by M K Gandhi
194 ‘of plague, etc.’ to add.
195 ‘from the local Government’ to add.
196 Total collection amounted to £1535.1.9 of which £1194 was subscribed by the Indians.
197 ‘There is no limit to this.’ To add.
198 ‘in the mine of truth’ added in the English translation.
199 The original has ‘I am pierced by a dagger of love.’
200 At 3.30 on the afternoon of 12 October 1901, Parsi Rustomji gave a party to about 100 guests at his residence. On 15 October a public farewell was given at the Natal Indian Congress Hall.
201 See CWMG, vol. 3, pp. 246–47.
202 In the original, vairagi.
203 The following articles were deposited within the African Banking Corporation.
Gold medal presented in 1896
Gold coin presented by Tamil Indians in 1896
Gold chain presented by the Johannesburg Committee in 1899
Gold chain, sovereign purse and seven gold coins presented by Parsi Rustomji
Gold watch presented by Mr. Joosub of Messrs Dada Abdulla & Co.
Diamond ring presented by the community
Gold necklace presented by Gujarati Hindus
Diamond ring presented by Abdul Cadir
CWMG, vol. 3, p. 247.
204 ‘Again’ added in the English translation.
205 There are discrepancies in the various sources regarding the date of travel. According to C.B. Dalal, Gandhiji Ni Dinvari, vol. 1, p. 41, he travelled on 19 October, CWMG, vol. 3, p. 576, gives the date as 18 October, while Pyarelal, Mahatma Gandhi: The Discovery of Satyagraha on the Threshold, vol. II, p. 378, gives the date as 20 October 1901. MKG accompanied by Kasturba and their four sons sailed on S.S Nowshera.
206 Reached Port Louis on 30 October 1901.
207 According to C.B. Dalal, MKG sailed for India on 19 November, while Pyarelal gives the date as 1 December 1901, which was impossible.
208 On 4 November MKG visited the Supreme Court accompanied by the attorney general. On 13 November he was given a public reception in Port Louis by the Indian community. Another reception was organized for him on 16 November at St Pierre. MKG visited local spots including Tamarin, Rose Hill, Gentilly, Moka and the waterfalls.
209 Sir Charles Bruce (1836–1920), also a Sanskrit scholar who worked on the Sanskrit dictionary published by the Imperial Academy of Saint Petersburg.
210 MKG reached Bombay on 28 November 1901, went to Rajkot on 14 December via Porbandar, preferring to make a sea voyage, and reached Bombay again on 19 December, and wrote a public letter on the condition of South African Indians.
211 On 20 December.
212 Sir Chimanlal Harilal Setalvad (1864–1947), lawyer, served as a member of the Hunter Commission following the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, knighted in 1919.
213 Sir Chimanlal and Sir Dinshaw in the original; both were knighted after the incident in narration.
214 On 23 December 1901.
215 Founded in 1884 by Surendranath Banerji and named after Lord Ripon, Viceroy of India (1880–84), located on 24, Harrison Road. According to Gopalkrishna Gandhi, A Frank Friendship, p. 18, MKG stayed at the India Club from 24 to 29 December. India Club was established in 1882 by the Raja of Cooch Behar and was located at 6, Bankshall Street.
216 One of the oldest newspapers in India, commenced publication in February 1868. It was started by brothers Sisir Ghosh and Motilal Ghosh.
217 ‘and training’ to add.
218 Drishti dosha in the original. Navajivan of 27 February 1927 carries a footnote, which in translation would read: ‘Among the Madrasi Brahmins, mere sight of persons of other castes would pollute them while they eat. Hence they have the practice of keeping the doors of their homes closed while eating.’
219 MD’s footnote: ‘Duties of the four fundamental divisions of Hindu Society.’
220 ‘of this number derived from multiplication’ to add.
221 Bera in the original. Navajivan of 6 March 1927 carries a footnote, which in translation would read: ‘Bera appears to be a corruption of the English word bearer. “Bera” means the one who provides personal service. In Calcutta, all household servants are called “Bera”.’
222 Bhupendranath Basu (1859–1924), lawyer, member, Executive Council of the Bengal government (1904–10), president, Indian National Congress (1914), vice-chancellor, Calcutta University. A Frank Friendship, p. 18.
223 Janki Nath Ghosal (1840–1913), husband of Rabindranath Tagore’s sister Swarnakumari Devi, close associate of A.O. Hume, father of Sarladevi Chowdharani, who figured later in MKG’s life. A Frank Friendship, p. 19.
224 Mr. Ghosal in the original.
225 Ghosal attended every session of the Congress from 1885 to 1911.
226 Allan Octavian Hume (1829–1912), civil servant, ornithologist, botanist and one of the founders of the Indian National Congress.
227 ‘on my having my lunch’ in the first edition.
228 ‘even’ to add.
229 ‘evidently pleased,’ to add.
230 ‘There was little regard for economy of energy.’ Added in the English translation.
231 ‘but to speak extempore’ added in the English translation.
232 ‘Sir Dinshaw’ in the original.
233 ‘no sooner than’ in the first edition.
234 For the text of the resolution and MKG’s speech. See CWMG, vol. 3, pp. 252–55.
235 ‘There was no opposing a resolution.’ To add.
236 ‘Chamber of Commerce’ in English in the original. The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry was established in 1853.
237 ‘I did not’ in the first edition.
238 George Nathaniel Curzon (1859–1925), Viceroy of India (1899–1905), in 1905 presided over the partition of Bengal.
239 ‘a long shirt, turban’ to add.
240 MD’s footnote: ‘i.e. waiters’.
241 ‘our own’ in the first edition.
242 ‘levee’ English word in the original.
243 Charles Hardinge (1858–1944), Viceroy of India (1910–16).
244 The foundation stone of the Banaras Hindu University was laid on 4 February 1916.
245 Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya (1861–1946), founder of the Banaras Hindu University (1916), president of the Indian National Congress (1908, 1918), president of the Special Session of the Hindu Mahasabha, Gaya (1922), and Kashi (1923). In the original he is described as ‘Bharat Bhushan’.
246 MKG spoke at the ceremony on 6 February 1916. For the text of his speech, see CWMG, vol. 13, pp. 210–16.
247 ‘or any other occasion’ to add.
248 MKG shifted to Gokhale’s residence at 91, Upper Circular Road, on 29 December 1901.
249 Sir Prafulla Chandra Ray (1861–1944), first chemist outside of Europe to be honoured with the Chemical Landmark Plaque by the Royal Society of Chemistry. He was educated at Edinburgh University, taught at Presidency College, Calcutta (1889–1916), was the first Palit Professor of Chemistry at Calcutta University, wrote A History of Hindu Chemistry (1902), and founded India’s first pharmaceutical company, Bengal Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals (1901).
250 ‘Prof. Ray’ to add.
251 ‘there was no khadi in those days,’ to add.
252 ‘probably’ to add.
253 ‘impurity,’ to add.
254 ‘exclusive’ in the first edition.
255 16 January 1902, the first death anniversary of M.G. Ranade.
256 Professor Abaji Vishnu Kathavate, a scholar of Sanskrit.
257 Justice Kashinath Trimbak Telang (1850–93), judge of the Bombay High Court, one of the founders of the Indian National Congress and the Bombay Presidency Association. His translation of the Gita appeared in Max Muller’s Sacred Books of the East, and he translated Mudrarakshasa of Vishakadatta into English.
258 R.N. Mandalik, member, executive committee, Satyagraha Sabha, Bombay.
259 ‘so as to be able to attend the court’ added in
the English translation.
260 ‘head and heart which were all combined in’ added in the English translation.
261 On 30 January 1902 MKG wrote to Gokhale, ‘I feel that I had no right to question your taste on Monday evening. I was too presumptuous. Had I known that I would cause you thereby the pain I did cause, I should certainly never have taken the liberty. I trust you will forgive me the folly.’ CWMG, vol. 3, pp. 266–67.
262 Kalicharan Banerji (1847–1907), prominent Christian personality of Calcutta and an active Congressman. A Frank Friendship, p. 22. ‘Babu’ added in the English translation.
263 Justice Dwarkanath Mitter, judge, High Court of Calcutta.
264 Sir Gurudas Banerji (1844–1918), judge, High Court of Calcutta, first Indian to be the vice-chancellor of Calcutta University.
265 Raja Sir Pyarimohan Mukherjee, member, Imperial Legislative Council.
266 In the original this sentence is in Hindustani.
267 ‘, we believe,’ to add.
268 The story of Buddha and King Bimbisara: Buddha’s teaching of mercy stopped the practice of offering sacrifice during fire worship.
269 ‘a great deal’ to add.
270 Founded in 1828 by Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Keshav Chandra Sen, among others.
271 Pratap Chandra Mazumdar (1840–1905).
272 In 1866 due to differences between Devendranath Tagore and Keshav Chandra Sen, Tagore founded the Adi (the original) Brahmo Samaj to distinguish it from the reformist Keshav Chandra Sen. At the time of this schism there were fifty-four samajs, fifty in Bengal, two in the North-West Frontier Province and one each in the Punjab and Madras. In 1878 there was another schism in the group led by Sen, which led to the establishment of the Sadharan Brahmo Samaj on 15 May 1878 by Anand Mohan Bose, Shibchandra Deb and Umesh Chandra Dutta.
273 Shivanath Shastri (1847–1919), leader of the Sadharan Brahmo Samaj, educationist, poet and novelist. His collections of poems include Pushpamala and Pushpanjali, his novels include Yugantar and Nayantara.
274 ‘I went’ in the first edition.
275 Devendranath Tagore (1817–1905), father of Rabindranath Tagore, adopted Brahomism in 1843.
276 ‘as I possibly could’ to add.
277 Swami Vivekananda (1863–1902), disciple of Swami Ramakrishna, eminent exponent of Vedantic philosophy, founder of Belur Math, a monastery along the Hooghly.
278 Gopalkrishna Gandhi suggests that the Swami was at the house of his prominent disciple Balaram Bose at Bagbazar. A Frank Friendship, p. 22.
279 Sister Nivedita (born Margaret Noble, 1867–1911), Irishwoman, met Swami Vivekananda in London in 1895, became his disciple and took the name of Nivedita.
280 MD’s footnote: ‘Regarding the use of the word “volatile”, see note “In Justice to Her Memory.” Young India, 30th June, 1927.’ Modern Review of July 1927 took objection to this adjective ‘volatile’ and the description of ‘splendour’. It wrote: ‘The mention of “the splendour that surrounded her” without any other details conveys a wrong idea of Sister Nivedita’s mode of living. The fact is, at the time when Mr. Gandhi saw her, she was the guest of Mrs. Ole Bull and Miss Josephine MacLeod at the American Consulate, and, as such, was not responsible for “splendour.” . . . We do not know whether Mr. Gokhale spoke to Mr. Gandhi in English and actually used the word “volatile” to describe her . . . But whoever may be responsible for the use of the word “volatile” has wronged her memory.’ MKG ‘gladly’ published this in Young India and wrote a note on it. He said: ‘Such references should be regarded merely as the impression left upon my mind at the time to which they may relate.’ Regarding the adjective ‘volatile’ he said, ‘As to the use of the word “volatile”, though the translation is not mine, I cannot disassociate myself from its use, because as a rule I revise these translations, and I remember having discussed the adjective with Mahadev Desai. We both had doubts about the use of the adjective being correct. The choice lay between volatile, violent and fantastical. The last two were considered to be too strong. Mahadev had chosen volatile and I passed it.’ CWMG, vol. 34, pp. 80–81.
281 The meeting was held on 27 January 1902, at Albert Hall, on 15, College Square. According to Gopalkrishna Gandhi, the meeting was chaired by Gokhale. A Frank Friendship, p. 30. For the text of the speech, see CWMG, vol. 3, pp. 260–66. MKG had earlier addressed a meeting at the same venue on 19 January 1902 on the condition of Indians in South Africa, with Narendranath Sen in Chair and Gokhale in attendance. A Frank Friendship, p. 26.
282 ‘he rendered’ in the first edition.
283 MKG left Calcutta on 28 January 1902 by S.S. Goa, reaching Rangoon on 31st. He left Rangoon on 17 February 1902, reaching Calcutta on the 20th. The letters from Rangoon bear the address line as 7, Moghul Street.
284 MD’s footnote: ‘Monks.’
285 This refers to an experience that Swami Dayanand had at the age of fourteen, when he kept a vigil at the Shiva temple on the night of Shivaratri. He was shocked to find mice frolicking over the Shivalinga. ‘at Morvi’ added in the English translation.
286 ‘charmed me and the indolence’ in the first edition.
287 ‘commission agents’ English term in the original.
288 ‘and I had no occasion to stay any longer’ added in the English translation.
289 ‘short’ to add.
290 ‘the third-class’ in the first edition.
291 ‘Kashiji’ in the original.
292 The original has ‘Vidushi [literally, learned] Anne Besant’.
293 ‘replenished’ in the first edition.
294 ‘magas ladu’ in the original, made from gram flour, a long-lasting sweet.
295 ‘got a long coat’ in the first edition.
296 MD’s footnote: ‘A place in Porbandar state noted for its coarse woollen fabrics.’
297 ‘but now I must come’ in the first edition.
298 On 21 February 1902.
299 ‘Kashi’ in the original. Throughout this chapter Kashi has been rendered as Benares, from Varanasi.
300 MKG was in Benaras on 22nd, in Agra on 23rd, in Jaipur on 24th and 25th in Palanpur, reaching Rajkot on 26 February 1902.
301 MD’s footnote: ‘Priests’.
302 ‘ordinary’ added in the English translation.
303 In Palanpur MKG was the guest of Mr. Patwari, the executive officer of the state.
304 ‘the latter were crowded, and there was of course the objection of the fare being higher for third class by mail’ in the first edition.
305 ‘to the comforts of the third-class passengers’ added in the English translation.
306 ‘This can be experienced everywhere.’ To add.
307 ‘, and it is this’ added in the first edition.
308 ‘by sending’ in the first edition.
309 ‘or any unlawful means’ added in the English translation.
310 ‘in 1918–19’ added in the English translation.
311 ‘since 1920’ to add.
312 ‘for’ in the first edition.
313 ‘subject by itself’ in the first edition.
314 MKG wrote to Gokhale from Rajkot on 4 March, narrating at length his experience of the journey. See CWMG, vol. 3, pp. 272–73.
315 ‘reached’ in the first edition.
316 ‘my lodging’ in the first edition.
317 MD’s footnote: ‘Gift.’
318 ‘Pilgrim’ translates the original word yajman, the institutor of sacrifice.
319 MD’s footnote: ‘Worship.’
320 ‘my’ in the first edition.
321 ‘innocent of aesthetic taste’ added in the English translation.
322 ‘which served as’ in the first edition.
323 ‘had searched’ in the first edition.
324 ‘foul’ to add.
325 This sentence is in Hindustani in the original.
326 In Hindustani in the original.
327 Bhagvad Gita, IV, 11. ‘Whoso worship me, Them I
exalt.’ In Edwin Arnold’s translation.
328 The original has a question mark: ‘Settled in Bombay?’
329 V.S. Srinivas Sastri, while providing editorial comments for the revised edition of the Autobiography, raised certain factual questions pertaining to this line. He appended a note, which reads: ‘What is the institution meant here? The Servants of India Society had not been founded. The Fergusson College didn’t dabble in politics. Neither this college nor Congress owed its foundation even in part to Gokhale.’ This note was placed for MKG’s consideration. The note is cancelled with two broad strokes made in blue ink. MKG’s three-word remark are in blue ink and circled. The original Gujarati reads: Mool barabar chhe. (The original is correct.) No changes were made in revised edition.
330 ‘for getting briefs’ added in the English translation.
331 ‘to the Political Agent’ added in the English translation.
332 ‘confidence in myself.’ In the first edition.
333 ‘whose habits were those of an elephant’ to add.
334 ‘ant-like’ to add.
335 ‘even so is the Englishman with the needs of an elephant powerless to think in terms of, or legislate for, the Indian, with the needs of an ant’ in the first edition.
336 ‘from Bombay’ added in the English translation.
337 ‘to magnify or belittle a barrister’ in the first edition.
338 Henry Alfred Handley Payne, Reginald Gilbert, Rahimtulla Mahomed Sayani. The chambers were at Agakhan’s Building, 2nd floor, opposite High Court, Fort, Bombay.
339 ‘in the Fort’ added in the English translation.
340 MKG rented a part of a house on Girgaum Backroad belonging to one Keshavji Tulsidas.
341 ‘started’ in the first edition.
342 ‘but that’ in the first edition.
343 ‘eggs,’ added in the English translation.