The Making of the Mahatma

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Respected Gandhi-bhai,

Seth Dada Abdullah Haji...

our partner in South Africa

has a big case in the court here

Though we have engaged

the best vakils and barristers...

we do not have anyone

who understands our language

If you send your brother Mohandas

here, he would be useful to us

If they already have vakils

and barristers what will you do?

You will be just another clerk

Anything is better than the corruption

of our courts here, isn't it?

But it is not even a year

since you came back from London

Look, they are going to pay me

hundred pounds plus all my expenses

And it is only going to be

for a few months

I don't think you should go

Hari, don't put so much water

on the Tulsi, it will die

Come here.

- You should stay here

That's what I feel.

- What am I going to do here in Rajkot?

The children will miss you

And what about you?

Durban Harbour,

May 1893

Seth Dada Abdullah?

Gandhi-bhai?

I'm Dada Abdullah. Welcome.

This is Rustomji Seth

Hello.

- Hello

I thought it might be you but

you are in European dress...

so I was a little confused.

- It's my normal dress

Come, let us take your luggage.

- I'll manage

Is a hotel far from here?

- Hotel?

You will stay with us at my house.

- Please, come this way

Did you have a good trip?

- Yes

How far is it to Pretoria?

I could leave straightaway

There is no hurry. My advocate Mr Baker

will let you know when he needs you

About the case I only know that

someone owes you 40,000 pounds...

and refuses to pay.

- That someone is his own cousin

Seth Tayab Haji Khan Mohammed.

He's a very big man in Transvaal

But before you go to Pretoria,

you will need to understand...

all the facts. Otherwise Tayab will

try to influence you in his favour

Besides, I also need to know

your abilities

How shall I begin?

- I will take you to the court here

Gandhi-bhai, it is nothing like

anything you have seen in Bombay

Good morning, Mr Eskam.

- Hello Abdullah

This is Mr Gandhi. He is

a Bar of Law from London

This is Mr Eskam. He's our attorney

here, soon to be Attorney General

Mr Gandhi is from Bombay, he is

helping me with my case in Pretoria

May he sit with you in court?

Why not?

Come this way, Gandhi

Who is that next to you, Mr Eskam?

Your Honour, this is Mr Gandhi,

from Bombay. Member of the Bar

Gandhi, remove your hat

Your Honour, this is a turban, as worn

by advocates in all courts in India

Not here. Take it off

Your Honour, according to our custom,

I would show you disrespect...

if I took off my turban.

I would rather leave the court

Gandhi-bhai, please...

You were wearing a turban as well.

They didn't ask you to remove yours

We Muslim traders are allowed to keep

our turbans in court...

other Indians are not.

- Then I shall give up my turban...

and wear a hat.

- No Gandhi-bhai...

you will retain your turban

as we do ours

What am I getting into here? I came

here to help you with your case...

not to start a fight in the courts

Be careful. Don't let Tayab Seth

and his men steal secrets from you

But I must get in touch with him.

- Whatever for?

He is your cousin. Don't you think

it will be better to go in...

for a mutual settlement?

- Not with Tayab. I do not trust him

He doesn't keep his word

Tell me, do you have

anything to read?

Here...

take this. It is an

English translation of the Koran

I think it will inspire you.

- Thank you

As soon as you get to Pretoria,

send me a telegram

Goodbye.

- God be with you

Hey coolie!

What are you doing here?

Conductor, there's a damn coolie

in my compartment

You are in the wrong compartment.

All natives to travel in the band

C'mon Sammy, don't give us any trouble.

- I was issued a ticket...

for this compartment

and I insist on going in it

No, you won't

I will not leave this compartment.

Where does it say...

"Reserved for Europeans only"?

Please show me

Get off my train!

- Pack him off

Out you go, Sammy!

- I will not leave the van!

I will protest to the authorities

In the luggage van!

That's for you

And why should you not fight

in the course of Allah?

And of those who being weak

are ill-treated and oppressed

Men, women and children

whose cries...

Our Lord, rescue us from this town...

whose people are oppressors

And raise for us from Thee,

one who will protect

The train to Gauteng

will now depart

All aboard

Johannesburg! Pretoria!

All passengers bound for Johannesburg

and Pretoria can get on to this coach

Where are you going?

- Pretoria

This ticket is not valid, Sammy.

This was for yesterday's train

But my principal had wired you

about the change

And the name is not Sammy.

Please check. Gandhi is the name

Oh yes, Gandhi

Well, you can travel

on the coachman's seat

Aren't there any seats inside?

- Only Europeans

No natives and coolies. Sammy, you

can take my seat next to the coachman

I will travel inside.

Get on, or we leave without you

C'mon! Ya, ya!

Ya, ya! C'mon!

Sammy, sit down there.

I want to set out to Navesburg

I will do no such thing.

You forced me to sit out here

This is now my seat.

- Be quiet, you coolie bastard!

Get down, you!

Start the coach!

Filthy black bastard!

Trying to emulate gentlemen, eh?

- Stop it!

Stop it this instant

or I report you

Enough is enough! Let him be.

- Well...

are you going to let him,

or aren't you?

Yes sir?

- Get down there. I want to smoke

Pretoria,

May 1893

Mr Gandhi! Come in

I hope you had a pleasant journey

Hardly pleasant, Mr Baker.

- Please take a seat

I can't find a single hotel

that will take me in

I'm afraid there's a fearful amount

of colour prejudice here

I may be able to find you lodgings

But I'm afraid they may not be

upto your standards

I know a poor widow who will take

you in, because she needs the money

Should we go and take a look?

So when do I start work, Mr Baker?

- Oh yes

It's a pity we won't be able

to use you as a barrister

But you can assist me in communicating

with Mr Abdullah...

that will make things easier

Are you a Mohammedan like Mr Abdullah?

- No. A Hindu

I'm afraid I don't know much about

my own religion and even less so others

I'm keen though to make a study

of all religions

Good, good

Some of us meet everyday in the church

at one o'clock to pray together

Perhaps you'd like to join us.

- Yes

Let us pray

O gracious and most merciful Lord...

we pray that You will show the

true path to the new brother...

who has come amongst us

And grant him, O Lord,

the peace that Thou has shown us

And may the Lord Jesus Christ, who

died upon the cross to redeem us...

from our sins and to save us

from damnation, save him also

And all this, we pray in the name

of our Lord Jesus Christ and Saviour

Amen.

- Amen

What is that you are wearing

around your neck, Mr Gandhi?

Is it some kind of talisman?

- Oh, that is from my Mother

Is it of religious significance?

- Yes, in a way

Superstition. You shouldn't be wearing

charms around your neck, Mr Gandhi

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