An Autobiography
The Story of My Experiments with Truth Summary / Essay
Chapter 1
Birth and Parentage
- M.K. Gandhi
Introduction:
In Chapter 1 (Birth and Parentage) of An Autobiography, or The Story of My Experiments with Truth, Mahatma Gandhi reflects on his birth, family background, and early influences. He highlights his parents' principles and his own early struggles in school.
The Gandhi Family's Background:
The Gandhi family belongs to the Bania caste. Bania community, originally consisted of grocers. But for three generations, starting with Mahatma Gandhi's grandfather, they served as Prime Ministers (Diwan) in various Kathiawad States.
Uttamchand Gandhi's Principles and Loyalty:
Uttamchand Gandhi, also known as Ota Gandhi, was a man of principle. Political intrigues forced him to leave Porbandar, where he was Diwan, and seek refuge in Junagadh. There, he saluted the Nawab with his left hand. When someone questioned the apparent disrespect, he explained that his right hand was already pledged to Porbandar.
Ota Gandhi's Family:
Ota Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi's grandfather, remarried after the death of his first wife. He had four sons from his first marriage and two sons from his second marriage. Gandhi was not aware during childhood that these sons were from different mothers.
Karamchand Gandhi and Tulsidas Gandhi:
Ota Gandhi's fifth son was Karamchand Gandhi (also known as Kaba Gandhi), who was the father of Mahatma Gandhi. The sixth son was Tulsidas Gandhi. Both brothers served as Prime Ministers (Diwan) in Porbandar, one after the other.
Kaba Gandhi's Career:
Kaba Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi’s father, was also a member of the Rajasthanik Court. This court, though now extinct, was influential in resolving disputes between chiefs and their clansmen. Kaba Gandhi held the position of Prime Minister (Diwan) in both Rajkot and Vankaner. At the time of his death, he was a pensioner of the Rajkot State.
Kaba Gandhi’s Family:
Kaba Gandhi, the father of Mahatma Gandhi, married four times, as his wives passed away one after another. From his first and second marriages, he had two daughters. His fourth wife, Putlibai, gave birth to one daughter and three sons, with Mahatma Gandhi being the youngest.
Kaba Gandhi's Character:
Kaba Gandhi was known for being devoted to his clan. He was truthful, brave, and generous, though he had a short temper. He was regarded as incorruptible. He earned a reputation for being fair, both within his family and outside it. His loyalty to the state was also well recognized.
A Stand for Loyalty:
Kaba Gandhi once bravely opposed an Assistant Political Agent who insulted the Rajkot Thakore Saheb, his chief. The agent demanded an apology, but Kaba Gandhi refused and was detained for a few hours. Seeing his firm stance, the agent eventually released him without an apology.
Kaba Gandhi's Simplicity:
Kaba Gandhi never aspired to accumulate wealth and left very little property to his family. He had limited formal education, having studied only up to the fifth Gujarati standard. He lacked knowledge in subjects like history and geography. However, his vast practical experience helped him manage difficult situations and handle people effectively.
Kaba Gandhi’s Religious Life:
Though Kaba Gandhi had little formal religious training, he followed Hindu traditions by visiting temples and attending religious discourses. In his later years, under the influence of a family friend who was a learned Brahmin, he began reading the Bhagavad Gita. He would recite verses from it daily during his worship.
Putlibai’s Religious Devotion:
Putlibai, the mother of Mahatma Gandhi, left a lasting impression of saintliness. She was deeply religious and never ate a meal without completing her daily prayers. Visiting the Vaishnava temple (Haveli) was part of her daily routine. Mahatma Gandhi recalled that she never missed observing the Chaturmas, a period of religious fasting and vows. She took on the hardest vows without hesitation, even during illness.
Putlibai's Commitment to Fasting:
Once Putlibai fell ill while observing the Chandrayana vow, a strict fasting ritual. Despite her illness, she continued the fast. Fasting for two or three consecutive days was common for her. During Chaturmas, she often limited herself to one meal a day and, on some occasions, fasted every alternate day. In another Chaturmas, she vowed to eat only after seeing the sun. Gandhi recalled that during the rainy season, the sun often didn’t appear, leading to her missing meals. When they informed her that the sun briefly appeared, only for it to disappear before she could see it herself, she would cheerfully say, "God did not want me to eat today."
Putlibai’s Intelligence and Common Sense:
Putlibai was also known for her strong common sense and knowledge of state affairs. The ladies of the court respected her intelligence, and Gandhi, as a child, would often accompany her to the court. He remembered her engaging in lively discussions with the widowed mother of the Thakore Saheb, showcasing her sharp mind.
Gandhi's early Childhood and Education:
Mahatma Gandhi was born to Putlibai and Kaba Gandhi in Porbandar, also known as Sudamapuri, on October 2, 1869. He spent his childhood in Porbandar. Gandhi recalled that he was enrolled in school, but he struggled with his studies. He remembered little from those early school days, he and his classmates often called their teacher various names. He had difficulty learning the multiplication tables. He was slow to learn and had a poor memory.
Conclusion:
In Chapter 1 (Birth and Parentage) we learnt that Mahatma Gandhi's early life reflects simplicity and humble beginnings. Raised by deeply principled parents, he struggled in school, but their influence shaped his values of truth, loyalty, and devotion.
An Autobiography or The Story of My Experiments with Truth by M.K. Gandhi - Chapter 1 (Birth and Parentage) in Tamil @Banumathi K's Literature Insights
Thanks for Reading Friends
📚LET'S LEARN TOGETHER 📚
Banumathi K's Literature Insights
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
No comments:
Post a Comment