Mahatma Gandhi Arrives in the U.K. (1931) | British Pathé

British Pathé

13 Apr 201403:30

Summary

TLDRThe video script offers a glimpse into the arrival of Mahatma Gandhi in Marseilles and his subsequent journey to England. Accompanied by Miss Slade, a devoted disciple, Gandhi is seen in his characteristic loincloth and carrying his essentials. Despite the cold, he opts for a road trip to London, attracting attention and curiosity from the public and media.

Takeaways

🎥 The video provides a glimpse of the 'mystery man of India', likely referring to Mahatma Gandhi, arriving in Europe.
👩 Miss Madeline Slade, an English woman and a devoted disciple of Mr. Gandhi, is portrayed as leading the way ashore.
👳 Mr. Gandhi is described as dressing in his traditional loincloth, even in cold European weather, carrying his pots and pans.
🗣 Mr. Gandhi is mentioned to have made speeches that frightened French authorities, but he declined to speak into a sound film microphone.
🌧️ The script describes the weather as pouring rain and bitterly cold when they arrived at Folkestone.
🧳 Miss Slade is noted to be the first ashore to tend to the luggage, including goat's milk, indicating her dedication to Mr. Gandhi's needs.
🚗 Mr. Gandhi chose to travel by road to London, insisting on sitting in the front seat with the driver for a better view.
👣 Despite the cold, Mr. Gandhi is depicted as wearing sandals and a wet blanket, showing his commitment to his principles.
🏙️ In London, a crowd waited at the Friends Meeting House to catch a glimpse of Mr. Gandhi, but he initially entered through the back.
👀 Mr. Gandhi eventually appeared at the front, providing the crowd with a view of him, including his knees, indicating his simplicity and humility.
🎉 The script ends on a note of applause, suggesting that despite the unusual attire and practices, Mr. Gandhi received a warm reception.

Q & A

Who is the 'mystery man of India' referred to in the script?
-The 'mystery man of India' is Mr. Gandhi, a prominent historical figure known for his nonviolent resistance and leadership in India's independence movement.
What is significant about Miss Madeline Slade's presence in the script?
-Miss Madeline Slade is significant as she is described as one of Mr. Gandhi's most devoted disciples and is leading the way ashore, indicating her close association with Gandhi and his principles.
Why is Mr. Gandhi dressed in just his loincloth in Europe?
-Mr. Gandhi is dressed in just his loincloth as a reflection of his simple lifestyle and his commitment to the principles of nonviolence and self-sufficiency, which includes hand-spinning and wearing homespun cloth.
What did Mr. Gandhi carry with him during his travels as mentioned in the script?
-Mr. Gandhi carried his pots and pans, which he declared at the customs, indicating his self-sufficient lifestyle even while traveling.
Why did Mr. Gandhi refuse to speak into the sound film microphone?
-Mr. Gandhi refused to speak into the sound film microphone, possibly due to his belief in simplicity and nonviolence, which may extend to not engaging with certain forms of modern technology or media.
What was the weather like when Mr. Gandhi arrived at Folkestone?
-The weather was poor with pouring rain and bitterly cold when Mr. Gandhi arrived at Folkestone.
How did Mr. Gandhi choose to travel to London from Folkestone?
-Mr. Gandhi chose to travel to London by road, insisting on sitting up in the front seat with the driver to see better.
What was the public's initial reaction to seeing Mr. Gandhi in person at the Friends Meeting House?
-The public was initially disappointed because Mr. Gandhi entered through the back way, but their disappointment turned to excitement when he left by the front way, giving them a clear view of him.
How did the script describe the public's overall reception of Mr. Gandhi?
-The script describes the public's reception of Mr. Gandhi as one of curiosity and interest, with many people waiting in the rain to see him, despite the inclement weather.
What is the significance of the mention of Mr. Gandhi's spinning wheel and goats' milk in the script?
-The mention of Mr. Gandhi's spinning wheel and goats' milk highlights his commitment to the principles of self-sufficiency and simplicity, which were key aspects of his philosophy and message.
What was the script's final comment on Mr. Gandhi's reception and the publicity he received?
-The script's final comment suggests that despite Mr. Gandhi's initial reluctance to engage with certain forms of publicity, he received a significant amount of attention and comment, which was understood to be something he usually shied away from.

Outlines

00:00

🌏 Arrival of Gandhi in Europe

The script describes the arrival of the Rajputana at Marseilles, where a mysterious man, presumably Gandhi, is seen for the first time in India. Accompanying him is Miss Madeline Slade, an English woman and a devoted follower of Gandhi. Despite the cold European climate, Gandhi is dressed in his loincloth and carries his pots and pans. He declines to speak into a sound film microphone, choosing instead to travel by road to London, sitting in the front seat of the car for a better view. His followers, however, travel by train. Upon reaching London, Gandhi avoids the front entrance of the Friends Meeting House, but later emerges to the delight of the waiting crowd.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Rajputana

Rajputana refers to a historical region in northwestern India, known for its Rajput rulers and cultural heritage. In the script, the Rajputana is mentioned as the ship that arrived at Marseilles, indicating the setting of the video and the arrival of the characters from India.

💡Madeline Slade

Madeline Slade, also known as Mira Behn, was an Englishwoman who became a devoted follower of Mahatma Gandhi and played a significant role in the Indian independence movement. The script mentions her as a disciple of Gandhi, highlighting her commitment to his cause and her presence during his arrival in Europe.

💡Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi is a central figure in the script and the video's theme, known for his philosophy of non-violence and his role in India's struggle for independence from British rule. The script describes his attire, his refusal to use a microphone, and his preference for traditional Indian practices, emphasizing his unique identity and principles.

💡Loincloth

A loincloth is a piece of cloth worn around the waist or between the legs, serving as a minimal form of clothing. The script mentions Gandhi's choice to wear only a loincloth, which symbolizes his simplicity and renunciation of material possessions, aligning with his principles of non-attachment and self-sufficiency.

💡Pots and Pans

In the script, Gandhi is described as carrying his pots and pans, which could be seen as a reflection of his self-sufficient lifestyle and his advocacy for simple living. It also indicates his preparedness for a nomadic existence, as he brought his own utensils for cooking.

💡Folkston

Folkston is mentioned in the script as the location where Gandhi and his followers disembark from the ship. It serves as a geographical marker in the narrative, indicating the progression of the journey and setting the stage for the events that follow.

💡Goat's Milk

The script refers to Miss Slade tending to the luggage, which includes goat's milk. This detail underscores the simplicity and natural lifestyle embraced by Gandhi and his followers, as goat's milk represents a basic, self-sustaining resource.

💡Spinning Wheel

Although not explicitly mentioned in the script, the spinning wheel is a well-known symbol associated with Gandhi, representing the economic self-reliance and the 'Swadeshi' movement he promoted. It would be relevant to the video's theme as it signifies Gandhi's advocacy for home-based production and resistance to foreign goods.

💡Publicity

The script mentions the publicity Gandhi received, indicating the widespread attention and curiosity his visit to Europe garnered. This highlights the impact of his persona and message, as well as the media's role in disseminating his ideas.

💡Euston Road

Euston Road is mentioned as the location where people waited to see Gandhi, showing the public's anticipation and interest in his arrival. It provides context to the video's narrative by illustrating the public's reaction to Gandhi's presence in England.

💡Friends Meeting House

The Friends Meeting House in the script is a place where people gathered to catch a glimpse of Gandhi. It signifies the communal and spiritual aspects of his reception, as the Friends Meeting House is associated with the Quakers, a religious group known for their pacifist beliefs, which align with Gandhi's principles.

Highlights

The arrival of the Rajputana at Marseilles and the first glimpse of the mystery man of India.

Introduction of Miss Madeline Slade, the English daughter of an admiral and a devoted disciple of Mr. Gandhi.

Mr. Gandhi's unique attire choice of wearing just a loincloth even in the chilly European climate.

Gandhi carrying his pots and pans, which he declared at the customs.

Gandhi's refusal to speak into the sound film microphone.

The journey to England and the arrival at Folkestone in pouring rain and bitter cold.

Miss Slade being the first ashore to tend to the luggage, including goat's milk.

Gandhi's son following Miss Slade ashore.

Gandhi's appearance with a wet blanket and wearing sandals.

Gandhi's preference to travel by road to London and his choice to sit in the front seat with the driver.

The crowd waiting in the rain to catch a glimpse of Gandhi at the Friends Meeting House in Euston Road.

Gandhi's unexpected entrance and exit through the front way, revealing more of his appearance to the public.

The public's reaction to Gandhi's attire, including his loincloth, spinning wheel, and goat's milk.

Gandhi's reception and the publicity he received, despite his initial reluctance.

The overall impression of Gandhi as a bizarre figure causing much comment and speculation.

The closing remarks reflecting on Gandhi's arrival and the impact he has made.