by M K Gandhi
185 ‘Benchers’ English word in the original.
186 ‘larger,’ to add.
187 ‘having asked’ in the original.
188 ‘black’ in the original.
189 ‘for which there was no need’ added in the English translation.
190 ‘test case’ in the original. It also provides an explanation in parenthesis which translates as ‘as an example’.
191 ‘experience’ added in the English translation.
192 ‘also I’ in the first edition.
193 ‘that is six lakh rupees’ to add.
194 ‘Arising as it did’ in the first edition.
195 ‘promissory notes’ English term in the original.
196 ‘and of book-keeping’ to add.
197 Dada Abdulla and Co. versus Tyeb Haji Khan Mahomed and Co. and Mossa Amod and Co. On 31 July 1890 Dada Abdullah and Co., wishing to dispose of the Transvaal branch of business, entered into an agreement with Tyeb Haji Khan Mahomed and Co., whereby all of Abdullah’s interests in the Transvaal, including stores in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Rustenburg and Heidelberg, were to be handed over to Mahomed and Co. at the price of £40,000. Dada Abdullah and Co. brought a suit for £18,000 against Mahomed and Co., for the balance alleged owing on the sale. See Charles DiSalvo, M.K. Gandhi, Attorney at Law: The Man Before the Mahatma (New Delhi: Random House, 2012), p. 47.
198 To add at the beginning of the paragraph: ‘I was very diligent.’
199 Frederick Pincott, whom MKG met on being called to the Bar. See Chapter XXV: ‘My Helplessness’, Part I.
200 J.W. Leonard.
201 John Livingston of Durban.
202 The operative part of the arbitrator’s award read: ‘After carefully weighing the evidence given on oath and considering it in connection with the productions put in, I must say that I am far from satisfied with the evidence adduced by and given on behalf of Tyeb Haji Khan Mohammed and Co. The witness is in my opinion not only a very much biased witness, but his attitude and demeanour when giving evidence was anything but indicative of truth.’ Burnett Britton, Gandhi Arrives in South Africa, p. 47.
203 The Wellington Convention for the Deepening of Spiritual Life was held at Huguenot College in Wellington, forty miles from Cape Town. This was the fourth annual meeting since the first held in 1889. It was held from Wednesday to Friday, 25 to 27 October 1893. For more details, see James Hunt, Gandhi and the Non-Conformists, pp. 32–36.
204 In the original ‘Muller (a famous devout Christian)’.
205 ‘I had no hesitation in giving him this assurance, as’ added in the English Translation.
206 ‘submitting myself to it’ in the first edition.
207 The party halted at Colesburg, Cape Town.
208 Baker recollected in his autobiography, ‘My host, who was a Dutch Salvationist, put a double-bedded room at our service, and I had the great distinction of sleeping in the same bed with the now so highly esteemed Indian philosopher.’ Quoted in James Hunt, Gandhi and the Non-Conformists, p. 35.
209 MKG told his first biographer Rev. Joseph Doke with an ‘amused smile’: ‘These people loved me so well, that if they would have influenced me to become a Christian, they would have become vegetarians themselves!’ Doke, Gandhi: A Patriot in South Africa, p. 46.
210 ‘on the Cross’ added in the English translation.
211 ‘only’ to add.
212 For the text of the questions posed by MKG, see CWMG, vol. 1, pp. 127–28. For Raychandbhai’s responses, CWMG, vol. 32, pp. 593–602.
213 George Sale (1697–1736); the translation appeared in 1734.
214 Edward Maitland (1824–97), a vegetarian, established the Esoteric Christian Union in 1891.
215 Nothing of this correspondence survives. MKG became ‘Agent of the Esoteric Christian Union and the London Vegetarian Society’ and inserted a notice in The Natal Mercury of 28 November 1894 that books by Anna Kingsford and Edward Maitland could be obtained from him. See CWMG, vol. 1, p. 168.
216 The Perfect Way: Or, The Finding of Christ, published in 1882.
217 The New Gospel of Interpretation, published in 1892. The title given in the text is a literal translation of the Gujarati original.
218 Panchikaran was composed by Adi Shankara; Maniratnamala, by Manibhai Nabhubhai Dwivedi; Mumukshu Prakaran is attributed to Valmiki, the composer of the Ramayana. Yogavasistha has six chapters, in which Mumukshu Prakaran is the second, which describes the attributes to a seeker after freedom.
Haribhadra Suri was a Svetambara Jain monk; it is believed that he lived from AD 429 to 529, while some scholars believe that he was born after AD 650. Shaddarshana Samuchchaya is a comparative discussion of Jain philosophy with other branches of Hindu philosophies.
219 To add:
‘In this world,
The next moment is unknown.
Know this, o’ mind. Who can
Foretell tomorrow.’
In Navajivan of 29 August 1926 this couplet was the title of the chapter. The last line became the title when the first Gujarati edition was published.
220 MKG returned to Durban on 16 May 1894.
221 On Sunday, 24 June 1894. MKG noted in his diary, ‘Went out for a picnic with Abdoola.’ CWMG, vol. 91, p. 1.
222 According to Burnett Britton, it was The Natal Mercury of Friday, 22 June 1894. The report ‘Indians and the Franchise’ was carried on page 4 of the newspaper. See Britton, Gandhi Arrives in South Africa, p. 48. In the original the word ‘franchise’ is explained by a sentence: ‘It means the right to vote for the Indians.’
223 The Bill to amend the franchise was first announced on 25 April 1894, which stated ‘no persons belonging to Asiatic races not accustomed to the exercise of the franchise rights under parliamentary institutions’ could in the future qualify to vote. This did not curtail the rights of those who were already eligible to vote. According to Maureen Swan, less than 300 Indians could exercise franchise in 1894. See Swan, Gandhi: The South African Experience, p. 45.
224 ‘What can we get from them? What do they understand of such matters?’ To add.
225 ‘But I’ in the first edition.
226 The original has the word franchise spelt as ‘farenchise’ in Gujarati; it further adds in parenthesis ‘Many English words, thus corrupted, had taken root among the Indians. Nobody would understand the word “matadhikar”, if used.’
227 Sir Harry Escombe (1833–99), advocate in Natal, later became the attorney general and premier of Natal (1897). He argued for MKG’s admission to the Bar of the Natal Supreme Court on 3 September 1894.
228 ‘All this cannot be done without money.’ Added in English translation.
229 ‘as many as you need’ added in the English translation.
230 ‘national’ added in the English translation.
231 Founding member of the Natal Indian Congress, which was launched under his chairmanship. Died 1912.
232 The meeting took place on Tuesday, 26 June 1894.
233 H.L. Paul, also operated a small school in Durban in 1912.
234 ‘local’ added in the English translation.
235 One of the earliest Indian traders in South Africa, a principal contributor to public funds, and among the first to retain MKG as a lawyer. He was president, Natal Indian Congress (1906), and as a satyagrahi his longest prison sentence was six months. Early NIC meetings were held at his hall on Pine Street. His son Hoosen was among the first pupils at Phoenix School.
236 Merchant from Johannesburg, among the first vice-presidents of NIC.
237 Lace merchant, migrated to South Africa at the age of eighteen in 1884. Worked as the hon. secretary of the NIC during the period of MKG’s absence. Died 20 July 1907 at the age of forty-one in Ahmedabad. For his obituary, see CWMG, vol. 7, pp.12–13.
238 Probably Harishankar Ishwar Joshi, satyagrahi, sentenced six weeks in 1908; sergeant in the Stretcher Bearer Corps during the Zulu rebellion.
239 The second reading of the Bill took
place on Wednesday, 20 June 1894.
240 ‘indifference to and’ to add.
241 J.W. Leauchars. The telegram was sent on Wednesday, 27 June 1894.
242 Sir John Robinson became the Premier on 10 October 1893, was also the first editor of The Natal Mercury, died 1903.
243 Speaker Leauchars at first wired in reply that the measure was too late as the Bill was scheduled for the third reading that day. MKG and the campaign committee sent another wire requesting postponement of the third reading, which was deferred for a day.
244 See ‘Petition to the Natal Legislative Assembly’, CWMG, vol. 1, pp. 128–32. In the first instance the petition was addressed both to the Legislative Council and the Legislative Assembly, and thus not admissible in either of the houses. It was thus amended and a separate petition was addressed to the Legislative Council on 4 July 1894. See CWMG, vol. 1, pp. 138–39.
245 ‘One dictated which five others wrote.’ To add.
246 ‘This was accomplished in quick time and’ added in the English translation.
247 ‘at length’ to add.
248 It became Law 25 of 1894 on Friday, 6 July 1894.
249 Also the Viceroy of India, 1880–84.
250 See CWMG, vol. 1, pp. 147–57.
251 ‘it was all a labour of love,’ added in the English translation.
252 Originally called The Bombay Times and Journal of Commerce. Founded in 1838, became a daily in 1851 and changed its name to The Times of India in 1861.
253 ‘at that time’ to add.
254 ‘I would not put such a price on my public service.’ To add.
255 ‘And as your friend and servant,’ added in the English translation.
256 ‘furniture’ English word in the original.
257 Dada Abdullah paid for ‘a lounge carpet, a sofa, two stuffed arm chairs, a round table covered with a cloth, a cupboard (for books), paraffin lamps and pantry ware. For dining room, he bought a long table, eight wicker chairs and a corner what-not.’ Britton, Gandhi Arrives in South Africa, p. 130.
258 ‘old’ to add.
259 One was a German, Max Heilbut, and the other a Scot, Alexander McWilliam. Both the references were identical and read: ‘This is to certify that I have known Mr. M.K. Gandhi for one year and I believe him to be a gentleman of good character and am unaware of any circumstances that should unfit him to be admitted to practice as an Advocate of the Supreme Court of the Colony of Natal.’ Britton, Gandhi Arrives in South Africa, p. 136.
260 Henry Bale was the president of the Natal Law Society.
261 The society had resolved to oppose the application on the grounds ‘that it was never intended by the Rules of Court dated 2nd January 1893 to admit persons as advocates or attorneys of the Supreme Court other than those of European extraction’. Britton, Gandhi Arrives in South Africa, p. 136.
262 Gustave Aristide de Roquefeuil Labistour.
263 ‘might’ in the first edition.
264 Labistour retired from the case. The Law Society then engaged Edward Mackenzie Green to present its case.
265 The proceedings were held on Monday, 3 September 1894, before a bench comprising Chief Justice Sir Michael Henry Gallway, Justice John William Turnbull and Justice Sir Walter Thomas Wragg. There were lengthy arguments in which both Escombe and Green were required to present their respective cases. For a detailed transcript of the proceedings, see Britton, Gandhi Arrives in South Africa, pp. 137–38. DiSalvo, M.K. Gandhi, Attorney at Law, pp. 56–57, provides a summary of the proceedings.
266 The original has a Gujarati saying. Literally, ‘Such is the country, so is the dress.’
267 ‘many a times’ to add.
268 ‘permanent’ added in the English translation.
269 ‘of a permanent character’ added in the English translation.
270 The term in the original is ‘dharma sankat’, ‘moral dilemma’.
271 The term in the original is ‘mahasabha’, with ‘Congress’ in parenthesis.
272 ‘Conservative’ in the original, followed by an explanation in parenthesis, ‘prachin’, literally, ‘ancient’.
273 The Natal Indian Congress was established on 22 August 1894, with Abdulla Haji Adam as its president, twenty-three vice-presidents and MKG as its honorary secretary. For its constitution, see CWMG, vol. 1, pp. 162–65.
274 ‘from non-members’ to add.
275 ‘We were to stay at his place.’ To add.
276 ‘were’ in the first edition.
277 ‘long’ added in the English translation.
278 ‘cyclostyle’ English word in the original. The machine was invented by David Gestner in 1890.
279 ‘reports’ in the original.
280 ‘for the amounts they paid’ added in the English translation.
281 See CWMG, vol. 1, pp. 170–88. It was sent on 19 December 1894.
282 Ibid., pp. 266–90. It was sent on 16 December 1895.
283 ‘and in England’ to add.
284 ‘and placed before the South African Indians’ added in the English translation.
285 ‘being verified’ in the first edition.
286 ‘people, that is, the’ to add in the English translation.
287 Vincent Lawrence. The other clerk was Joseph Royeppen.
288 ‘as that was the visitor’s name’ added in the English translation.
289 James Francis Dillon.
290 According to Section 30, Law 25 of 1891, an indentured labourer found more than two miles from the place of his master without a written leave could be arrested, and under Section 31, be declared ‘deserter’. In the first instance the punishment was 10s and seven days’ imprisonment with hard labour, in the second instance a sentence of fourteen days and in the third instance he would serve thirty days’ hard-labour sentence. The expenses incurred for his return to his employer were to be deducted from his wages.
291 Sir William Wilson Hunter (1840–1900), Scottish historian, member of the Indian Civil Service, well known for his The Imperial Gazetteer of India, of which he compiled nine volumes by 1881.
292 Louis H. Mason.
293 Oswald Askew, in Chapter XXII, Part II, MKG narrates his relations with the Askew family.
294 In Chapter XXVIII, Part II, MKG records about the reception in Madras: ‘It was wild with enthusiasm. The Balasundaram incident made a profound impression on the meeting.’
295 ‘in Natal’ added in the English translation.
296 ‘that is, rupees 375’ to add.
297 Maureen Swan states that between 1860 and 1891, when the importation of Indian labour ceased, 1,52,184 indentured labourers were shipped to Natal out of Calcutta and Madras ports. Swan, Gandhi: The South African Experience, p. 19.
298 At the peak of their commercial success formerly indentured Indians owned thirty out of thirty-seven retail shops licensed to Indians and in 1884, seventy-eight formerly indentured Indians owned ninety-eight properties valued at £17,605. Swan, Gandhi: The South African Experience, p. 4.
299 Those Indians who came for trade were called ‘passenger Indians’ to distinguish them from ‘indentured labour’. In 1885, a decade after the arrival of first passenger Indians, they owned sixty stores in Durban with twenty branches across Natal, the Transvaal and Orange Free State. Swan, Gandhi: The South African Experience, p. 5.
300 In 1885 the ‘Indian Immigration Commission’ was constituted under the chairmanship of Justice Walter Thomas Wragg and with James Renault Saunders, Dr. Robert Lewer and Henry Francis Richardson as members. The Wragg Commission (1885–87) found preponderance of European opinion in the Colony against ‘the presence of free Indians as a rival or competitor, either in agriculture or commercial pursuits’.
301 Maureen Swan suggests that the tax was linked to a Bill to remove an annual £10,000 grant paid out of general revenue for the cost of importing Indian labour. Swan, Gandhi: The South African Experience, p. 45. The chief proposer of this move was Sir Henry Binns.
302 S
ir Henry Binns (1837–99), chairman, Indian Immigration Trust Board, founder of the Umhlanga Valley Sugar Estate, was called ‘split-pea’ Binns as he was suspected of splitting peas before planting them. Britton, Gandhi Arrives in South Africa, p. 63.
303 Louis H. Mason, mentioned earlier.
304 The deputation stayed in India from December 1893 to March 1894. Their report was published in the Natal Government Gazette of April 1894.
305 Victor Alexander Bruce, Ninth Earl of Elgin (1849–1917), Viceroy of India (11 October 1894–6 January 1899). The Viceroy at the time of the deputation’s visit would have been the Marquees of Lansdowne who was in office from 10 December 1888 to 11 October 1894.
306 ‘that is, rupees 180’ to add.
307 The Natal Indian Congress sent a petition to the Natal Legislative Council in June 1895, CWMG, vol. 1, pp. 229–31; to the Secretary of Colonies Joseph Chamberlain on 11 August 1895, CWMG, vol. 1, pp. 232–42; and to the Viceroy of India Lord Elgin on the same date, CWMG, vol. 1, pp. 242–44.
308 ‘that is, from rupees 375 to 45’ to add.
309 ‘Comparative’ added in the English translation.
310 ‘But as I have said,’ added in the English translation.
311 W. Spencer Walton (1850–1906), founder of the South African General Mission, author of the hymn ‘In Tenderness He Sought Me’.
312 ‘as an open book’ added in the English translation.
313 ‘is’ in the first edition.
314 Narmadashanker Lalshankar Dave (1833–86), poet, reformer, lexicographer, historian, founder editor of Gujarati journal Dandiyo.
315 ‘effected’ added in the English translation.
316 ‘by his religious studies’ added in the English translation.
317 For an intellectual biography of Narmad, see Tridip Suhrud, Writing Life: Three Gujarati Thinkers (Delhi: Orient Blackswan: 2009).