Subject: Mr. Gandhi Goes to Africa (part 1)

Date: 14-Apr-96 at 08:31

From: Uncle Terry, 73060,2661

[Ed. note: Americans are famous for our lack of knowledge of world history and geography. Whether this is because of our poor education system, or because we're the last remaining superpower, or just because in the final analysis no one else really matters, is not a matter for this writer to determine. But the fact is, if it didn't matter here, then we don't know about it. In an effort to alleviate this woeful knowledge gap, however slightly, I have taken it upon myself to offer some relevant tidbit of history each time we venture to unknown lands, featuring a should-be-well-known historical figure (sort of Uncle Terry's Excellent Adventure). In the past we have discussed such near mythological heroes as Joan of Arc and Fred Otto Schick (the latter only in oral histories, as writing his deeds down seems to take away some of their charm). The subject of this tome should be obvious already. If not, take a valium and read on. If, by chance, any purported facts seem (in your mind) to be inaccurate or offensive to those residing in lands discussed, please do not waste bandwidth by declaiming this on Hockeynet. Just look me up in Durban, and I'll be happy to buy you a beer and pretend to be contrite.]

Mr. Gandhi Goes to Africa (part 1)

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (aka "The Mahatma") was born in 1869 in western India. After an undistinguished career as a child, his family debated his future. He would have like to have become a doctor, but his religion's prejudice against vivisection made this problematic. In addition, his family had a tradition of holding political office, so like so many wasted youths of today, it looked like it was off to law school, which would require a trip to England. However, his mother was reluctant to expose her youngest child to the unknown temptations and dangers of a distant land. His mother's doubts were allayed when he took a vow that, while away from home, he would not touch wine, women, or meat. An early predecessor of Mad Cow Disease may have influenced part of his decision, but we don't know about the wine or meat part.

Gandhi took his studies seriously, but during the three years he spent in England, his main preoccupation was with personal and moral issues rather than with academic ambitions. Painful surprises were in store for Gandhi when he returned to India in 1891. His mother had died in his absence, and, this being before the advent of treble damages and class action suits, he discovered to his dismay that the barrister's degree was not a guarantee of a lucrative career. The legal profession was already beginning to be overcrowded, and Gandhi was not pushy enough to gain success in it. It was, therefore, with some relief that he accepted the none-too-attractive offer of a year's contract from an Indian firm in Natal, South Africa.

Africa was to present to Gandhi challenges and opportunities that he could hardly have conceived. In a Durban court, he was asked by the European magistrate to take off his turban. He refused and left the courtroom. Other incidents included being thrown out of a first class railway compartment, being beaten up by a stagecoach driver, and being barred from hotels reserved "for Europeans only". These insults changed him greatly. He determined that henceforth he would not accept injustice as part of the natural or unnatural order in South Africa; he would defend his dignity as an Indian and as a man.

Next installment: the leaflet battles and the Boering War.