After winning the battle in South Africa, Gandhi set out on 18th July, 1914 for India via London where he was to meet Gokhale. They could not meet as First World War had started and Gokhale was held up in Paris. One 19th Dec. 1914 he reached Bombay. Gokhale too had come back.
Gokhale asked him to set up an ashram like his ‘Phoenix Ashram’ of South Africa in India. He was ready to bear all the expenses. But alas!
Gopal Krishan Gokhale passed away on 19th February, 1915 and could not see his dream come true. His death was a great loss to Mohandas Gandhi who considered the departed one as his political guru. To pay tribute to him Gandhi resolved to walk barefoot for one year.
Late Gokhale had advised Gandhi to see India before embarking on the political course. He set out on India tour accordingly.
In Shanti Niketan he met poet Rabindra Nath Tagore. Then he went to Rangoon. He also paid a visit to Gurukul Kangri School.
And above all he saw of poverty, misery and the exploitation of Indians which saddened him. He took a voe to give up English dress and language. And he decided to wear only dhoti like crores of his countrymen.
On 25th May, 1915 Gandhi set up his first Ashram near Ahmedabad. It was open to all. People of any faith could contributed donations to it.
One day an untouchable family came to live in his ashram. Some upper caste donors objected to it and even threatened the social boycott. But Gandhi could not be cowed down by threats.
In the same year, on the British King’s birthday Rabindra Nath Tagore was awarded the title of ‘Sir’. Gandhi got the title of ‘Kaiser-E-Hind’.
For one year Gandhi studied the situations before jumping into the political fray.
Gandhi in politics
Gandhi began his political innings in India by taking part in inauguration ceremony of Kashi Hindu University. Rajas and Maharajas had contributed a lot of money towards the setting up of the university. So, the princely characters were present in large numbers on the occasion. The royal personage had come overloaded with ornaments, royal finery and bejewelled turbans and crowns.
All eyes were set at fakir like Gandhi supposed to be the conqueror of South Africa.
Gandhi looked at the royalty and castigated the kings and the princes for vulgar show of their opulence having no thought for the poor countrymen and the slavery of the motherland.
The royalty got up to walk out in protest. But students applauded Gandhi. A student named Lal Bahadur Shastri was so impressed with Gandhi that he joined politics to serve the country and became Prime Minister of India fifty years later.
The Police Commissioner ordered Gandhi to leave the town before dawn. Madan Mohan Malviya got the ordered revoked.
But Gandhi left in the morning any way.
The above speech launched Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi in freedom politics.
