Document <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <?xml-model href="http://www.tei-c.org/release/xml/tei/custom/schema/relaxng/tei_all.rng" type="application/xml" schematypens="http://relaxng.org/ns/structure/1.0"?> <?xml-stylesheet type="text/css" href="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/LEAF-VRE/code_snippets/refs/heads/main/CSS/leaf.css"?> <TEI xmlns="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0" xmlns:rdf="http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#"> <teiHeader> <fileDesc> <titleStmt> <!-- The title, author, and/or editor here should identify the original document that you are encoding. If you don't have information for one of these, or if you have multiple individuals, you can repeat the particular element--> <title>My Experience in Jail IV</title> <author>Gandhi</author> </titleStmt> <!-- I'm still trying to figure out the best way to present the project information, but will add that asap --> <publicationStmt> <authority>Karline McLain</authority> <date>2026</date> <availability> <!-- --> <licence/> </availability> </publicationStmt> <sourceDesc> <p>Born digital edition</p> </sourceDesc> </fileDesc> <xenoData><rdf:RDF xmlns:rdf="http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#" xmlns:rdfs="http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#" xmlns:as="http://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#" xmlns:cwrc="http://sparql.cwrc.ca/ontologies/cwrc#" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:dcterms="http://purl.org/dc/terms/" xmlns:foaf="http://xmlns.com/foaf/0.1/" xmlns:geo="http://www.geonames.org/ontology#" xmlns:oa="http://www.w3.org/ns/oa#" xmlns:schema="http://schema.org/" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#" xmlns:fabio="https://purl.org/spar/fabio#" xmlns:bf="http://www.openlinksw.com/schemas/bif#" xmlns:cito="https://sparontologies.github.io/cito/current/cito.html#" xmlns:org="http://www.w3.org/ns/org#"> <rdf:Description rdf:datatype="http://www.w3.org/TR/json-ld/"> <![CDATA[{ "@context": { "dcterms:created": { "@type": "xsd:dateTime", "@id": "dcterms:created" }, "dcterms:issued": { "@type": "xsd:dateTime", "@id": "dcterms:issued" }, "oa:motivatedBy": { "@type": "oa:Motivation" }, "@language": "en", "rdf": "http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#", "rdfs": "http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#", "as": "http://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#", "cwrc": "http://sparql.cwrc.ca/ontologies/cwrc#", "dc": "http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/", "dcterms": "http://purl.org/dc/terms/", "foaf": "http://xmlns.com/foaf/0.1/", "geo": "http://www.geonames.org/ontology#", "oa": "http://www.w3.org/ns/oa#", "schema": "http://schema.org/", "xsd": "http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#", "fabio": "https://purl.org/spar/fabio#", "bf": "http://www.openlinksw.com/schemas/bif#", "cito": "https://sparontologies.github.io/cito/current/cito.html#", "org": "http://www.w3.org/ns/org#" }, "id": "https://leaf.bucknell.edu/sites/default/files/2026-05/my-experience-in-jail-iv_0.xml?note_annotation_20260514103552481", "type": "oa:Annotation", "dcterms:created": "2026-05-14T14:35:52.481Z", "dcterms:creator": { "@id": "https://leaf.bucknell.edu/user/72", "@type": [ "cwrc:NaturalPerson", "schema:Person" ], "cwrc:hasName": "kmclain" }, "oa:motivatedBy": "oa:describing", "oa:hasTarget": { "@id": "https://leaf.bucknell.edu/sites/default/files/2026-05/my-experience-in-jail-iv_0.xml?note_annotation_20260514103552481#Target", "@type": "oa:SpecificResource", "oa:hasSource": { "@id": "https://leaf.bucknell.edu/sites/default/files/2026-05/my-experience-in-jail-iv_0.xml", "@type": "dctypes:Text", "dc:format": "text/xml" }, "oa:renderedVia": { "@id": "https://leaf.bucknell.edu", "@type": "as:Application", "rdfs:label": "LEAF-Writer", "schema:softwareVersion": "4.1.0" }, "oa:hasSelector": { "@id": "https://leaf.bucknell.edu/sites/default/files/2026-05/my-experience-in-jail-iv_0.xml?note_annotation_20260514103552481#Selector", "@type": "oa:XPathSelector", "rdf:value": "TEI/text/body/div/head/note" } }, "oa:hasBody": { "@type": "cwrc:NoteScholarly", "dc:format": "text/plain", "rdf:value": "This is the fourth, and final, installment of a four-part essay on Gandhi’s first experience in jail that he published in his weekly newspaper Indian Opinion in 1908. At this time Gandhi was training his coresidents at Phoenix Settlement to prepare to endure time in prison as part of the growing civil disobedience campaign, and he wanted to share some of these lessons with the broader Indian population in South Africa." }, "as:generator": { "@id": "https://leaf.bucknell.edu", "@type": "as:Application", "rdfs:label": "LEAF-Writer", "schema:url": "https://leaf-writer.lincsproject.ca/", "schema:softwareVersion": "4.1.0" } }]]> </rdf:Description> <rdf:Description rdf:datatype="http://www.w3.org/TR/json-ld/"> <![CDATA[{ "@context": { "dcterms:created": { "@type": "xsd:dateTime", "@id": "dcterms:created" }, "dcterms:issued": { "@type": "xsd:dateTime", "@id": "dcterms:issued" }, "oa:motivatedBy": { "@type": "oa:Motivation" }, "@language": "en", "rdf": "http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#", "rdfs": "http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#", "as": "http://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#", "cwrc": "http://sparql.cwrc.ca/ontologies/cwrc#", "dc": 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"schema:softwareVersion": "4.1.0" }, "oa:hasSelector": { "@id": "https://leaf.bucknell.edu/sites/default/files/2026-05/my-experience-in-jail-iv_0.xml?note_annotation_20260514114232579#Selector", "@type": "oa:XPathSelector", "rdf:value": "TEI/text/body/div/div[3]/p/note" } }, "oa:hasBody": { "@type": "cwrc:NoteScholarly", "dc:format": "text/plain", "rdf:value": "Gandhi was working on his translation and paraphrase of John Ruskin's \"Unto This Last\" while in prison. He later published this as a series of nine essays in his newspaper Indian Opinion, giving his paraphrase the title \"Sarvodaya\" (universal wellbeing)." }, "as:generator": { "@id": "https://leaf.bucknell.edu", "@type": "as:Application", "rdfs:label": "LEAF-Writer", "schema:url": "https://leaf-writer.lincsproject.ca/", "schema:softwareVersion": "4.1.0" } }]]> </rdf:Description> <rdf:Description rdf:datatype="http://www.w3.org/TR/json-ld/"> <![CDATA[{ "@context": { "dcterms:created": { "@type": "xsd:dateTime", "@id": "dcterms:created" }, "dcterms:issued": { "@type": "xsd:dateTime", "@id": "dcterms:issued" }, "oa:motivatedBy": { "@type": "oa:Motivation" }, "@language": "en", "rdf": "http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#", "rdfs": "http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#", "as": "http://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#", "cwrc": "http://sparql.cwrc.ca/ontologies/cwrc#", "dc": "http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/", "dcterms": "http://purl.org/dc/terms/", "foaf": 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"https://leaf.bucknell.edu/sites/default/files/2026-05/my-experience-in-jail-iv_0.xml?note_annotation_20260514114804316#Selector", "@type": "oa:XPathSelector", "rdf:value": "TEI/text/body/div/div[5]/p[2]/note" } }, "oa:hasBody": { "@type": "cwrc:NoteScholarly", "dc:format": "text/plain", "rdf:value": "He = refers to Henry Polak. Polak was a coresident at Phoenix Settlement, a contributing writer to the newspaper Indian Opinion, and also worked at Gandhi's law firm. Polak was only allowed to visit regarding the work of the law firm." }, "as:generator": { "@id": "https://leaf.bucknell.edu", "@type": "as:Application", "rdfs:label": "LEAF-Writer", "schema:url": "https://leaf-writer.lincsproject.ca/", "schema:softwareVersion": "4.1.0" } }]]> </rdf:Description> <rdf:Description rdf:datatype="http://www.w3.org/TR/json-ld/"> <![CDATA[{ "@context": { "dcterms:created": { "@type": "xsd:dateTime", "@id": "dcterms:created" }, "dcterms:issued": { "@type": "xsd:dateTime", "@id": "dcterms:issued" }, "oa:motivatedBy": { "@type": "oa:Motivation" }, "@language": "en", "rdf": "http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#", "rdfs": "http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#", "as": "http://www.w3.org/ns/activitystreams#", "cwrc": "http://sparql.cwrc.ca/ontologies/cwrc#", "dc": "http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/", "dcterms": "http://purl.org/dc/terms/", "foaf": "http://xmlns.com/foaf/0.1/", "geo": "http://www.geonames.org/ontology#", "oa": "http://www.w3.org/ns/oa#", "schema": "http://schema.org/", "xsd": "http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#", "fabio": "https://purl.org/spar/fabio#", "bf": "http://www.openlinksw.com/schemas/bif#", "cito": "https://sparontologies.github.io/cito/current/cito.html#", "org": "http://www.w3.org/ns/org#" }, "id": "https://leaf.bucknell.edu/sites/default/files/2026-05/my-experience-in-jail-iv_0.xml?note_annotation_20260514115007220", "type": "oa:Annotation", "dcterms:created": "2026-05-14T15:50:07.220Z", "dcterms:modified": "2026-05-14T15:50:07.220Z", "dcterms:creator": { "@id": "https://leaf.bucknell.edu/user/72", "@type": [ "cwrc:NaturalPerson", "schema:Person" ], "cwrc:hasName": "kmclain" }, "oa:motivatedBy": "oa:describing", "oa:hasTarget": { "@id": "https://leaf.bucknell.edu/sites/default/files/2026-05/my-experience-in-jail-iv_0.xml?note_annotation_20260514115007220#Target", "@type": "oa:SpecificResource", "oa:hasSource": { "@id": "https://leaf.bucknell.edu/sites/default/files/2026-05/my-experience-in-jail-iv_0.xml", "@type": "dctypes:Text", "dc:format": "text/xml" }, "oa:renderedVia": { "@id": "https://leaf.bucknell.edu", "@type": "as:Application", "rdfs:label": "LEAF-Writer", "schema:softwareVersion": "4.1.0" }, "oa:hasSelector": { "@id": "https://leaf.bucknell.edu/sites/default/files/2026-05/my-experience-in-jail-iv_0.xml?note_annotation_20260514115007220#Selector", "@type": "oa:XPathSelector", "rdf:value": "TEI/text/body/div/div[6]/p/note" } }, "oa:hasBody": { "@type": "cwrc:NoteScholarly", "dc:format": "text/plain", "rdf:value": "Kaffir = a pejorative term that was, in Gandhi's time, commonly used to refer to Black South Africans" }, "as:generator": { "@id": "https://leaf.bucknell.edu", "@type": "as:Application", "rdfs:label": "LEAF-Writer", "schema:url": "https://leaf-writer.lincsproject.ca/", "schema:softwareVersion": "4.1.0" } }]]> </rdf:Description> </rdf:RDF></xenoData></teiHeader> <text> <body> <!-- You can give an element an attribute – think of it like an adjective for the element as a noun --> <div type="essay"> <head>My Experience in Jail IV<note type="scholarNote">This is the fourth, and final, installment of a four-part essay on Gandhi’s first experience in jail that he published in his weekly newspaper Indian Opinion in 1908. At this time Gandhi was training his coresidents at Phoenix Settlement to prepare to endure time in prison as part of the growing civil disobedience campaign, and he wanted to share some of these lessons with the broader Indian population in South Africa.</note></head> <dateline> <title>Indian Opinion</title> <docDate>March 28, 1908</docDate> </dateline> <div> <head>Patients</head> <p>It would have been surprising if not one among 150 of us had been taken ill. The first casualty was Samunder Khan. He was ill even when he came to jail, and so was removed to hospital the day after his arrival. Mr. Karwa had an attack of rheumatism. For some days the doctor treated him with ointment, etc., in the jail. But later, he, too, was admitted to hospital. Two other prisoners fell sick and were removed to hospital. Since it was hot and the prisoners were exposed to the sun outside, some of them fell sick occasionally. They were treated as well as they could be in jail. Towards the end, Mr. Nawab Khan was also taken ill and, on the day of his release, he had to be helped to walk. He improved after the doctor permitted him to drink milk. However, on the whole, the satyagrahi<note type="scholarNote">Satyagrahi = one who practices satyagraha, nonviolent civil disobedience</note> prisoners kept well.</p> </div> <div> <head>Lack of Space</head> <p>I mentioned earlier that our ward could accommodate 51 prisoners. The yard in front had the same capacity. When, towards the end, our number increased beyond 151, we experienced acute inconvenience. The Governor ordered tents to be pitched outside, and some of us were shifted to these. During the last few days, a hundred prisoners had to sleep outside. But they were brought back every morning, with the result that the yard turned out to be too small, and it was with great difficulty that room could be found for all the prisoners. On top of this, when we indulged in our vice of spitting everywhere, there was danger of the place becoming dirty and infected. Fortunately, people were amenable to persuasion and helped keep the yard clean. That is how they managed to avoid illness. Anyone will admit that it was the Government’s fault that so many prisoners were confined in so small a space. If the space was insufficient the Government ought not to have sent so many prisoners to this jail. Had the movement continued, the Government would have found it impossible to accommodate any more.</p> </div> <div> <head>Reading</head> <p>I mentioned earlier that the Governor had allowed us a table. We were also given pens and an ink-pot. The jail has a library which lends books to prisoners. I borrowed some of Carlyle’s works and the Bible. From a Chinese interpreter who used to visit the place I borrowed a copy of the Quran in English, Huxley’s lectures, Carlyle’s biographies of Burns, Johnson and Scott, and Bacon’s essays on civil and moral counsel. I also had some books of my own; these included an edition of the [Bhagavad] Gita with a commentary by Manilal Nabhubhai, some Tamil books, an Urdu book presented by Maulvi Saheb, the writings of Tolstoy, Ruskin and Socrates. Most of these books I either read for the first time or re-read during my stay in jail. I used to study Tamil regularly. In the morning I read the Gita and in the afternoon portions of the Quran. In the evening I used to explain the Bible to Mr. Fortoen, a Chinese Christian. As he wished to learn English, I taught it to him through the Bible. If I was going to serve my full term of two months in jail, I had intended to complete the translation of one of Carlyle’s books and another of Ruskin<note type="scholarNote">Gandhi was working on his translation and paraphrase of John Ruskin's "Unto This Last" while in prison. He later published this as a series of nine essays in his newspaper Indian Opinion, giving his paraphrase the title "Sarvodaya" (universal wellbeing).</note>. I believe these books would have kept me wholly occupied. If I had been awarded an even longer term, not only would I not have found it irksome, but I could have added usefully to my knowledge. I would have been quite contented. I believe that anyone who enjoys reading good books can easily bear to be alone anywhere.</p> <p>Among my fellow-prisoners, Mr. C.M. Pillay, Mr. Naidoo and a few Chinese were in the habit of reading. Both the Naidoos had started learning Gujarati. During the last days a few books of Gujarati songs arrived, and many of us read these. But I do not call this reading.</p> </div> <div> <head>Drill</head> <p>In jail we cannot spend the whole day reading. Even if it were possible, we know that it is harmful in the long run. We therefore managed, with some difficulty, to obtain the Governor’s permission to learn the P.T.<note type="scholarNote">P.T. drill = physical training drill, or exercise</note> drill from the warder. A very kind man, he was only too happy to drill us morning and evening. It did us a lot of good too. If we could have continued it sufficiently long, it would have done us all good. But the warder’s work increased with the increase in the number of Indians, and the yard proved too small for the purpose. The drill was, therefore, given up. However, we had Nawab Khan with us, and a drill of sorts was continued under his direction.</p> <p>We also obtained the Governor’s permission to work on the sewing machine. We tried to learn sewing pockets on to prisoners’ uniforms. Mr. T. Naidoo and Mr. Easton, as they had an aptitude for the work, learnt it very quickly. It took me longer to pick it up. Before I had learnt it properly, there was a sudden increase in the number of prisoners and I had to leave off. The reader can thus see that given the will anyone can transform a desert into a paradise. Had our imprisonment continued, we could have thus kept ourselves occupied with some work or the other, and no prisoner would have found his confinement irksome; on the contrary, he would have come out a better-informed and abler man. There have been instances of conscientious men who achieved great things while in jail. John Bunyan bore up with prison life and wrote The Pilgrim’s Progress, which proved an immortal work. The British rank it next to the Bible. Mr. Tilak wrote his own Orion during his nine-month imprisonment in Bombay. Whether we are happy or miserable, whether we become good or bad in jail or elsewhere depends entirely on our own mental attitudes.</p> </div> <div> <head>Visitors</head> <p>Some Englishmen came to visit us in jail. As a general rule, no prisoner is allowed visitors during the first month. Thereafter, each prisoner is allowed a visitor once a month, who must come on a Sunday. The rule is relaxable in special circumstances. Mr. Phillips took advantage of this provision. The day after our arrival, he sought, and was granted, permission to visit Mr. Fortoen, the Chinese Christian. He also met the rest of us. He spoke a word of cheer to each of us, and then prayed, as was his wont. He managed to see us thrice. Another clergyman, Rev. Davis, also took advantage of the same provision to visit us.</p> <p>By special permission Mr. Polak and Mr. Cohen, too, came to see us once. He<note type="scholarNote">He = refers to Henry Polak. Polak was a coresident at Phoenix Settlement, a contributing writer to the newspaper Indian Opinion, and also worked at Gandhi's law firm. Polak was only allowed to visit regarding the work of the law firm.</note> was permitted to come only about office work. The warder is always present during a visit and all conversation must take place in his presence.</p> <p>Mr. Cartwright, the editor of The Transvaal Leader, came thrice – by special permission each time. He came only with the object of bringing about a settlement. He was therefore permitted to see us in private. At his first meeting he formed an impression of what the Indian community would accept. On the next occasion he brought with him the draft which he and other prominent Englishmen had prepared. After some alterations, it was signed by Mr. Quinn, Mr. Naidoo and myself. This letter and the compromise having been dealt with at length elsewhere, no more need be said about them here.</p> <p>The Chief Magistrate, Mr. Playford, also visited us once. He was entitled to come at will. And it was not especially to see us that he came. But it is believed that he found time to come because we were all in jail.</p> </div> <div> <head>Religious Instruction</head> <p>It is now the practice in all western countries to provide religious instruction for prisoners. Accordingly, the Johannesburg Jail has a chapel for Christians. But only white prisoners are allowed to worship there. I asked for special permission for myself and Mr. Fortoen, but I was told by the Governor that the church was open only to white Christians. They go to church every Sunday. They listen to sermons from clergymen of different denominations by turns. Some clergymen obtain special permission to preach to the Kaffirs<note type="scholarNote">Kaffir = a pejorative term that was, in Gandhi's time, commonly used to refer to Black South Africans</note> too. They have, however, no chapel of their own. They therefore sit in the jail compound. The Jews have a rabbi to visit them.</p> <p>But there is no corresponding arrangement for Hindus or Muslims. But then, there are not many Indian prisoners. All the same, it is rather humiliating that the religious needs of the Indian community should be ignored in jail. Leaders of the two communities should give thought to this matter and arrange for instruction in both religions even if there should be only one Indian in jail. The Maulvis and Hindu priests chosen for this work should be sincere men, otherwise their instruction is likely to be something of an infliction.</p> </div> <div> <head>Conclusion</head> <p>Much of what is worth knowing about jail life has been discussed. It is necessary to give further thought to the fact of Indians being classed with Kaffirs in jail. White prisoners are given a small bed each, a toothbrush and, in addition to a towel, a handkerchief. We must ask to know why Indian prisoners also may not have these things.</p> <p>One should not feel that these things are not worth bothering about. As the saying goes, drop by drop the lake fills. Similarly little things enhance or lower our prestige in the eyes of others. We read in the book Arab Wisdom that he who enjoys no respect has no religion. It is by defending their honor over a long period of time that nations achieve greatness. Honor does not mean arrogance; real honor consists in a state of mind that does not countenance the loss of a right, and in action flowing from such a state of mind. He alone can attain to such honor who really trusts – depends on – God. I am convinced that it is impossible for a man without sincere faith to discern the truth in every situation and act on it.</p> </div> </div> </body> </text> </TEI>
