What concerned Gandhi?

Answer 1

Gandhi was fighting for civil rights and equal treatment of Indians in South Africa and white-ruled India. He was motivated when he was forced to move out of the first-class carriage on a train in South Africa by the driver because he wasn't white, even though he had a first-class ticket. Gandhi was also fighting for his fellow Indians who were being exploited by the British for slave labour and paid little or no wages, women without equal rights and the infamous salt tax which prevented Indians collecting their own salt and the British selling their own expensive salt. Certain laws in South Africa such as Indians having to register to live in South Africa and hefty taxes places on Indians. The small Indian community in South Africa was facing many problems at that time. It consisted mainly of enslaved labourers and traders. The indentured labourers were taken there by the European landlords as there was severe labour shortage in South Africa. During 1860-1890 around 40,000 labourers were sent from India. Many of them settled there after their agreement periods were completed and started farming or business.

The British couldn't compete with the competition of the Indian traders and imposed many restrictions, taxes and no voting rights. Racism was an everyday struggle for Indians.