Dear All,

At 13 years of age Mohandas was married to the 14 year old Kasturbai Makhanji. They lost their first child born when Gandhiji was 15 years old but had four more children, all sons. After the completion of his studies at Samaldas College, Bhavnagar, Mohandas went to London to study Law at the University College, London. Before his departure to London he promised his mother to abstain from meat, alcohol and promiscuity. It was in London that he read the Bhagavad Gita at the request of the members of the Theosophical Society and thus interest in religion sprouted in him. At this time he also joined the Vegetarian Society. He was called to the bar in 1891. His mother passed away while he was in London.

After his return from London he went to Mumbai for practicing law. But he met with failure and returned to Rajkot. It was then that he received an offer from Dada Abdulla & Co. and moved to Natal, S.Africa which was also under British rule. It was here that he, for the first time, experienced the persecution of Indians by the British. He was thrown out of the first class compartment of a train in which he was traveling, as only whites could travel in it. In a later incident he was beaten by a driver for refusing to make room for a white traveler and travel on the foot board. He was also ordered to remove his turban by the magistrate of a Durban Court which he refused. These incidents proved to be the turning point in his life. He realized the status of Indian in South Africa under British rule. He helped the South African Indians to oppose a bill which, if passed, would deny them the right to vote. He failed in his efforts but attention was drawn to the condition of S.African Indians and the Natal Indian Congress took birth. This created further bitterness and the whites attacked him when he visited Durban. Fortunately, the intervention of the police Superintendent’s wife saved him. However, he refused to press any charge against the mob that had attacked him.

For the first time, Gandhiji introduced 'Satyagraha' – to protest through non-violence – to fight the Transvaal Government’s decision to introduce an Act which insisted on the registration of Indians. On his advice the Indians disregarded the new law; they burned their registration cards. Gandhiji and innumerable Indians were jailed and flogged for this but ultimately the Government was compelled to negotiate with Gandhiji. Fighting the oppression of the British rule through non-violence took shape here at this time. In 1914 when the world war broke out he did not support the idea of British Empire’s crisis was India’s chance. He felt that we had to extend our cooperation at the time of need. He believed that it was the individual officials who were at fault and not the system itself. He felt it was the duty of India to stand by them at this time of need.

Gandhiji returned to India in 1915; it was at the insistence of Gopal Krishna Gokhale, a respected leader of the Congress party that he spoke at the Indian National Congress convention. He pointed out that the real India was found not in the small circle of wealthy people in cities but in the countless poor in the villages. He then went to his native place
Porbandar and Rajkot and from there to Shantiniketan in West Bengal. It was here that he received the staggering news of Gokhale’s sudden death.

Gokhale had been his political guru. Gandhiji then spent his life studying the conditions of India. He traveled all over India. His heart bled seeing the miserable conditions of the people in villages. Due to his belief that one in public life should be simple he changed to simple dress code from his western-style attire.

!!! Will Continue !!!

Regards
Chant the Mahamantra :
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

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Gandhiji's life gives us hope, in these times of rampant violence and strife !

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