Gandhi, His Early Life

Today, I read the book about Gandhi. I'm going to show you what I found in the book.

He was born on October 2, 1869, into a Hindu family. His father, Kaba Gandhi, was an influential political figure. His mother is depicted as faultless. Gandhi said crucial influence on his life came from his mother. By the way, he describes himself as "very shy" and "mediocre student". And he was feeling fears most. He says in his autobiography that "I was coward. I used to be haunted by the fear of thieves, ghosts ans serpents. I did not dare to stir out of doors at night. Darkness was a terror to me." One of the reasons why he was such a weak boy is because of his early arranged marriage at thriteen years old. From this time, courage and fearlessness became hard sought virtues.

Gandhi summarizes central values that he had formed by age eighteen as he prepared to leave India for England. He left for London to study law in September 1888. He believes his cowardice vanished before the desire to go to England. He started his life in London at age nineteen determined to "be clumsy no more, but to try to become polished." He struggled to be a member of sophisticated culture abroad as he suggests he spent his money on buying an evening suit in the centre of fashionable life in London. He wasted ten minutes every day before a huge mirror, watching himself arranging his tie and parting his hair in the correct fashion.

There are some decisive events in his life to form his philosophy. The story about him will continue for the next time I write blog.

See you,

Misaki