# The Bombay Meeting explained — The Story of My Experiments with Truth

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

## What happens

Gandhi attends a public meeting in Bombay shortly after his brother-in-law's death, where he is coached by Sir Pherozeshah Mehta to write and deliver a speech. Despite initial difficulties with his voice and the audience's restlessness, the speech is eventually read by Mr. Wacha and well-received. Gandhi also recounts his failed attempts to recruit barristers for South Africa and his encounter with Mr. Pestonji Padshah, who advises him to focus on work in India rather than abroad.

## Themes in this chapter

### Service and Community Leadership

Gandhi's commitment to serving Indians in South Africa is evident despite personal loss and discouragement from friends like Pestonji Padshah.

### Self-Discipline and Simplicity

Gandhi's reliance on God and his willingness to follow Sir Pherozeshah's advice to write a speech reflect his disciplined approach to public service.

## Character check-ins

### Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

Attends the Bombay meeting, writes and delivers a speech, and reflects on his resolve to serve in South Africa.

### Sir Pherozeshah Mehta

Instructs Gandhi to write out his speech and encourages him during the meeting.

### Mr. Pestonji Padshah

Refuses to help Gandhi with South African work and advises him to stay in India, but Gandhi respects his patriotism.

### Parsi Rustomji

Makes amends for a Parsi friend's broken resolve to go to South Africa.

### Mr. D. E. Wacha

Reads Gandhi's speech to the audience after Gandhi's voice fails.

## Key lines

> A patriot cannot afford to ignore any branch of service to the motherland.

A true patriot must engage in all forms of service to their country.

_Gandhi emphasizes the importance of comprehensive service to one's nation._

> Finally, this is better, that one do His own task as he may, even though he fail, Than take tasks not his own, though they seem good.

It is better to perform one's own duty imperfectly than to perform another's duty perfectly.

_Gandhi quotes the Gita to justify his focus on South African work despite advice to the contrary._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_story_of_my_experiments_with_truth_se/chapters/part-ii-xxvii-the-bombay-meeting
- 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