Page 40 - GANDHI A Biography for Children and Beginners

GANDHI – A Biography for children and beginners

compelled the white population to revise their view about the Indians whom

they had written off as feeble and cowardly, and concerned only with eking out

an existence. At the end of the war, the Indian corps was mentioned in the
despatches of the General, and its members and Sgt. Gandhi were praised for

their contribution, and awarded medals of recognition. Gandhi had put the

bona fides of the Indian community beyond question.

The war with the Boers was over in 1901. Gandhi felt that he had put the Indian

struggle on course. He had created awareness and determination. He had

brought different sections of the community together. He had built up an
organization. He felt that the time had come for him to return to India and

work among his people there. The Indian community was sad, and did not want

to let him go. But they could not dissuade him. So they arranged a farewell and

showered him and Kasturba with gifts in gold and gems and jewellery. Kasturba
herself was presented with a necklace worth more than fifty sovereigns of gold.

Gandhi was deeply perturbed. How could he accept these costly gifts for

services he rendered in answer to the call of his conscience? He had a sleepless

night. He was deeply agitated, and paced up and down in his room. By the
morning he had taken the decision to make a trust and donate all the gifts he

had received from the community the day before, and five years ago, on the

eve of his return to India. The Trust and income from it were to be used for the
service of the community. It was not easy for him to persuade Kasturba to part

with the golden necklace and diamonds gifted to her. She demurred and was in

tears. Gandhi was harsh, and reminded her that the gifts were for the service

he had rendered.

On his return to India, Gandhi wanted to set up practice in Rajkot. But he was

persuaded to settle down in Bombay, since Bombay had more opportunities for

public work as well as for his work as a barrister. He spent some time in Pune
with the great Gopal Krishna Gokhale, and visited Calcutta, Varanasi and other

places on his way back to Rajkot. He was shocked and appalled to see the river

of blood flowing from the goats that were sacrificed at the Kali temple at
Calcutta, and the filth and ungodly atmosphere at Varanasi.

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