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Gandhi's Teachers : Rajchandra Ravjibhai Mehta
observance of Truth, Ahimsa, brahmacharya, control of the palate, non-stealing, non-possession, simplicity, fearlessness, removal of untouchability, bread labor, tolerance of differences, Swadeshi, humility, and importance of the vows (see: Gandhi's Ashram Observances in Action). Twenty-five men and women from South Africa and India started living in the Ashram and others joined later. The Ashram had been in existence for only a few months when an untouchable family wanted admission into it. This was unusual because according to the Indian tradition high and low castes were supposed to live and function separately. The residents of the Ashram and those who financially supported it presented strong opposition. Gandhi, however, argued that all people were equal and had to be treated as such. Eventually the untouchable family was admitted into the Ashram. Symbolically this marked the beginning of Gandhi's struggle against untouchability in India, to which later other social problems like communal disharmony, unequal treatment of women, problems of peasants, and treatment of laborers, tribal people, and prostitutes were added.
Home Rule
Gandhi had originally conceived of a home rule for India within the British empire (see: Gandhi's Hind Swaraj). But after noticing the unjust practices of the British rulers, Gandhi felt that India must gain complete freedom form the British rule and must form own government in accordance with the needs and wishes of the people. In a letter to the Viceroy of India, he expressed this idea emphasizing that the Indian people were ready for self-government and they would sacrifice anything to achieve this goal. The response to Gandhi's letter came in the form of Rowlatt Committee's report and Rowlatt Bill was introduced in the parliament for causing further repression of the Indians. Gandhi resorted to the Satyagraha struggle once again using the familiar weapons
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