The Story of My Experiments with Truth · Chapter
Location in Flames explained
During the black plague outbreak in Johannesburg, Gandhi and his coworkers assist the Municipality in evacuating the Indian location, relocating residents to a tent camp, and ultimately burning the location to contain the disease.
What happens
During the black plague outbreak in Johannesburg, Gandhi and his coworkers assist the Municipality in evacuating the Indian location, relocating residents to a tent camp, and ultimately burning the location to contain the disease. Gandhi acts as a banker for the residents, depositing their savings, and helps maintain cooperation between the Indians and the authorities.
Themes in this chapter
Service and Community Leadership
Gandhi leads plague relief efforts, acts as a banker for the poor, and fosters cooperation between the Indian community and the Municipality.
Characters to notice
- Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
Coordinates plague relief, acts as banker for location residents, and advises Indians to comply with Municipality orders.
Key passages
“The location was put under a strong guard, passage in and out being made impossible without permission.”
The authorities sealed off the location, allowing no one to enter or leave without authorization.
Describes the strict quarantine measures imposed during the plague.
“I became their banker. Streams of money poured into my office.”
Gandhi took on the role of a banker for the residents, handling large sums of their savings.
Highlights Gandhi's personal involvement in managing the community's finances during the crisis.
“The location was put to the flames on the very next day after its evacuation.”
The day after the residents left, the Municipality set fire to the entire location.
Describes the drastic measure to destroy the infected area.