journeyed to Lancashire where he spoke un employed mill workers many whom blamed him and India’s boycott for hard times that had thrown them out of work. He pained the unemployment he saw there but he told them if they went to Indian villages they wound find starvation and living corpus's.   Today India is a curse he said explaining that was why he had taught Indians to spin “ work with which they are familiar, which they could do in their cottages. The employment British workers responded warmly to Gandhi’s unadorned simplicity and passion of his argument.

British repression had begun with vengeance before Gandhi reached Bombay  Jawaharlal Nehru was arrested on December 26 , 1931 and sentenced to two years of rigorous imprisonment.  When Gandhi disembarked in Bombay December 28, he learned from reporters of arrest of Nehru and from mainly congress leaders.

Gandhi never despaired behind bars. Adversely cheered his passionate nature and intensified his resolve. The 1932-33 prison interlude brought purifying rays of his inner light to focus on Hinduisms greatest injustice, the crime of untouchablity .  On March 1932 Gandhi wrote to new secretary of state, Sir Samuel Ho-are, to remind him of warning he had issued in the closing date of round table conference that “ I should resist  with my life the grant of separate electorate status, which would grant a bloc of separate seats on all new council to candidate born only in untouchable communities.

When Nehru in his own distant prison later learned Gandhi decision he felt  “” annoyed with him for choosing a side issue for his final sacrifice Jawaharlal Nehru was angry with Bapu  for taking religious ,sentimental approach to a political question “ and his frequent references to god- god had made him to do this- god even indicated the date of fast. What a terrible examples to set “ Nehru noted.

AS soon as Charlie Andrew learned of Gandhi resolve to fast unto death he wrote to try to  dissuade his friend. Gandhi considered his fast a unique opportunity “for self purification urging all his ashram family and other close to him to shed “shear of joy” rather than sorrow on his behalf. It is privilege. It is both privilege and duty he explained. In non-violence it is crowing act. If Hindu mass mind it is yet prepared to banish  untouchability root and branch, it must sacrifice me without the slightest hesitation. He told to press.

Congress Brahman from north and south India including eminent leaders as Sapru, Jayakar, Malaviya, Rajendra Prasad and Raja Gopalachary met Devdas and others the next day to hammer out the scheme that satisfied Ambedkar guaranteeing almost double the number of legislative assembly to his community than MacDonald offered the depressed classes. Meanwhile cable poured in from around the world wishing Indian great soul and “ Magician “  success and long life.

The Hindu leaders conference meet Bombay again on 25th September  and unanimously resolved “ hence forth  “ that no Hindu should be regarded hitherto should all have same rights as other Hindu to use public wells, public roads and other public institutions. The agreement was wired London , and MacDonald  accepted on behalf of British government. On 26th September Gandhi broke his fast drinking a glass of orange juice handed to him by Kasturba. Surrounded by 200 people Gandhi lay on his cot as Bengal  Noble Laureate Gurudev Tagore song poem from Gitanjali . Gandhi appealed to all Hindus letter and spirit follow every clause of settlement. 

That February Gandhi announced the first edition of his new weekly “ HARIJAN “ for which he asked Ambedkar to write some thing. “ the out cast is bye product of caste system” Dr. Ambedkar wrote . There will be out casts as long as there are castes. Nothing can emancipate the out casts except  destruction of caste system it self, in “ ugly growth “  of malign ate  un touch ability on its other wise health “body “

Gandhi on the day of fast Gandhi was released from prison, but British authorities fearing that his death in jail would ignite revolt. He was driven to his friend lady Premilla Thackersey’ s  bungalow near Yeravda  in Poona’ s cantonment. “I  cannot regard this release with any degree of pleasure “ Gandhi told reporters. He promised  the government not to abuse his release and appealed for un conditional discharge of all civil resisters indicating his hope for general amnesty and peace for cooperation. After five days fasting Gandhi took advice of Dr. Deshmukh  and began drinking bottled Vichy water to reduce acidity in stomach. Sarojani Naidu  and Dr. An-sari were there to celebrate with group that included many Harijans young and old.

At the end of July 1933, Gandhi wired home secretary to notify him of his intention to lead satyagraha march from Ahmadabad to Raj to urge all villagers there to boycott liquor and foreign cloth. Gandhi was immediately arrested at midnight August 1, 1933 first taken to Sabarmati jail and then transferred the next day to Poona Yeravda. When magistrate asked his occupation Gandhi replied “ I am by profession weaver and a farmer” . Asked about his residence  “ Yeravda jail now but Gandhi made brief statement “ I am lover of peace, and regard my self good citizen voluntarily tendering obedience to the laws of state which I may belong. But there are occasions in life time of citizen when it comes his painful duty to disobey laws - I have had recently spread of freedom and was in midst of people-living perpetual fear of loss of liberty and their possessions”  Gandhi said. However magistrate Israel sentenced him a year prison as a A grade prisoner “ considering your age and present state of your health. Gandhi was almost sixty four and weighed less than one hundred pounds. 

Gandhi -Bardoli protest and Satyagraha

Gandhi - Satyagraha and Bardoli tax resistance

For Gandhi the Bardoli  Satyagraha of 1928 provided a key idea. The Bardoli district or Taluka  consisted of approximately 137 villages, with total population about 88000 and area of 222 square miles. In 1927 Taluka received an increased 22 percent in tax assessment from government  Bombay revenue department. After several months of random protection and agitation the peasants began an organized  Satyagraha in February 1928 under direct leadership of Vallabhbhai Patel  acting under Gandhi authority. This tax resistance movement  limited to a protest against property tax increase that government had demanded. The protest was for tax officials report recommending 22 percent additional tax was unjust and inaccurate . Several weeks the government insisted adamantly that there was no need to reconsider the assessment. British Raj  appointed governor Sir  Leslie Wilson an independent committee of enquiry ultimately report favoring the peasants position. The incidence is sudden success and substantial blow to government authority and credibility.

The degree of non-cooperation obtained by Patel and Gandhi  in Bardoli  was an extra ordinary that it must rank as a text book example of success small scale Satyagraha. The effects of Satyagraha  were portrayed in most graphic terms under hard line  government machinery paralyzed in Bardoli ; revolt of the peasantry. The fame of Bardoli triumph over government spread  thought India and Sardar Patel  prestige soared with congress. Gandhi reaction to the impact of Bardoli is instructive. After four years (1924- 1928) relatively uneventful leadership, he found in Bardoli  key to his strategy for 1930 Satyagraha. At first he was notably cautious about wisdom of Bardoli comforting the government  on this issue and relied on Patel’s judgment but as the serious purpose and determination of peasantry became clear, Gandhi  thrilled at  the prospect of this combat with Dyer-ism.

“ Will people of Bardoli stand this last trial ?  Gandhi asked as climax of Satyagraha approached. “ they have already staggered Indian humanity. They have shown heroic patience in midst of great provocation.  Will they stand the greatest provocation that can be offered?  Shortly after this Gandhi toured Bardoli with Patel and returned convinced that rare demonstration of effectiveness of Satyagraha  was being staged . In early August Gandhi wrote the moment of settlement within government he wrote

Bardoli is a sign of the times. It has a lesson both for government and people for government  they will recognize the power of people when they have truth on their side and when they can form non-violent combination to indicate it. Non -violent energy properly stored up sets free force that becomes irritable. So far I have been able to see there is no doubt that settlement  has been wrong from unwilling government by pressure of public that was ever gathering force in geometrical progression.

The salt  Satyagraha

On March 12, 1930 Mohandas Gandhi at 60  years  age left his ashram at Sabarmati with his followers bound shores of Dandi  a small village on the coasts of Gujarat  in western India . Thus began most historic Dandi March  and Satyagraha one of  most dramatic events of India freedom struggle. The march covered over two hundred miles and lasted 24 days. Gandhi objective was to protest against tax imposed by British Raj had placed on salt under regulations of India salt act 1882. British Raj  enforced monopoly on collection or manufacture of salt  restricting its handling  to officially controlled salt depots and levying tax  on each mound.

Gandhi defied this monopoly and so broke  the law simply collecting natural salt from sea shore on April 6th . The Dandi march spread thought India others in India followed  his example.

Moreover the response of Bardoli taluka  encouraged  Gandhi to utilize this same area and population for salt march not only did he march through many of same villages that has been mobilized in 1928, but he also recruited heavily from this group. Finally he had been struck by British raj response to Bardoli the government had been over come by results of settlement and frightened by implication of Satyagraha . Gandhi fully appreciated the meaning of this and sought now to exploit it further on all India basis. In all these respects Bardoli was a key source of inspiration for what followed .

A young man writing from Bengal offered “ my humble services as Satyagraha  in coming struggle he precisely given his ideas behind campaign.  Your decision to launch civic obedience led me believe that you are trying once for all, to establish the supremacy and efficacy of non -violent methods over violent means. Politics in India today has been confused with an unholy mixture of non-violence and violence . I regard non-violence blesses him who yields it as well as him against whom it is wielded. In Bengal  there is school  of politics who believe in violence, but  terrorism is now exploded theory in west. If we could only establish the truth on our way in public mind with our own blood, we will have achieved our end. Gandhi perused his goal of freedom struggle  and Satyagraha  Gandhi was arrested on May 5th. The salt Satyagraha  continued  for all most  a year until direct negotiations between Gandhi and lord Edward Irwin viceroy ended. The Lahore congress which met in December 1929, affirmed Swaraj as India’s national goal and approved for conducting Satyagraha or civil disobedience for 1930. But congress left campaign to Gandhi responsibility

why was the Gandhi leader of masses in india?

Why Gandhi was the leader of masses in India

Gandhi success ed  in remarkably short period from 19 19 to 1922 informing a mass movement “ for real freedom or power , that was entirely unprecedented in India. His dramatic  political achievement at this time was transformation of Indian national congress into political organization with mass base. Gandhi said that highly educated men to carry out all stages of co-operation and his hope is more with masses. His faith in people is bound less. There is an amazing responsive nature. Gandhi requested let not leaders disrupt them.

Gandhi saw non-cooperation as way of involving whole spectrum of Indian society in political movement
. This worked through three dissent levels or tiers of followers : the western -educate elite, the  “ the power brokers”  or middle level political operators in law, business and agriculture and finally “ dumb million s “ as Gandhi call them or silent majority of people without property. Gandhi influence on this last group particularly the vast poor peasantry was substantial. By 1921 his message of Swaraj as personnel as well as social and political revolution had dug deeply into the popular consciousness.

Self purification along with social reform merged into the constructive program that congress promoted through its pervasive organization. Swaraj  was introspected as demanding charges in personal behavior that extended family planning and dies. Yet he  transformed himself as  people call him “ Mahatma “ . Charisma  came from Gandhi skill as communicator and especially his ability to use symbols and images in a languages for and Indian people. Like a poet, Gandhi treated his past with affection, drawing from Indian classics  old words - ahimsa , karma yoga, Ramraj , Tapsya- moksha and charging them with fresh meaning until they become symbols of both past and future. Gandhi drew from Hinduism  the core ideas that gave his taught continuity and coherence, yet he repeatedly reexamined that tradition  for purpose of social reform. Gandhi said his sacred wisdom is the  Bhaghawat Gita. The following are Gandhi opinion on Gita.

What, however , I have done is to put a new but natural and logical interpretation upon whole teachings of Gita and spirit of Hinduism. Gita itself an instance in point. It has giving new meaning to karma, sanyasa, yajna etc. it has breached new life into Hinduism . According to Gandhi view the Gita is an aphoristic work, it is a great religious poem. The deeper you drive into the rich meanings you get. It is being meant for the people at large, there is pleasing repetitions. With  every age the important of words will carry new and expanding meanings. Non of Gandhi terms were infused with rich traditional Indian symbolism than two key concepts of his thought, Swarajya and Satyagraha  and no one remained  more sensitive to their meaning. Gandhi liked word Swarajya  because it had traditional roots, and he seldom missed an opportunity to evoke the religion symbolism explicit in the idea of both Swarajya and satyagraha. 

It is some times assumed that since Gandhi for noble causes such as abolition of untouchablity and developed a world wide reputation as saint  he stood above criticism .

Thirty five years later, near the end of Gandhi long public carrier, Jawaharlal Nehru soon to become independent India’s first prime minister , reflected back turning point, of nationalist movement.  With un paralleled eloquence that deserves to be quoted as length, Nehru wrote what remains as perhaps the most moving assessment of what Gandhi achieved.

And then Gandhi came. He was like a powerful current of fresh air that made us stretch ourselves and take deep breath like beam of light that pierced the darkness and removed the scares from our eyes, like a whirlwind that upset many things but most of all the working peoples minds. He did not descend from top , he seemed to emerge from millions of India , speaking their language and incessantly drawing attention to them and their appalling condition. Get off the backs of these peasants and workers, he told us all you who live by their exploitation, get rid of the system that produces this poverty and misery. 

Political freedom took new shape then and acquired a new content. Much that he said we only partially accepted or some times did not accept at all. But all this was secondary. The essence Gandhi teaching was fearless and truth and action allied to these always keeping the welfare of masses in view. The greatest government for an individual nation or so we had been told in ancient books was abhaya , fearlessness, not merely body courage but the absence fear from our mind. But dominant impulse  in India under British rule was that of fear,  pervasive , oppressing , strangling fear of the army, the police, the wide spread  secret service, fear of official class, fear of laws meant for suppress, and of unemployment and starvation, which were always on there sold. It was against this all pervading fear that Gandhi quiet and determined voice was raised. Be not afraid.

The Gandhi had millions of people with him when he was fighting  with British for getting freedom to our country.  His contribution to our country is enormous and marvelous and   that is the reason he fondly called father of nation. He is one of great  world  leaders  among 19th century  leaders’.

Gandhi- Non Violence

Gandhi, the leader of non-violence was 45 and after 12 years in South Africa, he found that his brother passed away by the time he arrived in India by the ship Arabia. He reached Bombay on 19th Jan, 1915. Though unwell, Gokhale travelled from Poona to greet Gandhi. Earlier Gandhi had said that he will follow the foorsteps of Gokhale. On his visit, the biggest reception was attended by Bal Gangadhar Tilak and presided by Feroz Shah Mehta. The last reception was chaired by Barrister Mohammed Ali Jinnah.

Gandhi changed his dress to Indian traditional dhoti and long handed shirts. Everyone was astonished about Gandhi's new dress and his transformation. Gandhi travelled in third class train compartments. Gandhi went to Poona to talk to Gokhale who assured funds for any of Gandhi's organisations. The, Gandhi went to Kathiawar to meet friends and relatives. He also travelled to Calcutta to meet his sons and the Phoenix party in Shantiniketan. He also went to Rangoon to meet Jeevan Mehta who was a jeweller there. His long cloak proved handicap for third class travel and was discarded, footwear was given up for his brother. With a cheap Kashmiri cap replacing his turban, he travelled in dirty compartments.

An Ahmedabad based barrister Jeevan Desai offered his house in Kochrab. Gandhi named it Satyagraha Ashram. Those joining in it would pledge to non violence, Truth, Non-stealing, chastity, non-possession, bread labor, control of palette, fearlessness, respect to all religions,swadesh( Indian made goods) and abolition of untouchability.
            Suddenly, Gokhale died -  the influencial figure who believed in Gandhi, who offered a political and financial umbrella was no more. At a gathering of students, Gandhi said those wanting to terrorize should know that he will rise openly against them and would sacrifice his life for it.Gandhi understood the necessity of discovering a right place on battle fronts. Patient work would be needed to attract all regions. So Gandhi wanted to be cautious in his approach.

On I6th Feb 1916, he went to Madras and northwest Gujarat to towns in Sindh part of Bombay presidency at that time. People turned up in large numbers to visit him. He said that he thought the hearts of India were drawn towards his since he understood the troubles of Indians in South Africa. In him, they sensed a force, and thought he understood their plight and somehow had the power in the face of the British who were ruling the country. Gandhi’s commitment was also drawing attention.

gandhi unfinished task in South africa

Gandhi unfinished task in South Africa

Some prominent Indian procured permits in night, in secret , yet by 30th November 1907,last date for registration Transvaal government was able to register only 511 out of 13000 living in that territory. The rest had referred to comply. Meanwhile Gandhi was imprisoned 2 months by Johannesburg magistrate. A policeman took Gandhi into a van which took him to city jail, where he found it difficult to don the dirty cloths he was asked to change. He` was later taken  to large  cell where other Indians soon joined him.

On 30th January the superintendent of police Johannesburg took Gandhi to Pretoria to meet Smuts , who said he had accepted Gandhi alternation. Gandhi reminded Smuts in a long talk he too was barrister from London Inns of court and claiming that English speaking white wanted TARA( Transvaal Asiatic Registration Act) more than Boers , Smuts  praised the commitment of Indian registers . According to Satyagraha Smuts added. “ I have consulted General Bot-ha also and I assure you that I will repeal the Asiatic act as soon as most of you undergone voluntary registration. When bill legalizing such registration is drafted, I will send you a copy  for your  criticism.

Gandhi and other let off after Smuts orders. On reaching Johannesburg Gandhi explained the settlement to the chairman of passive  resistance association Yousuf  Mian  and other community leaders. Deeming the settlement a victory he asked Indians to registering voluntarily as they had been opposing compulsion.

In that morning when Gandhi  went to his office he was beaten by MR. Mir Alam giving more blows and kicks to Gandhi at Gandhi Satyagraha  office.  Latter Gandhi said in autobiography “ the people should not prosecute Mir Alam and company in the way they knew against what thought to be wrong. Except for those  with scruples of conscience, Asians should give finger prints and also said that all Satyagrahi’s  fear none and nothing but god .”  By May 1908, about  8, 700 Indians applied for registration. A new law was validated the voluntary registrations but there was no mention of TARA being repealed. Smuts who was touring into South Africa most powerful politician pleaded helplessness in the phase of white opinion. The circular came with official declaration that residents India origin returning to Transvaal’ after May would have to register under TARA and not be allowed voluntary  route, and with enforcement of another anti Indian law, Transvaal immigrants restrictive act ( TIRA) which in effect made it illegal for any Indian new comer no matter well educated to enter territory.

A volunteer on a bicycle brought telegram from government expressing inability to repeal TARA. Meanwhile Mir Alam came forward and he said he had done wrong in assaulting Gandhi at which Gandhi he harbored no resentment against him.

Increasingly curtailed from 1906, Gandhi began legal practice had virtually ceased with his arrest at the end of 1907 though he continued to use his legal knowledge for struggle. During his nine weeks in Volksrust prison  Gandhi and other Indian prisoners broke stones, dug holes for tree and stitched caps on sewing machine. A wire arrived in Volksrust from Abet west in Phoenix, Kasturba was seriously ill. West suggested Gandhi to seek parole or release. Gandhi rejected the idea and decided to be in struggle and to continue Satyagraha. Kasturba survived. Later ( 10th January ) she under went  surgery in Durban without chloroform. Gandhi who was present, marveled at her wonderful bravery  but few days her condition worsened a friend of Gandhi , declared that beef tea she would not recover. Asked Gandhi whether she would  take beef tea. Kasturba  said she would  die in his arms. Gandhi took her by rickshaw to Durban station and carried her in his arms to train which taken them to Phoenix station. West brought  a hammock a party sya    a bottle of hot milk another of hot water. In phoenix Kasturba Gandhi slowly gained strength  under Gandhi’ s hydro pathetic treatment.

But from 25th February to 24th May 1909 Gandhi was put in jail, arrested along with Polak.   He was kept in Volksrust for a week and then transferred in hand cups in Pretoria where he was placed along with murderers in dark  narrow cell. The governor idea was to break Gandhi spirit for he was hand cuffed and marched on foot to a court where evidence was demanded. But Gandhi spirit seemed to emerge stronger from these tests.

Busy organizing the Transvaal Satyagraha , Gandhi made short visits to Phoenix. On those days settlement families  were found good spirits playing with Gandhi .

In one occasion Gandhi said to Manilal his son  that you are not working as a barrister or doctor. We are poor and wishes to remain poor -- have faith in serving others. Changes in Gandhi life style were reflected in Phoenix. Spicy and tasty snakes and meals which every one including Gandhi enjoyed gave away to  non-spiced for which increasingly eaten by Indian settlers. All the while Gandhi spent eighteen years in South Africa.

At forty we should understand what Gandhi has taken as he neared 40th birth day. He was commanding, on behalf of small and not always united a non  violent battle making sure that it remained non-violent, defending Satyagrahi’  in law courts and taking care of their dependents. He was conducted Indian opinion  week by week supervising life in the Phoenix settlement, cultivating his links with friendly whites in South Africa keeping sympathizers in India and England informed and observing the Indian scene which he hoped before long to influence

Making an effort in England at this juncture was unavoidable. Leaders  South Africa whites were visiting England  to secure merger of all four colonies the cape, Natal, the Transvaal and Orange free state- into union of South Africa . London ’s  intervention in defense of Indian rights had sought before merger a united dominion would be stronger vi -vise London. 

In June 1909 according TBIA decided to send Gandhi , Ahmed Calchalia, Haj I Ha bib and  V.A. Chethiar  to London  and another delegation of Fons, including Henry Pollack, to India to mobilize opinion there.

Gandhi's successful visit to South Africa

After reaching Bombay, where Kasturba and his children were lodged with friends, Gandhi proceeded to Indian capital Calcutta for annual session of Indian national congress at the end of 1901 ,boarding train taken over by leaders - Din Shaw Wacha who was president of Calcutta session, Pherozshah Mehta lion of Bombay , Chimanlal Setalwad the renowned lawyer and others. The Gandhi asked the opinion of Mehta about what should be done for Indians in South Africa. Mehta’s response was nothing can be done for South African Indians as long as we have no power in our own land.

Gandhi along with Gokhale helped a resolution on South Africa which was passed without discussion . Gandhi met most of the leaders and came to know the working of the Indian congress. Gandhi in Calcutta met Bengal’s intellectual and political leaders and found a lot of interest in Bengal’s music. But Gandhi was disappointed that he failed to see Swami Vivekananda, as he was told he was in Calcutta and seriously ill and could not be seen.
Gandhi after quick trip to Rangoon from Bengal , decided to visit Banaras, Agra, Jaipur, Palampur before joining his family in Rajkot. Gandhi wanted to travel in India to understand and to know about Indian conditions, as he wanted to engage and educate himself by traveling in third class train.
Gandhi found the third class compartments to be smelly and not suitable for traveling.
Gokhale wanted to join in bar in Bombay but changed his decision to set up practice in Rajkot. Gandhi’s friend and successful advocate Kelvaram Dave insisted Gandhi that Bombay was place for Gandhi to set up law practice. Agreeing to his advice Gandhi set up practice and subsequently shifted to a fine bungalow in Santa Cruz. He had prospered better than he expected in his profession. Gandhi aims were to do public service under the advice of Gokhale, earn enough money to support his family.
But Gandhi’s life was not intended for comfort or pleasure. He had received cable from South Africa. Gandhi gave up practice in November 1902 and went again to South Africa, even though Pherozshah Mehta strongly advised Gandhi not to go South Africa as he could do nothing there. It was in Transvaal now under British rule that Gandhi helped Indians who were dependent on Gandhi .

Though ill-treated, Indians in Transvaal and orange free state had been cited as reason for Britain war against Boers, British victory in fact worsened the Indian position in these two states. Many of their hardships were connected to new Asiatic department in Transvaal , largely staffed by British officials who had migrated from India and Ceylon.

Indians who had left Transvaal during war were required to apply to Asiatic department in Transvaal for to permits to return their homes, jobs or trade and bribing seems to be necessary to obtain permits. Also unlike South African officials who had acquired certain courtesy also extended at times to Indian while officials from Asia used to lording over dark skinned sub sects, thought their below dignity to be courteous with Indians.
Gandhi who had prepared the case of Transvaal Indians had earlier lived Pretoria and Johannesburg was asked to lead a deputation there as well. But Indians were unable to procure a permit for Gandhi . However an hour before Gandhi’s train left, his old friend Alexander still police chief secured a permit for him from Transvaal representative. But Gandhi was told permit was wrongly issued .
Following his exclusion from meeting with Chamberlain, Gandhi chose not to return to India. Gandhi told Tyeb and others that not only would he stay in South Africa he would live in Transvaal , practicing in Pretoria or Johannesburg, deal with Asiatic department and strive to prevent the hounding out Indians. In Transvaal Indian backed Gandhi and elected as a leader Transvaal British Indian association a counter part of Natal Indian congress. After words Gandhi was enrolled in Transvaal supreme court.


Gandhi led the delegation of Indians in Natal that called on Joseph Chamberlains secretary of state colonies and found him polite and found him polite but Chamberlains to satisfy South Africa people to collect 35 million pounds decided not to satisfy the Indians in Natal.
Hearing that bribes were being demanded from Indians and Chinese seeking entry into Transvaal . By arguing the case in law court to come clean to enabling Asian community to save large sums in unpaid bribes. Gandhi prestige rose up.
Gandhi loaned to help to Madanjet Vijavahanik to start non-European Journal four languages English , Gujarati, Tamil and Hindi. The journal published informing Indian events across South Africa and in India. At the end of year, after Gandhi spent around 40,000 rupees on the Journal called “ Indian opinion “ had endeavored never to depart from strict facts in dealing with difficult questions and write nothing to hurt. The writers were asked to write facts that would always place before readers facts in their nakedness. With difficulty Gandhi run the Indian opinion and the Journal never became profitable not even after costs Tamil and Hindi editions were closed in 1906 and survived on Gandhi’s savings.
What was best for his wife and children was not Gandhi’s primary quest. Gandhi in his autobiography said that “ I sacrificed their literary training to what I genuinely, though may be wrongly, believed to service to community. His children doing scavengers job, grinding wheat and speaking fluent Gujarati may have been an admirable example to hierarchical colonized community that saw indignity in manual lab our and in native tongue.

Gandhi autobiography - Zulu ‘Rebellion “ heart searching’s and birth of satya graha -describe the critical phase in Gandhi’s life when he found a certainty about his mission and clarity about his road. Gandhi and his colleagues were active service in Zulu terrain for four weeks in June- July 1906 carrying stretches Zulu friend lies mistakenly shot by British soldiers and nursing them as well as Zulu suspects who wound received British lashes has festered for days . His conscience was some what eased by the fact that he and his corps nursed innocent Zulus who would other wise not have been cared for.
Indians were serving in a sparsely populated, beautiful part of a country. Few and four between hills and dales were scattered kraals of simple and un civilized Zulus. With or without the wounded Gandhi and his colleagues walk long distances at a time 40 miles per day. In his treks through these solemn solitudes Gandhi often felt into deep thought.
But Gandhi quickly saw that the military campaign supported by him was only man hunt. In Zulu country Gandhi sensed that he himself wound fight well and on large canvass. A mission came to me in 1906 namely spread truth and non-violence among man kind in his place of violence and false hood in all walks of life. He may not have used these exact words in 1906, but sense calling was present.
　
That struggle was ahead was suggested by letters and telegrams to him Zululand asking to him to return Transvaal , when new anti Indian steps were being designed. Within month of rebellion Transvaal Indians launched their first non violence defiance, or as it would eventually called Satya Graha ( truth -force) with Gandhi saying on 11^th September 1906, I can boldly declare and with certainty that so long as there even an handful of men true to their pledge, there can be only one end to struggle and that is victory.
In autobiography Gandhi says that Zululand decisions were necessary preliminary to Satyagraha . Zululand had led to the gift of fight that he would share South African Indians and world. Every individual any where had the power resist oppression and non- violent resistance was legitimates
On 22^nd August 1906 a ’ Gazette extra ordinary “ of Transvaal government published a draft written by for amending the territory Asiatic law. Arriving in Johannesburg, where he stayed with Hermann Kallenbach in letters house in Orchards three mile out side city Gandhi took a copy of gazette extra ordinary bill near to the house to study the draft law and translate into Gujarati. It required every Indian who has eight or older male or female to obtain a new certificate of registration from registrar of Asiatic Law and provide finger and thumb prints and other marks for certification. Failure to comply would invite a fine and imprisonment and or deportation.
Gandhi resisted law thinking that it will affect 15000 Indians in Transvaal or other areas. Gandhi as he is facing all problems alone he advised Indians south Africa asked them to stand firm and declare their opposition to pledge to laid down in the law and suffer penalties requested for resistance. Gandhi wanted Indians in south Africa to do Satyagraha without violence with non violence.
As Zululand’s experience led to a new principle had separated him from his family and force to leave Johannesburg for rough settlement. Gandhi by starting practicing non-violence called Satyagraha and finding way for South African Indians. Gandhi would allow “Satyagraha “ to translated into English as truth force or love force or soul force.