Chronology of the life of Mahatma Gandhi - 1894
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1894 |
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At this time took to serious religious study. Tolstoy's The Kingdom of God Is within You overwhelmed him. Corresponded with Christian friends in England. Also wrote to religious thinkers in India, like Raychandbhai whose replies to his questions on Hinduism reassured him. |
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1894 |
May |
22 (?) |
At meeting of prominent Indian merchants set up committee to agitate against discriminatory legislation. |
|
1894 |
June |
27 |
Sent telegrams to Speaker of Natal LegislativeAssembly, Prime Minister Robinson and Attorney-General Escombe, asking for postponement of consideration of Franchise Law Amendment Bill till Indian petition was presented. Discussion of Bill deferred by two days. |
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1894 |
June |
28 |
Submitted to Legislative Assembly petition, signed by 500 Indians, opposing Bill and asking for Commission of Enquiry. |
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1894 |
June |
29 |
Waited in deputation of Premier; requested for week's time to present the Indian case more exhaustively. |
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1894 |
July |
1 |
Attended and addressed meeting of Indians in Field Street. |
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1894 |
July |
3 |
Led deputation to Natal Governor and urged him not to sanction the Franchise Bill which received third reading in Assembly. |
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1894 |
July |
5 |
Initiated correspondence with Dadabhai Naoroji seeking his intervention in England on behalf of South African Indians. |
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1894 |
July |
6 |
Indians presented second petition to Legislative Council pressing for the rejection of the Franchise Bill. |
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1894 |
July |
7 |
Franchise Bill received third reading in Council. |
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1894 |
July |
10 |
Petitioned Governor requesting postponement of dispatch of the Bill to the Imperial Government for Royal assent, pending Indian petition to the latter. |
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1894 |
July |
17 |
Submitted to Natal Government lengthy mass petition signed by 10,000 Indians, addressed to Lord Ripon, Secretary of State for Colonies. |
|
1894 |
|
|
Settled down in Natal to continue public work. |
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1894 |
August |
22 |
Established Natal Indian Congress to carry on sustained agitation against discriminatory legislation, becoming its first Secretary; also Colonial-born Indians Association. |
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1894 |
September |
3 |
Allowed by Supreme Court to practice in Natal Courts, despite opposition by Natal Law Society. In court, asked to remove turban, obeyed to conform to court practice and to reserve his strength for "fighting bigger battles". |
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1894 |
September |
19 |
Appeared in Gopi Maharaj case, probably his first in South Africa, and won. But subordinated legal career to public work. |
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1894 |
November |
26 |
Indicated growing interest in Esoteric Christianity by becoming agent for selling its literature. |
|
1894 |
December |
prior to 19 |
Addressed documented "Open Letter" to Natal Legislators. |
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1894 |
December |
19 |
Circulated appeal among Europeans in Natal for sympathetic approach to problem of Indian settlers. |