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Avril 1893

Embarque pour Durban, saisissant l’opportunité d’un emploi comme juriste en Afrique du Sud offert par Dada Abdulla & Co., laissant sa femme et son fils à Rajkot dans l’intention d’y revenir un an plus tard.

Mai 1893

Atteint Port Natal vers la fin du mois, où il est stupéfait par le manque de respects envers les Indiens.

Mai - juin 1893

Rend visite au tribul de Durabn le deuxième ou troisième jour de son arrivée ; lorsqu’on lui demande d’enlever son turban il préfère quitter les lieux. Écrit à la presse à propos de cet incident, où il est appelé un « visitor indésirable », mais obtient une oublicité considérable.

1893

Se rend à Pretoria sept ou huit jours plus tard pour son travail de juriste. Durant son voyage en train et en diligence, il subit une expérience déplaisante due au préjudice de racisme.

1893

Est résolu de se battre pour « déraciner la maladie » des préjudices racistes et « d’en supporter les conséquences ». Baker, un avoué et prédicateur, l’avertit que le préjudice raciste est général et lui fournit un logement dans la demeure d’une femme pauvre. Se rend à la réunion de prière de Baker et est introduit auprès de Chrétiens comme M. Coates, un Quaker, et de Mme Harris et de Mme Gabb, avec qui il se lie d’amitié.

1893

Durant la première semaine à Pretoria il rencontre Sheth Tyeb Haji Khan et prend la parole durant une réunion de marchants indiens Memon sur la condition des Indiens au Transvaal. Suggère et offre son aide pour la formation d’une association pour corriger les torts faits aux colons indiens. Son séjour à Pretoria lui apporte une connaissance directe des conditions sociales, économiques et politiques des Indiens au Transvaal et dans l’État libre d’Orange.

À TRADUIRE

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.

22 août - 2 septembre 1893

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.

Avril 1894

While preparing case for his client, Dada Abdulla, realized paramount importance of facts, or truth, in legal practice. Convinced of folly of litigation, had the dispute settled by arbitration. His professional engagement over, returned to Durban.

1894

At farewell party saw announcement in The Natal Mercury of impending disfranchisement law and urged Indian merchants present to resist it. Was persuaded by them to extend his stay by a month to lead their struggle - a fateful decision.

1894

At this time took to serious religious study. Tolstoy's The Kingdom of God Is Within You overwhelmed him. Corresponded with Christian friends in England. Also wrote to religious thinkers in India, like Raychandbhai whose replies to his questions on Hinduism reassured him.

22 mai 1894 (?)

At meeting of prominent Indian merchants set up committee to agitate against discriminatory legislation.

27 juin 1894

Sent telegrams to Speaker of Natal Legislative Assembly, Prime Minister Robinson and Attorney-General Harry Escombe, asking for postponement of consideration of Franchise Law Amendment Bill till Indian petition was presented. Discussion of Bill deferred by two days.

28 juin 1894

Submitted to Legislative Assembly petition, signed by 500 Indians, opposing Bill and asking for Commission of Enquiry.

29 juin 1894

Waited in deputation of Premier; requested for week's time to present the Indian case more exhaustively.

1er juillet 1894

Attended and addressed meeting of Indians in Field Street.

3 juillet 1894

Led deputation to Natal Governor and urged him not to sanction the Franchise Bill which received third reading in Assembly.

5 juillet 1894

Initiated correspondence with Dadabhai Naoroji seeking his intervention in England on behalf of South African Indians.

6 juillet 1894

Indians presented second petition to Legislative Council pressing for the rejection of the Franchise Bill.

7 juillet 1894

Franchise Bill received third reading in Council.

10 juillet 1894

Petitioned Governor requesting postponement of dispatch of the Bill to the Imperial Government for Royal assent, pending Indian petition to the latter.

17 juillet 1894

Submitted to Natal Government lengthy mass petition signed by 10,000 Indians, addressed to Lord Ripon, Secretary of State for Colonies.

1894

Settled down in Natal to continue public work.

22 août 1894

Established Natal Indian Congress to carry on sustained agitation against discriminatory legislation, becoming its first Secretary; also Colonial-born Indians Association.

3 septembre 1894

Allowed by Supreme Court to practice in Natal Courts, despite opposition by Natal Law Society. In court, asked to remove turban, obeyed to conform to court practice and to reserve his strength for "fighting bigger battles".

19 septembre 1894

Appeared in Gopi Maharaj case, probably his first in South Africa, and won. But subordinated legal career to public work.

26 novembre 1894

Indicated growing interest in Esoteric Christianity by becoming agent for selling its literature.

Avant le 19 décembre 1894

Addressed documented "Open Letter" to Natal Legislators.

19 décembre 1894

Circulated appeal among Europeans in Natal for sympathetic approach to problem of Indian settlers.

Avril 1895

Visited Trappist Monastery near Durban, where practice of vegetarianism from spiritual point of view greatly impressed him.

6 avril 1895

Through Committee of British Indian Merchants petitioned High Commissioner against unsatisfactory award in Indian Arbitration case.

Avant le 5 mai 1895

Appealed to Natal Assembly against rein denture clauses in Indian Immigration Bill.

Après le 14 mai 1895

Appealed again to Lord Ripon concerning injustice of award leaving Indian trading rights at the mercy of the law courts.

1895

Sought intervention of Lord Elgin, Viceroy of India, to protect Indian interests against discriminatory laws and disabilities.

17 juin 1895

Defended and secured the release of indentured laborer Balasundaram. The case brought him into contact with indentured labor.

26 juin 1895

Petitioned Legislative Council against clauses affecting indentured labor in Immigration Bill.

11 août 1895

Addressed lengthy petition to Joseph Chamberlain objecting to the imposition of the £3 license fee on indenture-expired Indians. Requested Lord Elgin to intervene, or stop further emigration of Indian labor.

12 septembre 1895

Chamberlain conveyed to Natal Government refusal of Imperial Government to sanction Franchise Bill in its existing form.

25-30 septembre 1895

Gandhi wrote to the Press denying that Natal Indian Congress was a secret organization or his being its paid employee, but accepting responsibility for drafting its Constitution.

22 octobre 1895

British Indian Defense Committee and Johannesburg Indians telegraphed to Chamberlain protesting against interpretation of the term "British subjects" in Commando Treaty, exempting citizens from compulsory military service, as applying only to the Whites.

18 novembre 1895

Natal Government forwarded fresh draft of Franchise Bill to Secretary of State for the Colonies. Europeans organized meeting at Ladysmith, Sailsbury, Bellair, etc., in support of Asiatic legislation.

26 novembre 1895

Gandhi memorialized Chamberlain against discrimination in Commando Treaty.

16 décembre 1895

Issued The Indian Franchise : An Appeal to Every Briton in South Africa.