Chapter 31 Chapter 4 The First Strike

Disappointed, I left Mumbai and returned to Rajkot to set up my own practice.My income here is not satisfactory.Writing affidavits for others earns an average monthly income of 300 rupees.This work was not so much my own skill as my friend's help, for my brother's partner already had a fairly established business.All submissions which were really important, or which he considered important, were sent to the barrister.All that was sent to me for writing were statements from his poor clients. Here I must admit that I have compromised with the principle of no kickbacks being taken seriously in Bombay.It is said that the two cases are different: in Bombay the kickbacks are withheld to the intermediary, here they are paid to the counsel who handles the case; rebates on income.My brother's theory, I cannot refute.He said, "You know, I'm in partnership with another attorney. I'm always willing to give you any cases we take that you can handle, and if you don't get kickbacks for my partner , you will certainly embarrass me. You and I have a joint firm, your income is our joint income, and I naturally have a share. But what about my partner? If he sends the same case to another lawyer He must have gotten a kickback from that lawyer too." I thought his words were very reasonable, and I thought that if I were going to be a lawyer, I shouldn't be so stubborn about the principle of kickbacks.That's how I reasoned with myself, or to put it bluntly, that's how I deceived myself.I should add, though: I don't recall getting a kickback in any other way.

Although I can barely maintain my life like this, but at this time, I suffered the first blow in my life.I have heard before of what British officials are like, but have never met them face to face. My brother was secretary and advisor to the late Lanna Sahib Maharaja of Porbandar before his accession to the throne.At this time someone accused him that he had made a wrong idea while in office.The matter went to the political supervisor, who had always been prejudiced against my brother.I had known this official in England, and he was quite polite to me.My brother thought I should use this friendship to put in a good word for him and see if I could help him dispel the prejudices of the political supervisor.I disapprove of his thinking, because I don't want to use my shallow friendship when I was in England to speak for others.If my brother is really wrong, what good is it for me to intercede?If he has done nothing wrong, he should make a complaint according to the rules and wait for the outcome of the matter.My brother disagrees with my opinion.He said: "You don't know Katiahua yet, and you don't know the world. Everything here depends on favors. You are my younger brother. It is your responsibility to intercede for me with the official you know. , you should not evade this responsibility."

I had no way to evade, so I went to meet the official very reluctantly.I knew I had no right to go to him, and was fully aware that I was damaging my ego by doing so.But I went to see him anyway and made an appointment with him.I mentioned my old acquaintances, but I immediately realized that Katiyahua was not the same as the British;The political supervisor admitted we were acquaintances, but mentioning this friendship seemed to harden him. "I don't think you've come here to abuse this friendship?" This seemed to be his strong meaning, and it seemed to be expressed between his brows.Even so, I explained my purpose.The old man became impatient. "Your brother is a conspirator. I don't want to hear anything from you. I don't have time. If your brother has any opinions, let him follow the proper channels to raise them." This answer is enough, and perhaps I deserved.But selfishness is blind, and I continue to tell my story.

The gentleman stood up and said, "You must go now." "But please hear me out," I said.This made him even angrier.He called the footman and told him to see me out.The page did come in, but I hesitated; he put his hands on my shoulders, and pushed me out of the door.The gentleman and the page were gone, and I was anxious to leave.I immediately sent a note on the matter, to the effect that: "You insulted me. You violated me through your footman. If you don't make amends, I'll sue you." His entourage came: "You are disrespecting me. I told you to go, but you didn't go. I had no choice but to order my servant to send you out. But he told you to leave my office, and you still refused to go." .So he had to exert a little effort to send you out. If you want to sue me, I will do as you please."

I put his reply in my pocket, went home dejectedly, and told my brother the whole story of my displeasure.He felt sad but didn't know how to comfort me.He told this to his friend who was traveling with me, because I didn't know how to sue the gentleman.It so happened that Sir Ferozesha Mehta came to Rajkot from Bombay on a case.But how dare a novice lawyer like me go to see him?I then entrusted the attorney who had hired him with the papers concerning the case to him for advice.He said: "Tell Gandhi, this is common practice for many advocates and lawyers. He has just come back from England, fresh blood. He doesn't know British officials yet. If he intends to earn a little money and live in peace here, let him put Tear up that letter, and bear the disgrace. It will do him no good to sue the gentleman, but he will ruin himself. Tell him he is not worldly."

This advice was like poison to me, but I had to swallow it.I endured the shame and learned my lesson.I said to myself, "Never again will I put myself in such a wrong place, never again will I abuse my friendship like this." I have not violated this resolution since.This one blow changed the course of my life.