The Story of My Experiments with Truth · Chapter
Companions explained
Gandhi describes the dedicated team of companions who assisted him during his early work in Bihar, including Brajkishorebabu, Rajendrababu, Professor Kripalani, and others.
What happens
Gandhi describes the dedicated team of companions who assisted him during his early work in Bihar, including Brajkishorebabu, Rajendrababu, Professor Kripalani, and others. He details the establishment of primary schools in six villages, the recruitment of voluntary teachers, and the emphasis on sanitation and cleanliness education alongside basic literacy. The chapter highlights the selfless service of his companions and the challenges of working with impoverished, ignorant villagers.
Themes in this chapter
Service and Community Leadership
Gandhi and his companions selflessly serve the villagers through education, sanitation, and medical care, embodying community leadership.
Education and Self-Improvement
Establishment of primary schools and emphasis on cleanliness and moral fiber over mere literacy reflects Gandhi's holistic view of education.
Characters to notice
- Brajkishore Prasad
One of the matchless pair of devoted companions; essential to Gandhi's work in Bihar.
- Professor Kripalani
A Sindhi who became more Bihari than a born Bihari; served as Gandhi's gatekeeper and teacher.
- Maulana Mazharul Haq
Registered helper who visited once or twice a month; lived in pomp but associated simply with Gandhi's group.
- Mahadev Desai
Cast his lot with Gandhi along with his wife Durga Desai.
- Kasturbai Gandhi
Summoned for the work; taught cleanliness and good manners despite limited Hindi literacy.
- Dr. Dev
Lent by the Servants of India Society; served as doctor for six months, overseeing sanitary work.
Key passages
“The ryots’ ignorance was pathetic. They either allowed their children to roam about, or made them toil on indigo plantations from morning to night for a couple of coppers a day.”
The peasants' lack of education was heartbreaking; they either let their children wander or forced them to work on indigo farms from dawn to dusk for mere pennies.
Highlights the dire poverty and exploitation of indigo workers in Bihar.
“I explained to them that they were expected to teach the children not grammar and the three R’s so much as cleanliness and good manners.”
I told the women teachers that their primary role was to instill hygiene and proper behavior in the children, not just reading, writing, and arithmetic.
Gandhi's emphasis on moral and sanitary education over traditional academics.