1895

April

Visited Trappist Monastery near  Durban, where practice of vegetarianism from spiritual point of view greatly impressed  him.

1895

April

6

Through Committee of British Indian  Merchants petitioned High Commissioner against unsatisfactory award in Indian Arbitration  case.

1895

May

(prior  to 5)

Appealed to Natal Assembly against  rein denture clauses in Indian Immigration Bill.

1895

May

(after  14)

Appealed again to Lord Ripon  concerning injustice of award leaving Indian trading rights at the mercy of the law  courts.

1895

Sought intervention of Lord Elgin,  Viceroy of India, to protect Indian interests against discriminatory laws and  disabilities.

1895

June

17

Defended and secured the release of  indentured laborer Balasundaram. The case brought him into contact with indentured  labor.

1895

June

26

Petitioned Legislative Council  against clauses affecting indentured labor in Immigration Bill.

1895

August

11

Addressed lengthy petition to  Chamberlain objecting to the imposition of the £3 license fee on indenture-expired  Indians. Requested Lord Elgin to intervene, or stop further emigration of Indian labor.

1895

September

12

Chamberlain conveyed to Natal  Government refusal of Imperial Government to sanction Franchise Bill in its existing form.

1895

September

25,30

Gandhi wrote to the Press denying  that Natal Indian Congress was a secret organization or his being its paid employee, but  accepting responsibility for drafting its Constitution.

1895

October

22

British Indian Defense Committee  and Johannesburg Indians telegraphed to Chamberlain protesting against interpretation of  the term "British subjects" in Commando Treaty, exempting citizens from  compulsory military service, as applying only to the Whites.

1895

November

18

Natal Government forwarded fresh  draft of Franchise Bill to Secretary of State for Colonies. Europeans organized meeting at  Ladysmith, Sailsbury, Bellair etc., in support of Asiatic legislation.

1895

November

26

Gandhi memorialized Chamberlain  against discrimination in Commando Treaty.

1895

December

16

Issued The Indian Franchise :  An Appeal to Every Briton in South Africa