By this time Gokhale began to suffer from poor health.
Heart troubled him and paralysis hit him. Thus he became a victim of multiple afflictions. But he refused to remain bed ridden. He would walk around slowly with palm pressed on his left chest as if to keep his ailing heart assured.
Sometimes it would appear that he was losing touch with the world and the realities around. It was natural in that condition.
Once speaking at a public meeting he remarked, “Viceroy is right in saying that why should Gandhi bind himself with some pledge. It is politics. And the gist of politics is just one thing—compromise.”
Infact, he was feeling anguished at the attitude of Gandhi who was not coming back to India inspite of his repeated requests. Every time Gokhale wrote to him Gandhi would reply back citing his commitments and his programmes in South Africa.
Gokhale was a very good judge of character.
Only a brief interaction with Gandhi had revealed to him that Gandhi was the man whom India’s freedom struggle needed most. He had realised how important it was for Gandhi to return to India to lead the Congress party in the battle against the aliens. He had evolved a strange love for Gandhi. He wanted him to be by his side to plan the battle against the colonial rulers.
He had seen how much Gandhi understood the importance of social reforms for the freedom of India. And Gokhale wanted to help Gandhi in every way so that he could finish his South African Commitments as soon as possible and return to India. If Gandhi needed more financial help he could arranged that.
But Gandhi was a different kind of person. He was very scrupulous about money. He could raise funds himself. Gandhi would only ask for the blessings of Gokhale. Frankly, Gokhale was not in agreement with Gandhi on several matters but he blessed Gandhi nevertheless and cooperated fully with him.
He had gone to South Africa for one purpose only—that was for lessening the burden of Gandhi and help him in his mission.
Gandhi had his own agenda and the political time table.
Any way, Gokhale pleaded with Ramsay MacDonald, Sir Valentine Chirole and Indian Kings to help Gandhi financially. Due to his efforts Gandhi received a considerable financial aid to boost his campaign.
At last, on 21st January, 1914 an agreement was signed by Gandhi and General Schmutts bringing to end the long drawn confrontation.
When Gokhale had fallen ill, he was in London. After assigning agreement with generals Gandhi reached London to see Gokhale. By then Gokhale had left for Paris for recuperation.
When Gokhale got the news of the arrival of Gandhi in London he hastened back and found Gandhi down with pleurisy disease. And London’s damp atmosphere was not proving suitable for Gokhale. So, he returned to India. He had gone to London to take part in the meetings of Public Service Commission.
The doctors announced that Gokhale was suffering from heart trouble which will allow him only three more years of life. At that time the treatment and diagnosis of heart related diseases was not well researched.
When Gandhi recovered from illness he too sailed for India where he met Gokhale at Pune.
The two had a long talk.
Gokhale again emphasised on Gandhi that it was time for him to wind up his role in S. Africa and return to India where a lot remained to be done. He advised Gandhi to tour the country, meet people, learn the ground realities and then take over the charge of the freedom struggle.
Gokhale wanted Gandhi to become a life member of his Servants of India society. Gandhi too was willing to join the organisation. But the other life members of the society were against Gandhi joining their organisation. They claimed that the ideals and the style of the functioning and working of Gandhi were different from the ideals the society stood for.
It dismayed Gandhi.
But Gokhale assured him that sooner or later the doors of the society would open up for him. One thing needed was that Gandhi must not lose patience. Even if he were not accepted in the society, the member of the same body would hold Gandhi in high esteem. Gokhale told him that irrespective of his formal entry into the society he considered Gandhi to be a member of the society any way.
