Chapter 51 Chapter 24 Returning Home

I have lived in South Africa for three years now.I've gotten to know the people there somewhat, and they've gotten to know me a little bit. In 1896, I asked for leave to return to China for half a year, because I knew that I would live there for a long time.I've built a pretty good business, and people obviously feel the need for me to be there.So I decided to go home and settle down with my wife and children.I also feel that if I go back home for a while, I might be able to do a little public work, educate public opinion and generate greater interest in South African Indians. The £3 poll tax is an open sore which will not be appeased until it is abolished.

But after I'm gone, who will be in charge of the work of the General Assembly and the Educational Association?Two people come to mind: Adanji Miyahhan and Bashi Rostunji.Now many staff members can be found from the business world, but those who can afford regular work to perform secretarial duties and are respected by the Indian overseas community are counted as the two of them.To be a secretary, of course, needs to have a good knowledge of English.I recommended the name of the late Adanji Miyahhan to the Assembly, which agreed to appoint him as Secretary. Experience has shown that this choice is very appropriate.Adanji Meyer Khan pleased everyone with his stoicism, magnanimity, affability and politeness, and proved that a secretary didn't necessarily need a bar degree or an advanced British education.

About the middle of 1896 I returned home on the steamer "Pongola" bound for Calcutta.There were few passengers on board, including two British officers with whom I had been in close association.One of them and I played chess for an hour every day.The doctor on board gave me a copy of "Tamil Language Without a Teacher", and I started to study.My experience living in Natal tells me that I should have knowledge of Urdu to have close contact with Muslims and Tamil to have close contact with Indians in Madras . At the request of my British friend who was learning Urdu with me, I found a good Urdu teacher among the passengers in the steerage, and we made great progress in learning Urdu.This official has a better memory than me, and he never forgets the words he has read; but I often find it difficult to distinguish Urdu characters.I studied with greater patience, but I couldn't keep up with the official.

As for the Tamil language, I learned it quite well.At that time, I couldn't find anyone to help me. Fortunately, "Tamil Teaching Without a Teacher" is a good book, and I didn't feel that I needed much help from outside. After arriving in India, I still hope to continue this kind of book learning, but it is no longer possible. After 1893, most of the books I have read were done in prison.I did make some progress in Tamil and Urdu, but it was all done in prison - I learned Tamil in many prisons in South Africa and Urdu in Yeravada Prison .However, I have never learned to speak Tamil, and the little knowledge I learned through self-study has been forgotten due to lack of application.

To this day, I still find it extremely inconvenient not knowing Tamil and Drugu.The friendship shown to me by the Drovedans living in South Africa is still fresh in my memory.Whenever I meet a Tamil or Drugu friend, I can't help but think of the faith, perseverance and selfless sacrifice of many of his fellow countrymen in South Africa, most of whom are illiterate, many of whom are illiterate , There are also many men who are illiterate.The struggle in South Africa was for this purpose, and it was fought by illiterate fighters; the struggle was for the poor, and the poor also participated in it.However, not knowing their language did not prevent me from winning the hearts of these simple and good countrymen.They spoke a few broken Hindustani or English, and we had no trouble working together.However, I will learn Tamil and Drugu to repay their favor.I have made some progress in learning Tamil, as I said before; but Drugu, although I learned it in India, has never gone beyond the scope of the alphabet.Now I'm afraid I'll never learn either of these languages, so I hope the Drovadas learn Hindustani.The Drovedans who lived in South Africa and did not speak English did speak Hindi or Hindustani, though very poorly.Only those who can speak English are unwilling to learn it, as if knowing a little English is an obstacle to learning the language of their own country.

But I dragged myself away.Let me finish my voyage.I would like to introduce the captain of "Pongola" to the readers. We have become friends.The good captain was a member of the Plymouth Quaker Society.We talked more about spiritual matters than sailing life.He draws a line between morality and religious belief.To him the teaching of the Bible was child's play; its beauty lay in its simplicity.He would say, let all men, women, and children, believe in Jesus and His sacrifice, and their sins will surely be redeemed.This friend reminded me of the Plymouth Quakers in Pretoria.He believes that no matter what religion imposes any moral constraints on people, it is always bad.

My vegetarianism has been the subject of all this debate.Why can't I eat meat?What does it matter if you eat beef?Did not God create all the lower animals for the enjoyment of man, just as—for example, he created the vegetable world?These questions inevitably draw us into religious debates. None of us can convince anyone.I affirm my opinion: Religion and morality are two and one.The captain was convinced of his contrary opinion. After twenty-four days of pleasant sailing, the voyage came to an end.I admired the beauty of the Hooghly River, disembarked in Calcutta, and took the train for Bombay that same day.