Mahatma Gandhi 26 - An Eye Opener For Gandhiji Poem by Geeta Radhakrishna Menon

The deep study of the social, economical,
And political condition of Indians in Transvaal
And Orange Free State,
Turned out to be an eye opener for Gandhiji!
The laws laid down for the coloured people,
The pathetic status of the Indians,
An unjustifiable discrimination,
A fearful situation,
That needed to be rectified,
An assertive inner voice that propelled,
Changed Gandhiji's mind-set
And the objective of his life!

To get a lodging for Gandhiji was not easy,
Sheth Abdulla managed a humble place,
Rented by a poor woman,
The wife of a baker!
Indians were not allowed
To walk on the footpath or
To move out of the house,
At night without a valid permit.
Once, while Gandhiji was
Walking along the footpath,
A policeman, without any sort of warning,
Pushed and kicked Gandhiji into the street.

Mr Coates, a friend of Gandhiji,
Riding a horse reached the place
At the right moment!
Mr Coates had witnessed the scene of the assault.
He admonished the policeman for his inhuman act.
He strongly told Gandhiji that he would back him up and
Stand as a witness in the court,
If he chose to file a case
Against the policeman,
For his atrocious behavior!
Gandhiji politely declined
To proceed against the policeman!

Gandhiji reasoned: 'What does the poor man know?
For him, all coloured people were the same,
Whether a Negro or an Indian,
It did not matter,
His treatment would be the same.
To treat all coloured people with rudeness and
A blind faith to carry out orders.'
Gandhiji had taken a decision
That he would not go to court for
Any kind of personal grievances!
After being scolded by Mr Coates,
The policeman apologised to Gandhiji.

For Gandhiji, the immediate situation
Of being saved by the policeman,
Or taking him to task for his rudeness was
Not the ultimate solution!
Gandhiji's mind became more concerned with
Tackling the problems faced by the coloured class.
To bring about an effective change,
An improvement in the society,
To uproot the man-made distinctions,
To uphold the dignity of man,
Irrespective of colour and class,
Status, origin or race!