Ganhiji's Autobiography

This week I started to read M.K Gandhi's autobigraphy,"My experiments with truth".I have finished reading only about Gandhi's childhood and marriage . But, reading only so little
has already made me change my perception about the Gandhi as a person . I have always presumed Gandhiji to be some sort of a saint who gave up everthing and lived a very simple means of life .

I was totally surprised with the facts I read in the book . There are umpteen incidents in his early life which suggest that he was a normal boy in his youth . He did all those things which most people do in their teens. Gandhi took to eating meat and drinking wine despite being born in a vegeterian family. He was totally convinced that Britishers dominated Indians because of their physical strength which they got by eating meat.

Gandhi was in the company of a friend who initiated Gandhi to these habits. The friend, whose name is unrevealed in the book ,even took Gandhi to a Brothel. But Gandhi went in and returned immediately fearing his conscience. By the time this incident happend Gandhi was already married.

Gandhi was married when he was only 13. Gandhi regrets being married at such an early
age ,later when writing this book. Gandhi also regrets about his' carnal appetite' . He deeply regrets about the fact that he was spending the night with his wife while his father was dying.
He says that, had he been free of his caranal appetite,he would have had the previlage of watching his father die in his arms.

Gandhi went to England to pursue his higher studies in law. He reached England after many struggles and obstacles ,as it was unheard of in those days for a boy born in a ordinary family to go and pursue studies in England.In England ,Gandhi tried to pass off as an English gentleman by wearing expensive suits, watches and taking dancing classes.

How did this normal young man become a Mahatma, is the question I will try to find an answer for as I continue to read this book and continue to fascinate about the life and times Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi .