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Why did Mahatma Gandhi promise not to drink wine, eat meat, or have sexual relationships before traveling to England?
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Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, popularly known as the Mahatma (“Great Soul”), in London, 1931.
Mahatma Gandhi promised his mother that he would abstain from wine, meat, and sexual relationships before traveling to England to allay her concerns about the potential temptations and dangers he might face in a distant land.1
His mother, Putlibai, was deeply religious and hesitant to allow her youngest child to leave home. By taking this vow, Gandhi provided her with the reassurance necessary to secure her permission for his journey, which he viewed as essential for his education and future career as a barrister.1