The fanfare around Gandhi’s 1931 London visit

Throwback to when Londoners waited in the rain to catch a glimpse of Mahatma Gandhi…

Transcript

00:00This is how Mahatma Gandhi and European media shared humour when he arrived in London in

00:13September 1931 for the second Roundtable Conference on Constitutional Reforms in India.

00:19Although Gandhi had already visited Europe during his student years, this was his first

00:23visit as a political leader and the European media appeared quite excited about it.

00:29From radio to newspapers, they referred to him as the person from India who was a mystery

00:34man for the West.

00:36Just to get a glimpse of him, people stood under heavy downpour with zeal that's usually

00:41reserved for rock stars.

00:55The enthusiasm surrounding Gandhi in Europe can also be understood from the fact that

00:59earlier that year in January, the Time magazine had declared Gandhi the Man of the Year.

01:05In September, when Gandhi briefly stopped in Marseille, France, reporters immediately

01:10surrounded him.

01:11Also, he didn't forget to bring his spinning wheel on board.

01:14This is Madeline Slade, who later became known as Meera Ben and the press reported that this

01:20was the first time people from this part of the world saw her, having only read about

01:24her until then.

01:26When Gandhi arrived in London, the press followed him, paying close attention to everything

01:31from his attire to his demeanour and reported on it with amazement.

01:35In one newsreel, a commentator referring to Gandhi's loincloth or dhoti had pointed out

01:41that while they were wearing thick coats in the cold weather, Gandhi remained wrapped

01:45in a wet shawl and that he must be definitely freezing inside.

01:49The commentator added that Gandhi, who was wearing sandals, spoke of going to London

01:54by road and chose to sit in front with the driver to see everything.

01:59This is the Friends Meeting House in London, where people were eager for a glimpse of him.

02:03However, they were disappointed when he entered from the back.

02:07But when he came out, the commentator said, people didn't just catch a glimpse, they got

02:11a full view, even seeing his knees.

02:14As Gandhi exited the building, a reporter tried to speak with him.

02:20Once again, the man who spoke to people's hearts refused to speak into the microphone.

02:27Around the same time, Gandhi was invited for tea by King George V at Buckingham Palace.

02:33The media was once again surprised by this small, mysterious man who arrived to meet

02:37the king in just a dhoti and sandals.

02:40The Time magazine reported that Gandhi didn't wear the mourning dress mentioned in the royal

02:44invitation.

02:46Anyway, King George took Gandhi to his royal study, where the king drank tea and Gandhi

02:50had goat's milk.