Page 35 - GANDHI A Biography for Children and Beginners

GANDHI – A Biography for children and beginners

This was an inhuman measure, and was meant only to bring pressure on the

poor labourer who earned only 14 shillings a month. Many other restrictions

were imposed on Indians.

Gandhi saw that the fight would be long and hard. He formed an organization of

Indians, and called it 'The Natal Indian Congress'. He built up the organization

with members w'ho paid a subscription, and with branches and rules for the
conduct of business. He plunged into the task of creating opinion with frequent

articles and letters in journals, memorials, petitions, and meetings of the

Indian community.

But all this took many months. Gandhi had refused to take remuneration for his

public work. But he had to find money to meet his own expenses. He decided to

accept fees for the legal work for which Indian friends might use his services.
To enable him to practise in the courts, he had to enroll himself. He applied for

registration. His application was opposed by the Law Society, but upheld by the

Supreme Court of Natal. He enrolled himself as an advocate.

The month for which Gandhi had agreed to stay on had stretched to years, and

it looked as though he would have to spend many more years fighting

discrimination in South Africa. He decided to take leave for six months to go to
India and bring his family with him. He also wanted to use the opportunity to

inform the people and leaders in India about the near slavery that Indian

labourers were reduced to in South Africa, and the indignities that were heaped

on all Indians. He visited the main cities, — Bombay, Poona and Madras. His
visit to Calcutta was cut short by urgent summons from his colleagues in South

Africa. At Bombay, Poona and Madras he met the tallest leaders of the time,

and addressed meetings of opinion makers. Among those whose support he

secured were Sir Pheroze Shah Mehta, Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Gopal
Krishna Gokhale and others.

He received sympathy and supports everywhere. He described the humiliation
of Indians and said that submission to insults was reconciling with one's own

degradation. He urged public opinion in India to bring pressure on the Indian

Government to protect the honour and dignity of Indian citizens. He urged the

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