Mahatma Gandhi 28 - A Successful Lawyer Poem by Geeta Radhakrishna Menon

Gandhiji's three years stay in Natal
As a successful lawyer,
Changed many things,
Regressive laws were opposed valiantly,
And most significantly,
Progress took a leap.

Gandhiji took deep interest in
The social conditions and status of Indians,
And thoroughly empathised with
Their problems and sufferings!
Gradually, the Indians developed faith in
Gandhiji's method of dealing with difficult issues!

In 1896, Gandhiji returned to India.
Back in Rajkot,
Gandhiji was determined to publish a pamphlet
Exposing the conditions of Indians in South Africa,
The pamphlet with a green colour caught
The attention of the people and the press!

To publish ten thousand copies of
The green pamphlet was no mean task,
To post them all over India a greater effort.
Gandhiji sought the help of children,
To prepare and post the pamphlets,
The children helped and completed the job with cheer.

The intention of publishing
These green pamphlets,
To create an awareness,
To educate the public,
To create an opinion about
The conditions of Indians living abroad!

Gandhiji organised meetings
In Bombay, Poona, Madras and Calcutta!
Apart from the fact that a keen awareness was created,
Gandhiji's active work in South Africa became well known
And became a point of debate and discussion
Amongst the people in India!

Having accomplished his work,
Most satisfactorily in India,
Gandhiji, once again sailed,
In a steamship to Durban
To continue his work as
A successful lawyer!

This time, when Gandhiji sailed
Back to Durban,
He was not alone.
He was accompanied by his wife- Kasturba
His two sons-
And also the son of his widowed sister!

When Gandhiji sailed to the South African shore,
He was not aware that another
Steamship named ‘Naderi' was also
Moving in the same direction-
Towards Durban carrying eight hundred Indians,
In search of work and trade in South Africa.

From time immemorial,
There is always the tendency of man,
To seek work in pastures new.As the old proverb says:
‘The grass is greener on the other side of the field'
The green leaves, the shady trees and the juicy fruits remain
Unnoticed, untouched and unappreciated in your own land!