Mohandas K Gandhi Pg2

Champions of Hinduism: Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi Pg 2/4

Back in India, he went to Bombay, where he did not make a headway and returned to Porbandar, where also he could not succeed. He even tried unsuccessfully to get a job as a teacher. Finally, a local company, who were well established in South Africa, made him an offer to act as interpreter in a law firm on their behalf, with a contract for one year. Gandhi readily accepted the offer and went to South Africa in 1893.

He stayed in Durban for a week and then got himself first-class train ticket for Pretoria. While on board the train, on the way, a white passenger boarded the train, who refused to travel with a ‘colored’ man. Gandhi was picked up and thrown out, upon refusing to vacate the first class compartment. He spent the bitterly cold night on the platform. This incident was the turning point in his life. He decided to fight the injustice through non-violent action, and “Satyagrah” was thus born. He decided to dedicate his life completely to the service of humanity. He organized the Indian community – Hindus and Muslims – to fight the injustice, and won several concessions, after a long struggle. He developed the concepts of ahimsa and satyagrah during this struggle. He also took a vow of observing Brahmcharya. Here he was transformed from Mohandas to ‘Mahatma’.

After 22 years in South Africa, he returned to India in 1915 and toured entire India, to know the real India. One year later he founded ‘Satyagrah Ashram’ at the banks of River Sabarmati, near Ahamdabad. His first test came in 1917 when he successfully led the satyagrah movement in favor of Bihari peasants.

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