IN LONDON

Short Answer Questions:-

1 )“I wasted ten minutes everyday before a huge mirror.” What does Gandhi mean by this?

A:-While Gandhi was a student in London, his hair was by no means soft and everyday it requires a regular struggle with the brush(comb) to keep it in position. Hence he had to spend ten minutes everyday before a huge mirror to arrange his tie and part his hair in the correct fashion.

2)What does Gandhi says, “The recluse in the fable kept a cat to keep off the rats, and then cow to feed the cat with milk, and a man to keep the cow and so on”?

A:-In order to become an English gentleman, Gandhi makes every attempt, tries to follow lot many accomplishments. For the sake of learning something it is again required Gandhi to learn some other things. For  becoming an English gentleman Gandhi wants to learn the art of dancing. While this very skill of dancing also pursues Gandhi to learn another art of playing the violin. That is why Gandhi mentions  this fable at that context.

3 )“But hence forward I became a student.” What does Gandhi before? Why does he says so?

A:- In order to mould himself as an English gentleman, Gandhi not only wastes a lot of money but also valuable time, which he needs to spend on books. His acquired habit of wasting time by standing himself before mirror to arrange his hair to adjust his hair, his taking lessons in dancing, French, elocution and the violin makes Gandhi to keep away from serious reading of his subjects of study. When he gets realization by undergoing introspection, Gandhi notices that he is not even doing the basic chores of a law student. When he ables to come out from all these, focusing on his studies, Gandhi thinks hence forward he has become a (real) student.

4)What is Gandhi wants every youth to learn from him about saving money?

A:- Gandhi wants that every youth should  make an account of money that comes into and goes out of one’s pocket, so that he/she is surely be a gainer in the end. Gandhi expects that every youth should lessen their expenditure and should save every coin here and there that is possible. The money, in Gandhi’s perception, they saves will be more beneficial for them in due course of time.

5)What made Gandhi think that he had to economize?

A:- As soon as he gets realized by undergoing introspection, Gandhi notices that he has wasted a lot of money at the cost of purchasing lot many luxurious things, and for taking lessons in various fields. He then keeps a strict watch over his way of living and decides to minimize his expenses by half. That is why he thinks that it is necessary for him to economize.

6)What effort did Gandhi make to economize?

A:- In order to economize his way of living, he decides to reduce his expenses by half. As his living with a family of friends required the payment of regular weekly bills of dinners and parties and conveyences(travelling expenses), he decided to take two rooms on his own account, instead of living in a family of friends. As  Gandhi’s accounts showed numerous items on fares, he also decided to move from place to place by walk. For  this, he also selectsed rooms that are near to his place of business. In this way he could economize his life.

7)Why did Gandhi decide to learn Latin and what did he do to learn it?

A;- During the period of Gandhi’s studying in London, French was not only the language of France, but also the lingua franca of the Europe. Gandhi was also told by one of his friends that the knowledge of Latin was very useful in comprehending law books and knowledge of Latin means greater command over the  English language. Hence Gandhi acquired a taste for Latin, though it was very difficult, wanted to acquire proficiency in it by undertaking literature degree, in which Latin was compulsory subject. Though he ploughed in Latin in his first attempt, he didn’t lose heart, and kept his serious attention to that course.

8) Why did Gandhi feel that he had to simplify his life further?

A:- Gandhi felt that his way of living didn’t befit/suit the modest/plain living of his family. The thought of his struggling brother, who nobly responded to his regular calls for monetary help, deeply pained him. Gandhi noticed some students, who could spend from eight to fifteen pounds per month, had the advantage of scholarship, observed a student who was staying in the slums at two shillings a week. All these made Gandhi feel that he had to simplify his life further.