Emergence of Gandhi

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on 2nd October 1869 in Porbandar, Gujarat. He belonged to a family of administrators—his father was a Dewan (minister) of a princely state. Gandhi’s personal life started early; at the age of 13, he was married to Kasturba Makanji. Together, they had five children. This early marriage was not unusual for that era, but it gave Gandhi lifelong exposure to family responsibilities from a very young age.

Gandhi in London (1888–1891)

Now, Gandhi was not originally a great student or a very confident young man. But he wanted to study law, and for that, he aspired to go to London. Here, a social issue arose. In his community, crossing the seas was considered a loss of caste purity. Many opposed him. But Gandhi, determined, managed to leave India, and in September 1888, at the age of just 18, he landed in Southampton, England.

London was a new world for him. He struggled with food, clothing, and adapting to British culture. But this period was extremely formative. Around 1889, he came into contact with the Theosophical Society, where he was introduced to Sir Edwin Arnold’s English translation of the Bhagavad Gita. Imagine this—Gandhi, who had read little of Indian scriptures in India, began to rediscover the Gita in a foreign land, through English! He was also introduced to Annie Besant, who would later play a role in Indian politics.

By 1890, he cleared the matriculation examination of the University of London and qualified as a barrister in 1891. He returned to India and began his law practice in Bombay. But things did not go well. He lacked courtroom skills, could not earn much, and finally shifted to Rajkot to earn a modest living by drafting petitions for litigants.

At this stage, Gandhi’s life looked very ordinary—nothing suggested that he would become the leader of India’s freedom struggle. But destiny had different plans.

Gandhi in South Africa (1893–1914)

The turning point came in 1893. An Indian merchant, Dada Abdullah, invited Gandhi to South Africa to help in a civil suit. Gandhi accepted, thinking it would be a temporary assignment, and reached Durban (Natal) on 25th May 1893.

Condition of Indians in South Africa

Here Gandhi encountered something shocking. The Indian community in South Africa mostly consisted of:

• Indentured labourers working in sugar plantations,
• Freed labourers, and
• A small number of merchants with their clerks and assistants.

But all of them, without exception, were subjected to severe racial discrimination:

• Indians were contemptuously called “coolies”. Even an Indian doctor was a “coolie doctor,” and Gandhi was labeled a “coolie barrister.”
• They were not allowed to walk on footpaths, nor move without a permit at night.
• They were denied entry into first- and second-class train compartments.
• They were excluded from hotels reserved for Europeans.
• In Transvaal, they were pushed into unhygienic localities without proper water, drainage, or lighting.
• On top of this, ex-indentured labourers had to pay a poll tax of three pounds.

This was not mere social insult; it was institutionalised racial discrimination.

Gandhi’s First Experiences of Humiliation

Two early incidents left a permanent mark on Gandhi:

1. Durban Court Incident (26 May 1893): A magistrate asked him to remove his turban. Gandhi refused and walked out.
2. Pietermaritzburg Incident (31 May 1893): While travelling to Pretoria with a first-class ticket, a white passenger objected to his presence in the compartment. Gandhi refused to move, and he was forcibly thrown out of the train at Pietermaritzburg station on a freezing winter night.

That night, shivering in the waiting room, Gandhi made a momentous decision: he would dedicate himself to fighting racial discrimination—not just for himself, but for the dignity of all Indians.

Real Cause of Discrimination

Now, why was this important? Until then, most Indians in South Africa had accepted racial discrimination as fate. They believed that their humiliation was due to their “lack of Westernisation.” Gandhi was different. He was a barrister trained in London, son of a Dewan, and had never faced such insults in India or Britain. When even a Western-educated Indian like him was denied basic dignity, Gandhi realised: the issue was not about civilisation or education—it was about racial superiority assumed by the Whites.

This clarity gave him both moral strength and legitimacy to challenge injustice.

Extension of Stay and Organised Resistance

Gandhi’s contract ended in June 1894, and he was preparing to return to India. But just then, he read in a newspaper that the Natal Legislative Assembly was planning to disfranchise Indians, i.e., take away their right to vote.

At the request of the Indian community, Gandhi stayed back. He:

• Drafted petitions to the Natal Legislature and the British government,
• Collected signatures from hundreds of Indians,
• Publicised the issue in the press of Natal, India, and even England.

Though he could not stop the passage of the Franchise Amendment Bill, his efforts made the grievances of Indians known at a global level.

To give the struggle an organised form, Gandhi founded the Natal Indian Congress in 1894. This was his first political organisation, aimed at safeguarding the interests of Indians in South Africa.

Why This Phase Matters

This South African phase (1893–1914) was Gandhi’s training ground. Here, he experienced racial discrimination firsthand, transformed personal insult into collective struggle, and developed the tools of organisation, petitions, publicity, and moral courage—all of which later became weapons in India’s freedom movement.

In short, the Gandhi who went to South Africa was an uncertain young barrister; the Gandhi who came back was a determined leader with a mission.

Gandhi’s Transformative Years

A Change in Lifestyle

In 1896, Gandhi briefly returned to India to bring his wife, Kasturba, and two of their children to Natal. But by now, his outlook on life had begun to change drastically.

Earlier, Gandhi was a man of moderate habits—decently dressed, dependent on others for household work. But in South Africa, he deliberately reduced his wants. He washed and ironed his own clothes, cut his own hair, and adopted simplicity in every aspect of life. Beyond self-reliance, he also engaged in voluntary service—working as a compounder in a charitable hospital for two hours daily.

👉 This shift from personal comfort to self-discipline and service was the foundation of Gandhi’s later philosophy.

Boer War and the Indian Ambulance Corps

The Boer War (1899–1902) was a turning point. Let’s understand this briefly.

• Boer literally means farmer in Afrikaans.
• The Boers were Dutch settlers in South Africa who had established two independent republics: the Orange Free State and the Transvaal Republic.
• The British Empire, seeking to consolidate its control, fought two wars against these republics.

During the Second Anglo-Boer War (1899–1902), Gandhi organised the Indian Ambulance Corps with the help of Dr. Booth. Around 1,100 Indian volunteers joined, serving as stretcher-bearers and medical assistants for less than two months.

Why did Gandhi support the British?

• He hoped that loyal service during the war would persuade the British to treat Indians more fairly in South Africa.
• He also argued that as subjects of the Empire demanding rights, Indians had an obligation to share its responsibilities.

However, his expectations were betrayed. The British did not improve Indian conditions afterward.

Still, Gandhi’s effort was recognised—he was awarded the title “Kaiser-i-Hind” by the British.

👉 Notice the irony: Gandhi admired the courage of the Boers, even sympathised with their cause, but still supported the British in the hope of justice. This shows his faith in British fairness, which remained until about 1906.

Indian Expedition and National Exposure

Between 1901–1902, Gandhi visited India again. During this visit, he:

• Travelled widely across the country,
• Attended the Calcutta Session of the Indian National Congress (1901), and
• Closely observed the political climate in India.

But he soon returned to South Africa in 1902 and stayed there for twelve continuous years, fighting against racial discrimination.

Phoenix Settlement (1904)

In 1904, Gandhi set up the Phoenix Settlement near Durban. This was a community settlement where Gandhi and a group of close associates lived with utmost simplicity, practising agriculture, self-reliance, and collective living.

Later, almost all members of this Phoenix community became pillars of Gandhi’s Satyagraha movement.

👉 Phoenix was the first experiment of Gandhi’s idea of ashram life—simple living, collective work, and moral discipline—which he would later recreate in India at Sabarmati.

The Moderate Phase (1894–1906)

From 1894 to 1906, Gandhi believed strongly in the British sense of justice. His methods were moderate:

• Drafting petitions and memorials,
• Writing in the press to publicise Indian grievances,
• Trying to unite different sections of Indians, and
• Establishing institutions like the Natal Indian Congress (1894) and the weekly journal Indian Opinion (1903).

This was the Moderate Phase of Gandhi’s activism in South Africa.

But by 1906, Gandhi realised that appeals and petitions had no impact on the authorities. Thus, he decided to adopt a new method of struggle.

The Advent of Satyagraha (1906–1914)

In 1906, the Transvaal government introduced a humiliating Asiatic Ordinance requiring Indians to:

• Carry passes,
• Register with fingerprints, and
• Allow police to inspect their houses anytime.

For Gandhi, this was unacceptable. On 11 September 1906, he organised a mass meeting of Indians, where the community pledged to defy the law peacefully, accepting all consequences.

👉 This was the birth of Satyagraha—a new technique of resistance based on truth, non-violence, and moral courage, rather than hatred or violence.

Gandhi’s Imprisonments and Continued Struggle

• Despite opposition, the Asiatic Registration Bill was passed. Gandhi refused to comply, was arrested, and served his first jail term (1908).
• Over the next few years, he was imprisoned four times in South Africa: Durban (1908), Volkrust (1908 & 1913), and Pretoria (1909).
• He entered into negotiations with General Jan Smuts, who promised repeal of the law if Indians registered voluntarily. Gandhi agreed, but Smuts betrayed him. In response, Gandhi led a pass-burning campaign (August 1908).

New discriminatory laws followed, such as the Immigration Restrictions Act, which restricted Indian entry and inter-provincial movement. Gandhi and many others defied the law and were jailed.

Hind Swaraj and Vision of Self-Rule

In 1909, Gandhi travelled to England as part of an Indian delegation, but achieved little. On the return voyage, he wrote his famous book Hind Swaraj (Indian Home Rule).

In this small but powerful text, Gandhi:

• Criticised Western civilisation, calling it materialistic and soulless,
• Advocated the power of non-violence,
• Outlined his vision of Swaraj as self-rule based on moral and spiritual strength.

The book was later banned in India (1910) for its radical ideas.

Personal Transformation

In 1906, Gandhi also took the vow of Brahmacharya (celibacy). He believed that family responsibilities were limiting his potential as a public worker. For him, self-control and detachment were essential for full commitment to service.

Two Phases of Gandhi’s South African Struggle

1. Moderate Phase (1894–1906): Petitions, appeals, memorials, belief in British justice.
2. Passive Resistance / Satyagraha Phase (1906–1914): Mass civil disobedience, prison terms, pass-burning, and moral resistance to unjust laws.

Why This Period is Called “Transformative”

• Gandhi learned simplicity, self-reliance, and voluntary service.
• He experimented with ashram-style community living.
• He tested and evolved Satyagraha as a practical tool of resistance.
• He produced his ideological masterpiece, Hind Swaraj.
• He gained experience in mass leadership, organisation, and negotiation with colonial powers.

By the time Gandhi left South Africa in 1914, he was no longer just a barrister—he had become a moral leader with a tested philosophy and practical methods, ready to lead India’s freedom struggle.

Volkrust Satyagraha (1913)

By 1913, discrimination in South Africa reached a new height. A Supreme Court judgement declared that all marriages not conducted according to Christian rites and registered by the Registrar of Marriages were invalid.

This meant:

• Hindu, Muslim, and Parsi marriages were suddenly illegal.
• Their children became illegitimate in the eyes of law.

👉 This was not only a legal injustice but also a direct insult to Indian culture and religious practices.

In response, Gandhi launched the Volkrust Satyagraha (1913). What made this movement significant was:

• It was no longer about just one discriminatory law. Gandhi broadened the scope to include:
  • Abolition of the discriminatory pass laws,
  • Repeal of the Registration of Marriages Act,
  • Removal of the £3 poll tax imposed on ex-indentured labourers.
• For the first time, women participated actively. Kasturba Gandhi herself went to jail, along with many other women.
• Gandhi too was arrested and imprisoned.

This widespread defiance ultimately forced the government to negotiate.

Gandhi–Smuts Agreement and the Indian Relief Act (1914)

After years of resistance, Gandhi reached a settlement with General Jan Smuts in 1914. The result was the passing of the Indian Relief Act (1914), which accepted most of the Indian demands:

1. Voluntary registration was recognised (no forced fingerprinting or passes).
2. The derogatory term ‘Asiatic’ was removed from immigration laws.
3. The oppressive poll tax of £3 on non-indentured labourers was abolished.
4. Indian marriages conducted according to religious rites (Hindu, Muslim, Parsi) were legitimised.

This was a decisive victory. Having achieved his mission in South Africa, Gandhi prepared to return to India.

On 19 July 1914, he sailed from Cape Town. After a short stay in London, he arrived in Mumbai on 9 January 1915, where he was given a hero’s welcome at Apollo Bunder. (Incidentally, this day is now commemorated as Pravasi Bharatiya Divas to honour the contribution of overseas Indians.)

Gandhi’s Role in London (1914)

Before returning to India, Gandhi stopped in London in August 1914, hoping to meet his mentor Gopal Krishna Gokhale. But Gokhale had already left for Paris. Instead, Gandhi met Sarojini Naidu, who later became one of his closest colleagues in India’s struggle.

Meanwhile, the First World War had just begun. Gandhi felt it was his duty, as a loyal subject of the Empire, to help Britain in its crisis. He organised the Indian Volunteer Corps in London. However, due to differences with British officials over their treatment of Indians, he eventually withdrew.

The Making of the Mahatma in South Africa

When Gandhi left India in 1893, he was a shy, inexperienced barrister. When he returned in 1915, he was already hailed as the Mahatma. South Africa was, in Gandhi’s own words, “the making of the Mahatma.”

Key transformations in this 21-year journey were:

1. Birth of Satyagraha – Gandhi developed and tested the method of non-violent resistance based on truth (satya) and firmness (agraha).
2. Unity of Indians – He experienced the necessity and possibility of Hindu–Muslim unity, as Indians of all faiths fought together.
3. Faith in the Common People – He realised that ordinary men and women had the capacity for courage, sacrifice, and discipline. This gave him confidence to launch mass struggles later in India.
4. National Leadership – Gandhi ceased to be a leader of just Gujaratis or Hindus—he emerged as a leader for all Indians, cutting across religion, region, or class.

Gandhi and Leo Tolstoy

An important intellectual influence on Gandhi during this period was Leo Tolstoy, the great Russian thinker.

• In 1893, Gandhi read Tolstoy’s The Kingdom of God is Within You, which deeply impressed him with its emphasis on morality, truth, and non-violence.
• In 1910, Gandhi sent Tolstoy a copy of Joseph Doke’s biography of himself and an English translation of his own pamphlet Hind Swaraj (Indian Home Rule).
• Around the same time, Gandhi established the Tolstoy Farm near Johannesburg. This was a community for training satyagrahis in self-discipline, collective living, and preparation for struggle.

👉 The Tolstoy Farm became the model for the Satyagraha Ashram that Gandhi later established in India (Sabarmati, 1915).

Conclusion: South Africa as Gandhi’s Training Ground

By the time Gandhi boarded the ship for India in 1914, three things were clear:

• He had discovered his weapon of Satyagraha, which was to redefine the Indian freedom struggle.
• He had proven that masses could be mobilised without violence.
• He had emerged as a moral leader of international stature, respected even by his opponents.

Thus, Gandhi arrived in India not as a novice, but as a tested leader—someone who had already fought and won against injustice on foreign soil.