# Playing the Husband explained — The Story of My Experiments with Truth

> Chapter companion for The Story of My Experiments with Truth by Mahatma Gandhi.

## What happens

Gandhi reflects on his early married life with Kasturbai, describing his jealous and possessive behavior as a young husband, his failed attempts to educate her due to lust and societal constraints like purdah, and how his commitment to truth and duty ultimately saved him from the excesses of carnal desire.

## Themes in this chapter

### Family and Personal Relationships

Gandhi examines the dynamics of his marriage, including jealousy, possessiveness, and the struggle to balance love with duty.

### Self-Discipline and Simplicity

Gandhi credits his innate passion for truth and his commitment to daily duties for saving him from the pitfalls of lustful love.

## Character check-ins

### Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

Reflects on his youthful jealousy, possessiveness, and failed efforts to educate Kasturbai, acknowledging his lustful love as an obstacle.

### Kasturbai Gandhi

Described as illiterate, simple, independent, persevering, and reticent; she resisted Gandhi's restrictions and educational efforts.

## Key lines

> I must therefore confess that most of my efforts to instruct Kasturbai in our youth were unsuccessful. And when I awoke from the sleep of lust, I had already launched forth into public life, which did not leave me much spare time.

Gandhi admits that his attempts to teach Kasturbai failed because his youthful lust consumed his time, and by the time he overcame it, his public duties left no room for her education.

_Gandhi regrets that his lustful love prevented him from educating Kasturbai, a failure he attributes to his own lack of purity._

> If I had the right to impose restrictions on her, had not she also a similar right? All this is clear to me today. But at that time I had to make good my authority as a husband!

Gandhi now realizes that his jealous restrictions on Kasturbai were unjust, but as a young husband he felt compelled to assert his authority.

_Gandhi reflects on his past hypocrisy, acknowledging that his sense of marital authority was misguided._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_my_experiments_with_truth_se/chapters/part-i-iv-playing-the-husband
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_my_experiments_with_truth_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_my_experiments_with_truth_se/chapters