Page 17 - GANDHI A Biography for Children and Beginners

GANDHI – A Biography for children and beginners

There were other experiences that taught Gandhi even more bitter lessons. He

became friendly with a boy who had earlier been a friend of his elder brother.

Gandhi had been warned against coming under the influence of this boy, Sheikh
Mahtab. But he persisted in the belief that he would be able to reform Mahtab.

But Mahtab's pleasant ways and persuasive tongue began to lead Gandhi astray

in one field after another.

Gandhi's family was strictly vegetarian. But Mahtab convinced Gandhi that no

one could be strong and muscular without eating meat, and the Indians would

never be able to free themselves from the British unless they took to eating
meat, which was the secret of the strength of the British. The argument

appealed to Gandhi. Though hesitant, he agreed to try. So a day was chosen. A

deserted place was located, and Gandhi shared a non-vegetarian meal with

Mahtab. At night, however, Gandhi had strange dreams and nightmares. He felt
he could hear the goat bleating from within his belly. In spite of this first

experience which had made Gandhi restless, his companion persisted in

tempting him, and Gandhi went along. But soon it became clear that the habit

was expensive. Neither Gandhi nor his friend had any income of their own to
have such special meals at special places. Moreover, it involved lying and

deceiving his parents and other members of the family. Gandhi could not

reconcile himself to a life of deceit. So he decided to give up the experiment
and wait till he had his own income.

Mahtab introduced Gandhi to other habits. He began to smoke. Cigarettes were

hard to come by. But once one is in the grip of a habit, one looks for ways of
getting what one wants. So Gandhi too started picking up cigarette butts

thrown away by his uncle and smoking them secretly. But this did not assure a

steady supply. So Gandhi began to pilfer small coins from the bags of his

servants. When this too became difficult or inadequate he felt frustrated. He
was overcome by deep despair. Sheikh Mahtab shared his feelings, and they

both decided that they would end their lives rather than live in agony and

despair.

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