Gandhi Education

                After passing his high school examination, Mohandas joined the Samaldas Arts College at Bhawnagar. As he did not find the classes interesting, he returned home after the first term.

                There a big surprise awaited him. His eldest brother and a family friend suggested that Mohandas should go to England to study and become a barrister. Mohandas was thrilled. Here was a chance for him to see the worlds.

                But his mother did not like the idea of his going to England. She did not want her youngest son to stay away from her. There was also the problem of money. Moreover, she feared that Mohandas would lose his caste if he crossed the ocean. The family friend assured her that there would be no such difficulty and everything would be all right. But his mother was still opposed to the idea. 

               “I know many reasons why it is dangerous for a Hindu to leave India,” she explained to him. “You will have to eat meat. They drink wine there and you will be tempted to follow their ways. Then you might fall into bad company, and there are many other temptations which may spoil you.”

             “No, mother.” said Mohandas.”I am no longer a child. I can look after myself.”

               He pleaded with her to allow him to go.

              Putlibai at last gave in and allowed him to go to England. But before that he vowed never to eat meat and drink alcohol, and never to indulge in any activity that might cast a slur on his family name and honour.

               Mohandas was sorrowful when he left Rajkot for Bombay, because he had to leave behind his mother, his wife and his son who was only a few months old.

              On September 4, 1888, Mohandas left Bombay (now Mumbai) for England. He wore a black suit, a white shirt with a stiff collar and a necktie. Thus dressed, he stood on the deck as the ship slowly steamed out of the harbor. He was said, but he was also excited.

              Mohandas never forgot his first morning on board. He felt most uncomfortable. The stiff collar pinched him.

              It was quite a job to knot his tie properly. The tight, short coat also made him ill at ease. He thought that Indian dress was much more comfortable. Yet a glance in the mirror made him feel proud of himself. He though he looked very impressive.

              Mohandas was shy. He rarely left his cabin. He even ate his food there alone. He was not sure of all those unknown dishes served on the ship. He thought they might contain meat. He did not wish to break his vow to his mother, so he lived mainly on the sweets he had taken with him.

THE STORY OF GANDHI

THE STORY OF GANDHI

                 In a small, white- washed house in Porbandar, on the coast of Kathiawad in western India, Mohandas Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869. His parents were Karamchand Gandhi and putlibai. He was small and dark, and looked no different from the millions of other children born in India. Yet this was no ordinary child. He was to fight and overcome a great empire and, without taking to arms, set his country free. He was to be called the Mahatma, the Great Soul. Having led his people to freedom, he was to lay down his life for their sake.

                   Porbandar is an old seaport, overlooked by the distant Barda Hills. Even in ancient days ships from far-off lands went there to trade. It was the ancestral home of the Gandhis. Mohandas ‘Grandfather and father were famous for their ability and for their upright character. His grandfather, Uttamchand Gandhi, who belonged to a humble family of merchants, became the Dewan of Porbandar. He was succeeded by his son, Karamchand Gandhi, popularly known as Kaba Gandhi. Karamchand Gandhi had very little formal education, but his knowledge and experience made him a good administrator. He was brave and generous. He had, however, one flaw- a bad temper.

                Putlibai, Karamchand Gandhi’s wife, was deeply religious. Every day she worshipped at the temple. She was a lovable and strong - willed woman, widely respected for her wisdom and good sense. People often sought her advice on various matters.

Mohandas was the youngest of the six children of Karamchand Gandhi. He was the favorite child of the family and was called Moniya by his fond parents and their friends. Moniya adored his mother. He loved his father too, but he was a little afraid of him.

                  As a child, Moniya seldom liked to stay at home. He would go home for his meals and then run away again to play outside. If one of his brothers teased him or playfully pulled his ears, he would run home to complain to his mother.

“Why didn’t you hit him?” she would ask.

“How can you teach me to hit people, mother? Why should I hit my brother? Why should I hit anyone?” would be Moniya’s prompt reply.

             His mother wondered where her little son got such ideas from.

Moniya was just seven years old when his father left Porbandar to become the Dewan of Rajkot. Moniya missed Porbandar, and he missed the blue sea and the ships in the harbor.

                    At Rajkot he was sent to a primary school. He was shy and did not mix easily with the other children. Every morning he went to school on time, and ran back home as soon as the school was over. His books were his sole companions and he spent all his free time alone reading.

He had one friend, however, a boy named Uka. Uka was a sweeper boy and an untouchable. One day Moniya was given some sweets. He ran at once to Uka to share them with him.

“Don’t come near me, little master.” Said Uka.

“Why not?” asked Moniya, greatly surprised. “Why can’t I come near you?”

“I am an untouchable, master,” Uka replied.

Moniya took hold of Uka’s hands and filled them with sweets.  His mother saw this from a window and she ordered Moniya to come in at once.

“Don’t you know that a high-caste Hindu should never touch an untouchable?” she asked sternly.

“But why not, mother?” asked Moniya.

“Our Hindu custom forbids it,” she said.

“I don’t agree with you, mother. I find nothing wrong in touching Uka. He is not different from me. Is he?”

              His mother had no answer. She angrily told him to go and have as bath and say his prayers.

Karamchand Gandhi loved all his sons, but he was especially fond of Moniya. He often said to him: “You must go to high school and college and take up a profession.” 

              Moniya worked hard and did his lessons carefully. But he did not like learning by heart and was therefore weak in Sanskrit. He liked Geometry the best because it involved reasoning.

One Moniya happened to read the story of Shravana Kumar. Shravana Kumar’s parents were old and blind and he always carried them with him in two baskets slung on a yoke. Moniya was deeply touched by Shravana Kumar’s devotion to his old parents.” I must be like Shravana Kumar.” He resolved.

                At about this time he also saw a play about Harishchandra, a king who was famous for his love of truth.

                “Why shouldn’t we all be truthful like Harishchandra?” he constantly asked himself.

Mohandas was only thirteen when he was told that he was soon to be married. His parents had already chosen his bride. She lived in Porbandar and her name was kasturbai. She and Mohandas were about the same age.

            The wedding day approached. Mohandas was dressed in new clothes. Everyone was gaily dressed and the house was decked with flowers and banana leaves. The bridegroom, accompanied by the wedding party, left for Porbandar.

              In the bride’s home it was a day of great celebration. There was singing and dancing and music. At the auspicious hour the bridegroom and party arrived.

Kasturbai, dressed in red and wearing elegant jewellery, was shy but attractive. Amidst great rejoicing. Mohandas was married to Kasturbai.