The Making of the Mahatma Page #4

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First you will lose your right to vote

Then your right to trade,

your right to property...

and finally, your right to

remain here as British citizens

You mean they will kick us all out?

- We must consult with Harry Eskam

Harry Eskam is the one

who has introduced the bill

Then you must take the case

How can I? I shall be leaving soon

But there are so many young educated

Indians here who can take up the case

There are, but they are Christians.

- So what?

Let us be frank. They are not like us.

- What difference does it make?

Has it mattered that he is a Parsi

and you are a Muslim and I a Hindu?

Why should it matter whether

they are Christians or that...

they speak Tamil or Telegu?

- Stay, Gandhi-bhai

Postpone your going. I think

you will be able to do something

Are you worried about the money?

- We can pay. What are your legal fees?

Don't worry, all of us can pay.

- No, I shall not take any fees

But I shall need money

for other things

The first thing to do is to

get the speaker of the Assembly...

to postpone any further discussion on

the bill until we present our petition

Then we must get signatures

to the petition from all Indians...

including Christians

And I'm going to need help

from all of you

So you will stay?

- Yes, but only for a month

Good morning, Mr Eskam.

- Good morning, gentlemen

What brings you to my neighbourhood?

- House renting, sir

Mr Gandhi is going

to be your neighbour

Really?

He's moving into a house

just down the road there

Well gentlemen,

let me not detain you

Mr Eskam, I wonder if I could speak

to you about a matter

Mr Gandhi is applying to register

as a barrister

Would you mind proposing his name?

- Well...

We will pay your usual fees of course.

- Of course

That won't be necessary. Mr Gandhi,

I'll see you in my chamber

I must apologise for this informality.

- It's all right

He seems reluctant

Don't worry, he'll do it.

He's in our debt

Your Honour, I oppose the application

on behalf of the Natal Law of Society

I beg to submit, the legal profession

is reserved for Europeans

The law, as it stands,

makes no distinction...

between Europeans and others

The court has therefore

no authority...

to prevent Mr Gandhi being enrolled

as an attorney

We admit his application

Mr Gandhi, you can take the oath

I... state your name

I, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi...

do swear...

- do swear...

that I will truly and honestly

demean myself...

that I will truly and honestly

demean myself...

in the practice of law...

- in the practice of law...

according to the best of

my knowledge and ability...

according to the best of

my knowledge and ability...

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