1893

April

Sailed for Durban, readily grasping  opportunity of legal work in South Africa offered by Dada Abdulla & Co., leaving wife  and child in Rajkot and intending to return in year's time.

1893

May

Towards close of month reached Port  Natal, where he was struck by scant respect shown to Indians.

1893

May - June

On second or  third day of arrival visited Durban Court; when asked to remove turban he preferred to  leave premises. Wrote to the Press about incident; was called "unwelcome  visitor", but secured considerable publicity.

1893

Seven or eight days later proceeded  to Pretoria on client's work. During journey by train and coach had bitter experience of  color prejudice.

1893

Resolved to  fight to "root out the disease" of color prejudice and "suffer hardships  in the process". Baker, attorney and preacher, warned him of prevalence of color  prejudice and secured him lodgings in a poor woman's inn. Attended Baker's prayer meeting  and was introduced to Christians like Mr. Coates, a Quaker, and Misses Harris and Gabb,  who became friendly.

1893

During first week in Pretoria met  Sheth Tyeb Haji Khan and addressed meeting of Indian Memon merchants on the condition of  Indians in the Transvaal. Suggested and offered to help formation of association for  seeking redress of grievances of Indian settlers. Stay in Pretoria gave him intimate  knowledge of social, economic and political conditions of Indians in the Transvaal and the  Orange Free State.

1893

Had experience of regulation  banning use of footpaths by Indians when he was kicked off the footpath near President  Kruger's house, but refused despite pressure to sue the White assailant on the ground that  he would never go to court for personal grievances.

1893

August / September

22 ... 02

Conducted experiments in vital  food. Constant contact with Mr. Coates and other Christian friends during this time  prompted him to study books on Christianity and hold discussions with them, but he found  difficulty in accepting their interpretation of the Bible and Christianity.