Chapter 14 Chapter 12 Caste Status Dismissed

With my mother's permission and blessing, I happily left for Bombay, saying goodbye to my wife and a baby of a few months.However, as soon as I arrived in Bombay, some friends told my brother that the Indian Ocean was very rough in June and July, and since this was my first voyage, they asked me to wait until November.It was also said that a steamship had recently been sunk in a storm.This disturbed my brother, and he would not risk my departure at once, but he put me up with a friend in Bombay, and went back to Rajkot to do his business.He entrusted the safekeeping of my traveling expenses to my brother-in-law, and ordered some friends to give me as much attention as possible in times of need.

I lived like a year in Bombay and often dreamed of going to England.At this time, people in our caste started talking about my going abroad.No one from the Maud Banya caste had ever been to England then, and if I did, I have to explain: they called a caste meeting and I was called to attend.I participated.How I suddenly mustered up the courage to go there, I really don't know.But I went to that meeting without fear or hesitation.Seid - the patriarch of our clan - who was a distant relation of ours, and was on good terms with my father, said sharply to me: "In the opinion of the clan, your intention of going to England is not proper. Our religion forbids voyages. We have also heard that we cannot live there without injuring our religion. Those who go must eat and drink with the Europeans!"

I replied, "I don't think it is against our religion to go to England. My purpose in going there is to further my education. And I have solemnly promised my mother not to do the three things you are most afraid of. I believe mine The oath will keep me safe." "But we will tell you," retorted the patriarch, "that it is impossible to maintain our religion there. You know my relation to your father, and you must follow my advice." "I know about those relations," I said, "and I regard you as my elder. But there is nothing I can do about it, and I cannot change my resolution to go to England. My late father's friend and advisor was a very learned man. The same Brahmin, he has no objection to my going to England, and my mother and brother also allow me to study abroad."

"But do you dare to disregard the orders of your caste?" "I really can't help it. I don't think caste itself should interfere with this matter." This angered the chief.He scolded me, but I sat quietly.Then he announced his order: "From this day on the boy shall not be regarded as a man of his own caste. Whoever helps him or goes to see him off at the wharf shall pay a fine of one rupee and four annas. "This order has no effect on me, I got up and said goodbye to the patriarch.But I don't know how my brother will react.Fortunately, he was still very firm, and he wrote to me to assure me that he would allow me to go abroad despite the order of the patriarch.

This incident, however, made me even more anxious to go.What if the pressure they put on my brother had an effect?Who can guarantee that nothing unexpected will happen?While I was worrying about this situation, I heard that a lawyer from Junakad was called to England to conduct his business, and was to sail on September 4th.I went to see my friends whom my brother had entrusted with my care, and they all agreed that I should not miss the company of this lawyer.Time was running out, so I sent a telegram to ask my brother for instructions, and he telegraphed back to agree.I asked my brother-in-law for travel expenses, but he mentioned the order of the chief, saying that he could not afford to lose his caste status.I had no choice but to find another friend of my family and ask him to temporarily advance travel expenses and pocket money, and ask him to ask my brother to return the advance money.This friend not only satisfied my request, but also encouraged me.I am grateful to him.I immediately took out part of the money to buy a ticket, and then prepared to pack.There was also a friend who was very good at sailing, and he prepared all the clothes and other things for me.There are some clothes I still like, and some I don't like at all.Ties, which I loved later, hated at the time.There is a short jacket that I don't think is dignified.But at that time, I was determined to go to England, and all this was out of my control.As for the food carried, it is more than enough for the journey.My friends booked me the same cabin as Mr. Trian Barclay Mazmuta, the lawyer in Junakad.They also introduced me to him.He is an aged and worldly man.

I was only eighteen years old, fledgling and inexperienced.Mr. Mazmuta told my friends not to worry about me. On the 4th of September I finally left Bombay for a long voyage.