E-Book - Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi – His Life & Timesprimitive, of material want. But a plea for acquisitiveness could not standagainst Gandhi's penchant for renunciation, nor could Kasturbai induce him toprefer self- enrichment to community service. In the end, he simply assertedhis male authority and announced that the 1901 gifts and those of 1896, wouldbe surrendered to trustees. So it was, and the fund, augmented from othersources, served South African Indians for decades thereafter.Shortly after this episode, Gandhi, having returned to India and rented a homeand chambers in Bombay, received a call at this office from an Americaninsurance agent. The agent had a 'pleasant countenance' and 'a sweet tongue.'He discussed Gandhi's future 'as though we were old friends'. In America, theagent said, 'a person like you would always carry insurance; life is uncertain'.Moreover, 'It's a religious duty to be insured'. This impressed Gandhi; he hadbelieved that faith in God made an insurance policy superfluous. 'And whatabout your family?' the agent continued. Gandhi knew that his surrender of thefortune in jewels had intensified Kasturbai's insecurity. What would happen toher and the boys if he died; would it be right again to burden his generousbrother who had already spent so much money on them? So Gandhi took out aninsurance policy for ten thousand rupees or, roughly, a thousand pounds invalues of that time. The glib American agent subverted the future Mahatma.The future Mahatma had not yet solved his psychological problems.Hardly had the family found itself in Bombay than Manilal, aged ten, went downwith a severe case of typhoid complicated, before long, by pneumonia. Atnight, the boy had a very high temperature.A Parsi doctor was called. He said there was no effective ftiedicine. Everythingdepended on proper diet and good nursing. He recommended chicken broth andeggs.'But we are absolute vegetarians,' Gandhi told the doctor.Your son's life is in danger,' the doctor cautioned. "We could give him milkdiluted with water but that will not provide enough nourishment.' The Parsiphysician said many of his Hindu patients were vegetarians but in seriousillnesses they obeyed his instructions.www.mkgandhi.org Page 73