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Gandhi's Teachers : Rajchandra Ravjibhai Mehta
desire was not yet there and it developed after he started associating with his wife. Even at that age Gandhi was passionately in love with his wife. He thought of her often and wanted to be with her constantly. He was devoted to his wife and believed that the relationship between husband and wife was life-long and based on mutual faithfulness. He also felt that husband was a guide and a teacher for the wife and responsible for her conduct. He wanted Kasturbai to identify with him and obey all his commands. Kasturbai, though illiterate and of a simple nature, was an independent-minded woman and often refused to obey Gandhi. This led to arguments between the husband and wife and the two did not speak to each other for days. Gandhi continued his efforts to educate Kasturbai to help her rid the ignorance and behavioral lackings. Kasturbai paid little attention to such urgings of Gandhi and continued with her manners. Twenty-five years later when Gandhi took the vow of brahmacharya in South Africa, he acknowledges that wife should not be a slave of husband's whims and ought to be treated like a companion, helpmate, and partner in life. She should be free to choose her own path in life and establish own goals.
Like many other boys of his age, Gandhi fell in bad company and did some foolish things. For example, he was conscious of his physical weakness, could not jump or run, and was afraid of ghosts, snakes, and thieves. To overcome these weaknesses, Gandhi tried meat-eating at the suggestion of a friend. At first meat-eating was not a pleasant experience, but he gradually got used to it and had about half-a-dozen feasts. This was being done without the knowledge of his parents and this fact constantly gnawed upon Gandhi's conscience. He quit meat-eating and never went back to it again. Gandhi also once went to a brothel in the company of a friend and recalls that he was saved only by God's grace. He admits that though he did not commit the actual sin, carnal desire was there and therefore moral lapse had occurred. Gandhi also smoked cigarettes a few times and stole money twice. He considered smoking to be a barbarous, dirty, and
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