The Story of My Experiments with Truth · Chapter
The Zulu “Rebellion” explained
Gandhi recounts his decision to form an Indian Ambulance Corps during the Zulu uprising in Natal, motivated by loyalty to the British Empire.
What happens
Gandhi recounts his decision to form an Indian Ambulance Corps during the Zulu uprising in Natal, motivated by loyalty to the British Empire. He describes the lack of genuine rebellion, the mistreatment of Zulu prisoners and friendlies, and his nursing work alongside a small team of volunteers. The chapter highlights his growing sympathy for the Zulus and his commitment to service despite opposition from white soldiers.
Themes in this chapter
Service and Community Leadership
Gandhi organizes and leads an Indian Ambulance Corps to nurse wounded Zulus, demonstrating selfless service and leadership in a crisis.
Nonviolence and Satyagraha
Gandhi's sympathy for the Zulus and his choice to nurse them rather than fight reflects his commitment to nonviolence and compassion, even within a military context.
Characters to notice
- Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
Forms and leads the Indian Ambulance Corps, nurses wounded Zulus, and dispenses prescriptions for white soldiers.
- Kasturbai Gandhi
Consents to Gandhi's decision to break up the Johannesburg home and settle at Phoenix.
- Henry Polak
Takes over a smaller house after Gandhi vacates the Johannesburg home.
- Dr. Booth
Mentioned as the doctor in whose hospital Gandhi received a year's training in compounding and dispensing prescriptions.
Key passages
“I bore no grudge against the Zulus, they had harmed no Indian. I had doubts about the 'rebellion' itself. But I then believed that the British Empire existed for the welfare of the world.”
Gandhi felt no animosity toward the Zulus and questioned the legitimacy of the uprising, yet his loyalty to the British Empire led him to offer assistance.
Highlights Gandhi's conflicted loyalty and his initial trust in the British Empire's benevolence.
“The reason why the disturbance had been magnified into a rebellion was that a Zulu chief had advised nonpayment of a new tax imposed on his people, and had assagaied a sergeant who had gone to collect the tax.”
The so-called rebellion was actually a localized protest against a new tax, which escalated when a tax collector was killed.
Explains the disproportionate British response and the mischaracterization of the event.
“The white soldiers used to peep through the railings that separated us from them and tried to dissuade us from attending to the wounds. And as we would not heed them, they became enraged and poured unspeakable abuse on the Zulus.”
White soldiers attempted to prevent Gandhi and his team from treating the wounded Zulus, and when ignored, they hurled racial abuse at the patients.
Illustrates the racial hostility faced by Gandhi and the Zulus even in a humanitarian context.