When Mahatma Gandhi was in South Africa, his name and fame had spread far and wide. Indian students in London revered him. Their Union was planning its annual function and they invited Gandhiji to preside over it. He readily consented.

There was to be a gathering in the evening followed by dinner. The students decided to cook for Gandhiji with their own hands. They got together and were busy with the preparations. However, they noticed that one amongst them worked with special dedication. He did a lot of work without even being asked. He was willing to do anything. He worked all day. Then, in the evening, when everything was ready, they went to change their clothes and assembled for the gathering.

It was then that they realised that the dedicated worker was Gandhiji himself! He had arrived early during the day. He had come to be with the students, to join them in their activities, to be one amongst them. How truly humble!

There is yet another incident from his life. One day a professor came to meet Mahatma Gandhi. He had fixed an appointment with him for 11 o’clock . He arrived at 10 minutes to 11 and found only one man sweeping the floor of Gandhi’s cottage at Wardha.

The learned professor ordered the man to go and inform Mahatma Gandhi that he had arrived. “He has asked me to come at 11 o’clock,” he said. The man replied, “Sir, Gandhi is very punctual. He will come and meet you at 11 o’clock.” The professor thought the man was irreverent. He himself referred to Gandhi as the Mahatma but the sweeper merely called him Gandhi. The professor was annoyed and said, “Didn’t I tell you to go and inform Mahatma Gandhi that I am here? I have been waiting for 9 minutes and you haven’t done anything.”

Again, the sweeper replied, “Sir, Gandhi is very punctual. He will meet you at 11 o’clock sharp.” At the tick of the clock, at exactly 11 o’ clock, the man who was sweeping the room, came and stood before the professor and said, “Sir, what can I do for you?”

The professor said to him, “You are a nincompoop. I have told you to go and inform Mahatma Gandhi that I have come and yet you ask me what you can do for me.” Then it was that the man smiled. That is when the professor realised that the man who had been sweeping the room was none other than the Mahatma himself? He fell down at his feet and begged to be forgiven.