In the first three chapters of My Experiments with Truth, Mahatma Gandhi writes about his birth, parents, childhood, and child marriage.
Gandhi was born on 2 October 1869 in Porbandar, Gujarat. His family belonged to the Bania community. His father, Karamchand Gandhi, was an honest, brave, and practical government official. He was not highly educated but was respected for his wisdom and integrity. Gandhi’s mother, Putlibai, was deeply religious. She prayed regularly, visited temples, and observed strict fasts.
As a child, Gandhi was shy, quiet, and an average student. He never liked to cheat or tell lies. During a spelling test, he misspelled the word “kettle.” Although his teacher asked him to copy the correct spelling from another student, Gandhi refused because he believed cheating was wrong.
Two stories greatly influenced him during his childhood: Shravana, who devoted his life to serving his blind parents, and Raja Harishchandra, who always spoke the truth. These stories inspired Gandhi to value truth, honesty, and duty.
The third chapter describes Gandhi’s child marriage. He was married at the age of 13, following the customs of that time. Looking back, Gandhi says that he and his wife were two innocent children who did not understand the responsibilities of married life.
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