Mahatma Gandhi 29 - On A Sour Apple Tree Poem by Geeta Radhakrishna Menon

When two ships from India
Anchored in the port of Durban,
No passengers were allowed to land.
A thorough medical examination,
A brief quarantine imposed,
To make certain that no passengers carried,
The germ of virulent disease of plague!
Gandhiji aboard the ship was
Charged with two complaints:
'Unmerited condemnation of the Natal whites;
To swamping Natal with Indians and bringing
Two ship loads of passengers to settle in Natal.'

After twenty three days,
The ships were permitted to enter the harbour,
Orders passed for the passengers to land in Durban port.
Gandhiji was warned by Mr.Escombe,
The whites in Natal were highly enraged by Gandhiji,
His life was in danger!
Mr.Laughton, a friend and advocate of Indian community,
Requested that Gandhiji's wife and children
Be separately escorted to the residence of Rustomji,
While Mr.Laughton and Gandhiji were to follow on foot!
Gandhiji agreed to this plan.
His wife and children drove safely to Rustomji's house.

Just as Gandhiji stepped out into the dock
Shouts of ‘Gandhi! Gandhi! '
Reverberated in the air!
Mr.Laughton quickly hailed a rickshaw
And got into it along with Gandhiji!
But the unruly mob of youngsters followed
The rickshaw, stopped it, pulled Gandhiji out,
Thereby, separating Mr.Laughton from Gandhiji.
The angry mob began pelting stones, brickbats
And rotten eggs at Gandhiji!
Some snatched his turban,
While others beat him, boxed and kicked him too.

The wife of Police Superintendent-Mrs.Alexander,
Who was passing by witnessed
The terrible assault on Gandhiji!
The brave lady came rushing
Towards Gandhiji and shielded him
By opening her umbrella and standing
Between the crowd and Gandhiji,
Protecting him from the mob!
When the mob saw the lady protecting Gandhiji,
The fury of the mob was checked,
They stopped hurling things and
Assaulting Gandhiji!

Meanwhile, Alexander alerted of the situation,
Ordered his men to form a ring around Gandhiji,
And to take him safely to his destination!
Escorted by the policemen,
Gandhiji arrived safely without further harm!
However, he entered Rustomji's house
Full of bruises, but luckily, with no serious wound.
The kind Mr. Rustomji quickly summoned
The ship's doctor to render medical aid!
The matter did not end here!
Soon, a crowd gathered around Rustomji's house
Yelling and shouting against Gandhiji.

The crowd began swelling around Rustomji's house
Shouting 'We must have Gandhi'
The far-sighted, quick-witted, Mr.Alexander kept
The crowd under check with his calm demeanour!
He sent a message to Gandhiji to escape from the house in disguise.
Gandhiji put on an Indian Constable's uniform, tied a scarf around his head,
Wrapped around a plate, an effective substitute for a helmet!
Accompanied by two detectives, Gandhiji left the house,
Escaping through a shop's godown - full of gunny bags.
At the end of the street, Gandhiji got into a carriage kept
Ready for him to escape and reached the same police station
Where Mr.Alexander had offered refuge earlier.

At Rustomji's house, Mr. Alexander kept the crowd
Under control with his humour and singing a song:
'Hang old Gandhi on the sour apple tree'
The moment he was convinced that Gandhiji had escaped
He broke the news to the crowd.
To make sure that Mr.Alexander spoke the truth,
A representative from the crowd went into the house
To check whether it was true!
Not finding Gandhiji inside, the crowd began to leave,
Some angry, some amused, some still refusing to believe the story.
Finally, the crowd dispersed, fretting and fuming at the futility
Of the long wait to catch Gandhiji!

Mr. Chamberlain - Secretary of State for the Colonies
Ordered the Natal Government authorities to prosecute
The assailants, who had assaulted Gandhiji for no valid reason!
Mr Escombe sent for Gandhiji,
Expressing regret for the injuries sustained.
If only Gandhiji would identify the assailants,
They would be arrested and prosecuted.
But Gandhiji refused to complain or punish anyone.
An extra-ordinary man with a higher mind,
Lofty thoughts, hard to come by in ordinary men!
This is where Gandhiji becomes an exceptional personality.
A man of great compassion, value and human dignity!

Gandhiji felt that if the authorities had
Guided the people appropriately,
None of this would have happened!
When the truth is known,
The assailants would be sorry for their conduct.
Mr. Escombe wanted all these in writing from Gandhiji.
Gandhiji willingly obliged.
An interview in Natal Advertisement was published.
Gandhiji's refusal to punish the wrong-doers produced
A profound impression on the Europeans in Durban!
They felt ashamed of their conduct.
Gandhiji was declared by the press people as innocent.

The attack ultimately proved to be a blessing,
It increased the prestige of
The Indian community in South Africa!
Gandhiji settled down in Durban with his family,
His work became easier and smoother!
Many changes in his own life style -
Self improvement,
Self transformation!
As a man, Gandhiji developed mental strength,
A strong will power,
Tremendous determination to walk the right path,
A peaceful path of non-violence and non-injury to living beings!