The Story of My Experiments with Truth · Chapter
Shyness My Shield explained
Gandhi reflects on his profound shyness during his time in England, particularly in public speaking and committee meetings.
What happens
Gandhi reflects on his profound shyness during his time in England, particularly in public speaking and committee meetings. He describes his inability to speak at the Vegetarian Society, his written protest against the exclusion of Dr. Allinson, and a failed speech at a vegetarian dinner. He concludes that his shyness became a spiritual discipline, teaching him economy of words and aiding his pursuit of truth.
Themes in this chapter
Truth and Self-Experimentation
Gandhi's shyness is framed as a discipline that helps him discern truth and avoid thoughtless speech.
Vegetarianism and Dietary Discipline
Gandhi's active involvement in the Vegetarian Society and his experiment of hosting a vegetarian dinner at a non-vegetarian restaurant.
Self-Discipline and Simplicity
Gandhi's shyness is reinterpreted as a spiritual shield that enforces economy of words and self-restraint.
Characters to notice
- Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
Describes his shyness in public speaking, his role in the Vegetarian Society committee, and his written protest against Dr. Allinson's exclusion.
- Tryambakrai Mazmudar
Accompanied Gandhi to Ventnor and read Gandhi's speech aloud when Gandhi was unable to do so.
- Dr. Allinson
Advocate of birth control methods; his membership in the Vegetarian Society was challenged by President Hills, leading to Gandhi's written protest.
- Mr. Hills
President of the Vegetarian Society and puritan who moved to remove Dr. Allinson from the Society.
Key passages
“My vision became blurred and I trembled, though the speech hardly covered a sheet of foolscap. Sjt. Mazmudar had to read it for me.”
Gandhi was so nervous that his sight blurred and he shook, even though his speech was only one page long; his friend Mazmudar had to read it aloud.
Illustrates Gandhi's extreme stage fright during a vegetarian meeting in Ventnor.
“I have naturally formed the habit of restraining my thoughts. And I can now give myself the certificate that a thoughtless word hardly ever escapes my tongue or pen.”
Gandhi has cultivated the habit of controlling his thoughts, and he can honestly say he rarely speaks or writes without careful consideration.
Shows how shyness evolved into a virtue of disciplined speech.
“Experience has taught me that silence is part of the spiritual discipline of a votary of truth.”
Gandhi learned that remaining silent is an essential practice for someone dedicated to truth.
Connects shyness to his broader spiritual and ethical framework.