The Moral Vision
Disadvantage Turned to Advantage
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DISADVANTAGE TURNED TO
ADVANTAGE
Mahatma Gandhi was very shy by nature. In his
book,
“My Experiments with Truth”,
he confesses
that it was a long time before he managed to shake
off his shyness. While studying in London, he
joined a vegetarian society. At one of its meetings
he was asked to make a speech. He stood up, but
was unable to express himself. Finally he brought
himself to voice a few words of thanks and sat
down. On another occasion, when he was invited to
express his ideas on vegetarian food, he set his
thoughts down on paper, but was not even able to
read out what he himself has written. Someone,
however, taking pity on him, read his discourse for
him.
After passing his examination in law from London,
he started his practice in Bombay. Here again his
shyness was a stumbling block. When he appeared
before the judge in his first case, he was so nervous
that he could not say anything. He had to tell his
client that he would not be able to pursue his case,
