One of the main reasons I continue to read The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi—now into Volume 29 of the nearly hundred-volume series—is not merely to trace his life in his own words, but to observe the extraordinary precision with which he recalls and records even the minutest details. Gandhi’s honesty and memory, particularly regarding people who made a silent yet profound difference, often surprise me.
One such unforgettable figure is Symonds, a young Englishman from Johannesburg. Gandhi mentions him in Satyagraha in South Africa, recounting not only the help he gave in England in 1906, but also his earlier heroic service in Bombay in 1897. At that time, Symonds moved fearlessly among Indians afflicted by the plague, nursing them without hesitation. It had become second nature to him not to fear death when caring for the sick, especially those suffering from infectious diseases.
He was completely free from any race or colour prejudice. His independent spirit stood out in every way. He believed that truth is always with the minority—and it was this belief that initially drew him to Gandhi in Johannesburg. In fact, he would often joke that if Gandhi ever ended up in the majority, he would withdraw his support, insisting that “truth itself is corrupted in the hands of the majority.” Symonds had read widely and deeply, and at one point served as private secretary to Sir George Farrar, one of Johannesburg’s prominent millionaires. Yet none of this turned him away from serving humanity with humility.
In 1906, when Gandhi and his team were in England, Symonds once again volunteered his time and effort with remarkable dedication. Gandhi writes:
“He expressed his willingness to do for us anything he could. ‘I will work as a servant if you like,’ he said, ‘and if you need a stenographer, you know you can scarcely come across the like of me.’ We were in need of both these kinds of help, and I am not exaggerating when I say that this Englishman toiled for us day and night without any payment. He was always on the typewriter till twelve or one o’clock at night… He would carry messages and post letters, always with a smile curling round his lips… I pressed him hard to accept some payment but he flatly refused and said, ‘I would be failing in my duty if I accepted any remuneration for this service.’”
This selfless service left a deep impression on Gandhi, who remarked: “I have often experienced that benevolence is by no means peculiar to the brown skin.”1
That distinction remains crucial today. While I have always rejected the hegemonic attitude of the West—especially the legacy of white supremacy in America—I cannot ignore the many individuals in the West who stand in solidarity with those affected by racial injustice. Like Gandhi, I too remain deeply grateful to those who offer their service without applause or reward. They remind us that while humanity may be divided by race, culture, or geography, we are still one species—and some hearts remain colour-blind in the best and noblest sense of the word.
Ashram, June 28, 2025
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