|
|
1893 |
April |
|
Sailed for Durban, readily grasping opportunity
of legal work in South Africa offered by Dada Abdulla
& Co., leaving wife and child in Rajkot and
intending to return in year's time. |
|
1893 |
May |
|
Towards close of month reached Port Natal,
where he was struck by scant respect shown to
Indians. |
|
1893 |
May - June |
|
On second or third day of arrival visited
Durban Court; when asked to remove turban he preferred
to leave premises. Wrote to the Press about
incident; was called "unwelcome visitor", but
secured considerable publicity. |
|
1893 |
|
|
Seven or eight days later proceeded to Pretoria
on client's work. During journey by train and coach had
bitter experience of color prejudice. |
|
1893 |
|
|
Resolved to fight to "root out the disease" of
color prejudice and "suffer hardships in the
process". Baker, attorney and preacher, warned him of
prevalence of color prejudice and secured him
lodgings in a poor woman's inn. Attended Baker's prayer
meeting and was introduced to Christians like Mr.
Coates, a Quaker, and Misses Harris and Gabb, who
became friendly. |
|
1893 |
|
|
During first week in Pretoria met Sheth Tyeb
Haji Khan and addressed meeting of Indian Memon
merchants on the condition of Indians in the
Transvaal. Suggested and offered to help formation of
association for seeking redress of grievances of
Indian settlers. Stay in Pretoria gave him
intimate knowledge of social, economic and
political conditions of Indians in the Transvaal and
the Orange Free State. |
|
1893 |
|
|
Had experience of regulation banning use of
footpaths by Indians when he was kicked off the footpath
near President Kruger's house, but refused despite
pressure to sue the White assailant on the ground
that he would never go to court for personal
grievances. |
|
1893 |
August / September |
22 ... 02 |
Conducted experiments in vital food. Constant
contact with Mr. Coates and other Christian friends
during this time prompted him to study books on
Christianity and hold discussions with them, but he
found difficulty in accepting their interpretation
of the Bible and
Christianity. |
