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One of
the most famous incidents from Gandhi's life in South Africa
happened just about a week after his arrival in the country.
Gandhi had to go on a business trip from Durban to Pretoria. A first
class seat was booked for him on the train and he got it in time.
The train reached Maritzburg, the capital of Natal, at about 9 p.m.
in the night. Soon after a passenger came and started looking him up
and down. He saw that Gandhi was a 'coloured' man. This disturbed
him.
Out
he went and came in again with one or two officials. They all kept
quiet for some time after which one of them went to Gandhi and said,
'Come along, you must go to the van compartment.'
'But I have a first class ticket,' said Gandhi.
'That doesn't matter. I tell you, you must go to the van
compartment' said another.
'I tell you, I was permitted to travel in this compartment at
Durban, and I insist on going on in it' Gandhi replied.
The officials were in no mood to listen. 'You must leave this
compartment, or else I shall have to call a police constable to push
you out,' said one.
Gandhi knew he was right. He refused to get out voluntarily. |
The
constable came. He took Gandhi by the hand and pushed him out. His
luggage was also taken out. Gandhi still refused to go to the other
compartment and soon the train steamed away.
A shocked Gandhi went and sat in the waiting room, clutching his
handbag. His other luggage had been taken by the railway
authorities. It was a cold winter night and Maritzburg being at a
high altitude, was bitterly cold. Gandhi's overcoat was in his
luggage, but he did not dare to ask for it lest he should be
insulted again. He sat and shivered in the dark.
Gandhi recalls, "I began to think of my duty. Should I fight for my
rights or go back to India, or should I go on to Pretoria without
minding the insults, and return to India after finishing the case?
It would be cowardice to run back to India without fulfilling my
obligation. The hardship to which I was subjected was superficial,
only a symptom of the deep disease of colour prejudice. I should
try, if possible, to root out the disease and suffer hardships in
the process. Redress for wrongs I should seek only to the extent
that would be necessary for the removal of the colour prejudice."
He decided to stay on in South Africa and took the next available
train to Pretoria. |
