Africa has really been built up by Mr. Gandhi. Without self and without stain, he has fought his great tight for this country during a period now of twenty years, and India owes an immense debt of gratitude to him. He has sacrificed himself utterly in the service of the cause. He had a splendid practice at the Bar, making as much as £5,000 to £6,000 a year, which is considered to be a very good income for a lawyer in South Africa. But he has given all that up and he lives now on £3 a month like the poorest man in the street. One most striking fact about him is that, though he has waged this great struggle so ceaselessly, his mind is absolutely free from all bitterness against Europeans. And in my tour nothing warmed my heart more than to see the universal esteem in which the European community in South Africa holds Mr. Gandhi. At every gathering, leading Europeans, when they come to know that Mr. Gandhi was there, would immediately gather round him anxious to shake hands with him, making it quite clear that though they fought him hard and tried to crush him in the course of the struggle they honoured him as a man. To my mind Mr. Gandhi’s leadership of the Indian cause in South Africa is the greatest asset of that cause and it was an inestimable privilege to me that he was with me throughout my tour to pilot me safely through my difficulties (Speech at the Bombay Town Hall Meeting in December, 1912.)
REV. JOSEPH DOKE
It would be difficult to imagine a life less open to the assaults of pride or sloth, than the life lived here. Everything that can minister to the flesh is abjured. Of all men Mr Gandhi reminds one of "Purum Dass", of whom Kipling writes:— "He had used his wealth and his power for what he knew both to be worth; he had taken honour when it came in his way; he had seen men and cities far and near, and men and cities had stood up and honoured him. Now he would let these things go as a man drops the cloak he needs no longer. This is a graphic picture ot our friend. He simply dees what he believes to be his duty, accepts every experience that ensues with calmness, takes honour if it comes without pride; and then lets it go as a man drops the cloak he needs no longer." In the position of "Purum Bhagat" he would do easily what the Bhagat did and no one even now would be surprised to see him go forth at some call which no one else can hear, his crutch under arm, his begging bowl in his band, an antelope skin flung around him, and a smile of deep content on his lips.
- “That man alone is wise,
- Who keeps the mastery of himself."
(From "An Indian Patriot in South Africa.)"
