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8/2/2019

(DOC) A Brief summary of Gandhiji's autobiography: my experiments with truth | aswathy c.n - Academia.edu

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INTRODUCTION Mahatma Gandhi , The Father of India, always has been a source of inspiration .It is true to say, without Gandhi there is no Independent India . Bappuji, in reality, must be regarded as the greatest epitome of truth, ahimsa and satyagraha. The present world respects Mahatma by celebrating his birthday as the ‘ International Day of Non violence’. Though ‘ The Story of My Experiments With Truth’published in pre-independence era; it had its motivational impact on the present era. Original work published in 1925 has later been translated to English by Mahadev Desai. SUMMARY OF PART1 This part focused on few instances in life of Gandhiji since birth, about his marriage, education in England, self-traits,about religion and a few other stories about childhood , experiments, tragedies etc. M.K.Gandhi was born to Putlibhai and Karamchand Gandhi at Porbandhar on October 2 nd 1869. He was the youngest among his siblings. He started school at the age of 7 and then got shifted to suburban school. He was a shy boy in school who used to go there at the stroke of the hour. Gandhiji here mentioned a story about the arrival of school inspector Mr.Giles in his school for inspection. Giles took a word spelling test in which gandhiji couldnot spell the word ‘kettle’ inspite of the school teacher prompting him to copy from others. He never learnt the art of copying or cheating instead he was greatly interested in plays of Harishchandra and Shravana kumara. Gandhiji got married at the age of 13 to Kasturba. For him, marriage was nothing more than the prospect of celebration. Kasturba was illiterate unlike her husband but was an independent girl. He continued studies after marriage. He worked very hard to learn newer languages but was not interested in sports. In latter part of life Gandhiji himself stated the significance of physical education and language learning in school curriculum. M.K.Gandhi has also penned down some tragedies that he come across in friendship, communication and loss of dear ones . He has further stated about the death of his father and his condition after that. Gandhi got versed with different religions and had faith in the Ram Raksha. After passing matriculate exams, Gandhiji went to England for further learning. But he was nervous about https://www.academia.edu/9247723/A_Brief_summary_of_Gandhijis_autobiography_my_experiments_with_truth?auto=download

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(DOC) A Brief summary of Gandhiji's autobiography: my experiments with truth | aswathy c.n - Academia.edu

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adjusting to the British ways of living as he was not a meat eater or alcoholic. The noise of untruth troubled him. He was helpless at times as he was torn with doubts and anxieties.

PART 2 This part mentions about the returning back of Gandhi to India . There he met Dr. Mehta who introduced him to Shri. Revashankar Jagjivan. The news of the death of mother shattered Gandhi much. Jagjivan ,later, introduced him to poet Raychand. Gandhiji here talks about the 3 moderns that have left a deep impression in his life. The 3 models include Raychand by his living contact , Leo Tolstoy by his book , ‘The Kingdom of God Is Within You’; and Ruskin by his ‘ Unto The Last’. Because of his foreign voyage, Gandhi’s caste got splitted into 2 camps : one readmitted Gandhi and the other group kept him out. With great effort his elder brother solved the issue. Later , Gandhiji decided to go to Bombay to study law. But , the incompetency made him difficult to survive and Gandhiji returned back to Rajkot . Gandhiji, with elder brother’s compulsion, tried to solve the issue between elder brother and political agent. But the attempt turned out futile. Later, the elder brother introduced him to Sheth Abdul Karim and thereby led Gandhi to serve the position of barrister at South Africa. On the journey, gandhiji was disgusted at his own weakness of not saying ‘no’ to Captain. But Gandhi remained firm on his id eals. Here the reader come across the term ‘ coolic barrister’ instead of ‘Indian barrister’. The disastrous train journey to Standerton set the example of the condition and attitude of colonies to the colonizers and in between the colonies. Gandhiji got Islamic experience of brotherhood from Abdulla Sheth ,and, later got introduced to religion of Christianity by Mr. Baker. Gandhiji made an intimate study of the hard condition of the Indian settlers in South Africa who were deprived of all their rights. Gandhiji later got settled in Natal and formed Natal Indian Congress. The comparative study of religions made by Ganhiji on this time require special mentioning.After 3 years , Gandhiji returned back to Bombay. He prepared ‘ green pamphlet’ , a pamphlet on the situation of South Africa and its 10,000 copies were distributed at every part of India. THE PIONEER ,the news daily, prepared an editorial about green pamphlet. Gandhiji paid great esteem to British tradition and equal respect was given to their national anthem, an emblem of constitution. Gandhiji arranged meetings on Poona and Madras inorder to discuss the issues. With Dada Abdulla’s help , Gandhiji returned back to south Africa along with his family.

PART 3 The first voyage of family along with Gandhi to south Africa and the problems followed by it gain the significance here. At the time of arrival , the family were taken to Mr.Rustomji’s place while Gandhi remained on the shore. Mrs.Alexander , the wife of police superintendent , partially succeeded in her effort to protect Gandhi from the enraged crowd. After the initial escape, Gandhiji cleared the misunderstanding of mob successfully . the bills introduced in Natal Legislative Assembly increased his public work for the Indian Community. Gandhiji , even

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(DOC) A Brief summary of Gandhiji's autobiography: my experiments with truth | aswathy c.n - Academia.edu

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started an improvised school for the children of Satyagrahi parents in South Africa. Gandhiji made a thorough learning about brahmacharya and the concept of moksha. The white barbers were not ready to touch ready to touch the hair of Indian and black men. Gandhiji developed the passion for self-help and simplicity. The Boer war got started . Gandhiji had personal sympathy for Boers , but he participated in the defence of British Empire. The service of Indians in south Africa revealed the new implication of truth to Gandhi. After the war, Gandhiji returned back to India by providing all his expensive gifts received during the farewell to the organizedtrust. Gandhiji was of the opinion that “ a public worker should accept no costly gifts”. In India, Gandhiji passed his resolution unanimously in the congress .Gandhiji stayed with Gokhale and established many relations with foremost Bengali families. During this time, Gandhiji met Sister Nivedita and later went to Benares. Gokhale wanted him to start practice at Bombay but Gandhiji preferred Rajkot. But Gandhiji was destined to return to south Africa to solve the major issues.

PART 4 South Africa was under the epidemic of colour prejudice. The governmental laws and the consequences made Indians to find themselves’ between the devil and the deep sea’. Gandhiji narrated about the struggle for the Indian settler’s rights in Transvaal and their dealings with Asiatic department. Asiatic officers were not ready to protect Indians, Chinese and others. Here Gandhiji regards “ahimsa” as the basis for the search of truth. Even at the time of serious illness , Gandhiji and his family were not ready to give up vegetarianism. In European Contacts, Gandhiji mentioned about Miss Dick , Miss Schlesin etc. Gokhale considered Miss Schlesin as combination of” sacrifice, purity ,and the fearfulness”.The news journal ‘ INDIAN OPINION’ in those days, like YOUNG INDIA and NAVAJIVAN , was a part of his life. The Black Plague got started in Johannesburg Gold Mine. Gandhiji along with Sjt. Madanjit and Dr. William Godfrey took care of the patients. After evacuation , the loction was put to flames to avoid further spread of disease. ‘Unto the Last ‘ was later translated to gujarati by Gandhiji by providing the title ‘Sarvodaya’ . His family was brought back to south Africa. The new friend Polak was like a blood brother to Gandhiji with whom he shared his perspectives regarding various topics. Zulu rebellion was the other notable event.The concept of brahmacharya was still there and it even affected the diet of Gandhiji. Tolstoy Farm where Gandhi stayed along with Mr.Kallenbach and a few satyagrahi families. They followed every religious practices. An atmosphere of self-restraint naturally sprang upon the farm. Literary training and character building were given more importance. Inorder to meet Gokhale , Gandhi went to England and have to remain there as Gokhale went to have treatment in Paris. Gandhiji often thought about miniature satyagraha. It marked the

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