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 CHAPTER XI

THE AWAKENING OF NATAL

At the close of 1893, Mr. Gandhi was again in Durban, intending to leave speedily for India, but, at a social gathering given by his clients, he saw the "Natal Mercury," and discovered that the Government was about to introduce a Bill to dis-franchise Indians. He also saw, from various comments in the paper, that this was to be the precursor of other disabling Bills. He brought this at once to the notice of his compatriots, and urged them to take concerted action, pointing out that, if protests were not at once made and the effort opposed, nothing could prevent their ultimate extinction. The Indians were startled, but said they knew nothing about it. Mr. Gandhi offered to draw up a petition against the Bill, if they would, on their part, obtain signatures. They agreed, and that evening a beginning was made. It was the commencement of that long battle with race-prejudice and injustice, which is still unfinished, and to which Mr. Gandhi has devoted his life.

The sudden awakening of the Indians was so