08 hindustantimes YEARS ON 1869 - 2019 PERSPECTIVE ABHAY BANG GROWING UP IN MAHATMA GANDHI’S SEVAGRAM ASHRAM n MK Gandhi in M A P P I N G GANDHI a horse-drawn carriage in Benares, 1916. ALAMY STOCK 1915-16: A tour PHOTO of the homeland Dhamini Ratnam over, as the community of Indians stood as one n
[email protected] against the imperial powers. In India, how- ever, the differences were wide and various, ohandas Karamchand Gandhi was and Gandhi needed time to understand them. already a well-known political Thus began his tour of the country. He M activist when the ship, the S.S Ara- started his travels from Bombay and jour- bia, docked in Mumbai — then neyed across the length and breadth of the Bombay — on January 9, 1915. Gandhi and his country, from Kolkata to Ahmedabad, Delhi wife Kasturba, had returned to India, after to Chennai, attending meetings, and talking starting two settlements for Indians in South about indentured labour, an issue that he had Africa, and launching a successful satyagraha fought against in South Africa. When news of against unfair laws and taxes on the Indian his mentor, Gopalkrishna Gokhale’s death in community there. February 1915 reached him, Gandhi took a In India, however, Gandhi was advised by vow to not wear any footwear for a year. At a his mentor Gopalkrishna Gokhale — a free- stop in Haridwar some months later he took dom fighter who belonged to the ilk of Moder- another vow: To eat not more than five things ates within the Congress — to tour India for a in 24 hours, and no meal after sunset.