Page 30 - GANDHI A Biography for Children and Beginners

GANDHI – A Biography for children and beginners

wanted Indians in South Africa only as bonded labourers living in conditions of

semi-slavery, not as free citizens and competitors. So the Government of South

Africa discriminated against Indians and humiliated them at every turn. Those
who wanted to stay back after serving their term of indenture had to pay a poll

tax of three pounds every year. This was far beyond the means of the labourers

whose wages were too meagre even to make both ends meet. Most of these

labourers were from Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Bihar and UP. They were illiterate,
innocent about rights, "and helpless and leaderless.

Indians had to put up with many other humiliating restrictions. They could not
reside where they wanted. They had to carry identity cards and subject

themselves to scrutiny by the police. They had to take licences to be vendors.

In some States, they could not walk on the pavements, or be out of their houses

after nightfall. Some Indians had gone to South Africa to trade. Some of them
had built up wealthy firms. But in most States, Indians were kept outside the

pale of social or political life.

A few days after his experience in the Durban Court, Gandhi continued his
journey to Pretoria where the legal suit was being heard. He had to travel by

train. A ticket was booked for him in the first class, and Gandhi commenced his

journey.

When the train reached Petermaritzburg, a white passenger who entered the

compartment, objected to a 'coloured man' travelling in the first class

compartment. He wanted the coloured man, Gandhi, to be removed to the 'van
compartment', which was meant for coloured passengers. Gandhi protested. He

had a first class ticket, and he was entitled to travel in the first class. Gandhi

refused to leave the compartment voluntarily. A constable was summoned. He

took Gandhi by the hand, and pushed him out. Gandhi's luggage was taken out.
He firmly refused to go to the van compartment. The train steamed away

leaving Gandhi on the platform.

Gandhi went and sat in the waiting room. It was night, and it was bitterly cold.

The railway authorities had taken charge of his luggage. His overcoat was in the

baggage. But he had no mind to ask for it. There he sat alone shivering in the

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