The Essential Gandhi by Mahatma Gandhi

exploit this loyalty, never did I seek to gain a selfish end by its means. It was for me more in the nature of an obligation, and I rendered it without expecting a reward. 36
     … I felt that if I demanded rights as a British citizen, it was also my duty as such to participate in the defense of the British Empire. I held then that India could achieve her complete emancipation only within and through the British Empire. So I collected together as many comrades as possible, and with very great difficulty got their services accepted as an ambulance corps. 37
    [Gandhi led the corps. Three hundred free Indians volunteeredtogether with eight hundred indentured laborers furloughed by their masters. For days they worked under the fire of enemy guns and carried wounded soldiers back to base hospital. The Indians sometimes walked as much as twenty-five miles a day. England and South Africa were impressed. Gandhi and several comrades received the War Medal and the corps was mentioned in dispatches.
    Gandhi hoped that the fortitude of the Indians in the war would appeal to South Africa’s sense of fair play and help to moderate white hostility. But further repressive measures were passed.]
    “It was at your instance that the community helped in the war, and you see the result now,” were the words with which some people taunted me. But the taunt had no effect. “I do not regret my advice,” said I. “I maintain we did well in taking part in the war. In doing so we simply did our duty. We may not look forward to any reward for our labors, but it is my firm conviction that all good action is bound to bear fruit in the end. Let us forget the past and think of the task before us.” … 38
    [Gandhi had no unspent belligerence and no further plans or ambitions in South Africa—nothing foreshadowed the epic opportunity for leadership and realization that came later. He yearned to go home to India, and did, at the end of 1901.]
     … I felt my work was no longer in South Africa but in India. Not that there was nothing to be done in South Africa, but I was afraid that my main business might become merely money-making.
    Friends at home were also pressing me to return and I felt that I should be of more service in India … so I requested my co-workers to relieve me. After very great difficulty my request was conditionally accepted … that I should be ready to go back to South Africa if, within a year, the community should need me. I thought it was a difficult condition but the love that bound me to the community made me accept it.
    Gifts [from the Indian community] had been bestowed on me before when I returned to India in 1899, but this time the farewellwas over-whelming. The gifts, of course, included things in gold and silver but there were articles of costly diamond as well.
    What right had I to accept all these gifts? Accepting them, how could I persuade myself that I was serving the community without remuneration?
    I knew that I should have some difficulty in persuading my wife.…
    “You may not need them,” said my wife. “Your children may not need them. Cajoled, they will dance to your tune.…”
    “… You deprived me of my ornaments, you would not leave me in peace with them.… And pray what right have you to my necklace?”
    “But,” I rejoined, “is the necklace given you for your service or for my service?”
    “I agree. But service rendered by you is as good as rendered by me. I have toiled and moiled for you day and night. Is that no service? You forced all and sundry on me, making me weep bitter tears, and I slaved for them!”
    These were pointed thrusts and some of them went home. But I was determined to return the ornaments. I somehow succeeded in extorting a consent from her. The gifts … were all returned. A trust-deed was prepared and they were deposited with a bank, to be used for the service of the community, according to my wishes or to those of the trustees.
     … The fund is still