Note: In London

An essay on In London by M.K.Gandhi

 

In London is an extract taken from the autobiography of Gandhi titled “My Experiments With Truth” being translated into English by Mahadev Desai. He went to England to pursue his law degree. He proceeded to South Africa to protest against racial discrimination by practicing Satyagraha.He actively involved in various movements such as Champaran Satyagraha,Non-Cooperation Movement,Dandi March, Civil Disobedience Movement etc. He was called the ‘Father of Nation’ and the ‘Mahatma’.This lesson gives us an insight into the mind of young Gandhi, when he was a student in London.

                             When the lesson begins, he decides that he should not trouble others. He is a vegetarian and wants to cultivate a few accomplishments which makes one a decent gentleman in London. As he decides that Bombay clothes are unsuitable for English society, he purchases new clothes at the Army and Navy Stores. He purchases a chimney-pot hat, asks his brother to send him a “double watch chain of gold”. He also learns the art of tying himself. He watches himself before a huge mirror to part/put his hair in the correct fashion.

                                    As if it were not enough, he further takes coaching for dancing, French language, Elocution. He wastes 3 pounds for purchasing a Violin too in order to cultivate an ear for western music. But he utterly fails to learn all these things.

                                 Gandhi, however, gets realization by undergoing introspection while he is reading the speech of Pitt from the book, “Bell’s Standard Elocutionist”. He thinks that he is not going to spend his life time in England. This thought makes him realize that he is wasting money. From that time onwards he struggles for austerity and frugality. He exercises strict economy in all aspects.

                                   As his living with a family involves him in a lot of unnecessary expenditure, he decides to take a couple of rooms on his own account. The rooms he selects are low in price and also very close to the place of business which he can reach on foot in half an hour. This also keeps him physically healthy. Gandhi knows that the Bar examinations did not require great study. On a friend’s advice Gandhi decides to pass the London Matriculation, thought it is very difficult to clear. He acquires a taste for Latin, French, appears in Matriculation though he fails in the first attempt.

                                     Gandhi feels that his way of living doesn’t fit to the modest means of his family. So he adjusts himself with one room instead of two and cooks food at home and manages to live on a shilling and three pence per a day. That is a period of intensive study too. Plain living saves him plenty of time and he passes his examination. Gandhi says at the end that he found lot of joy by leading this modest life which by no means a dreary one.                                             

Meanings:-

→extract = a short passage from a book

→pursue = study

→insight = clear understanding of a situation

→cultivate = (here) adapt oneself to the situation

→accomplishments = the abilities that have to acquire by training

→introspection = the contemplation of one’s own thoughts, desires and behavior

→elocution = the art of effective speaking

→frugality = careful in avoiding waste of money

→austerity = plain living

→acquires a taste = improves interest

→modest life = plain living