Gandhi Before Gandhi

Author(s): Bipin Doshi, Priti Shah
Publisher: Jain Academy Educational Research Center Promotion Trust Mumbai

Page 173

GANDHI BEFORE GANDHI
Mahatma Gandhi's relationship With VRG
Mahatma Gandhi in his Autobiography, "The Story of My Experiments with Truth" (Translated from Gujarati by Mahadev Desai) on page 47, Chapter 28, wrote:
"While in Bombay, I began, on one hand, my study of Indian law and, on the other, my experiments in dietetics in which Virchand Gandhi, a friend, joined me. My brother, for his part was trying his best to get me briefs. The study of Indian law was a tedious business. The Civil Procedure Code I could in no way get on with, not so however, with the Evidence Act. Virchand Gandhi was reading for the Solicitor's Examination and would tell me all sorts of stories about Barristers and Vakils."
Ref. Book: Mahatma Gandhi, Vol. 1, The Early Phase by Pyarelal published in Feb, 1965) Pg. no. 282 In Bombay he engaged Ravishankar, a Brahmin, to cook for him in the small establishment that he set up for himself. Study of Indian law he found to be tedious. No briefs came to him. Nevertheless he'stoutly refused to engage touts. With little to occupy him he started a short-lived experiment in 'vital food'. His friend Virchand Gandhi, who was studying for the Solicitor's examination, joined him.
Pg. no. 283 The prospect seemed gloomy in the extreme. His friend Virchand Gandhi, kept reeling off long yarns about forensic feats of herozeshah Mehta, Badruddin Tyabji and other legal luminaries.
In a letter written to Mr. Virchand Gandhi's son, Mohanbhai, Mahatma Gandhi sends his blessings and asks "Have you adopted any ideas of your father?"
Shrimad Rajchandra and VRG
Shrimad Rajchandra was a divine man following strict code of conduct. To one of his follower's question about crossing the sea by Mr Virchand Gandhi for the cause of religion, he not only defended Mr. Virchand
Gandhi but also criticized those who were expressing such views in the name of religion.
Note by Mansukhbhai Kirchand