Gandhi was glad to be back in India, his homeland, after three long years in London, but his happiness did not last long. His brother, who met him at the dock, broke to Gandhi the news of his mother's death while he was in London. Gandhi appeared undisturbed but he inwardly felt the loss greatly.
He went home but returned to Bombay within a short time to practice as an advocate but the profession did not suit him. He was temperamentally shy, simple and truth-loving and these characteristics prevented him from becoming a successful lawyer.
Further, he would not engage the services of a tout. When one of his law agents said "even that criminal lawyer Mr. So and So who makes Rs.3000/- to Rs.4000/- a month pays commission", Gandhi retorted: "I do not need to emulate him. I shall be content with Rs.300/-a month. Father did not get more." Gandhi was adamant and never gave any commission. He charged only Rs.80/- as his fee for a case.
Once he appeared in a case for the defendant and had to cross-examine the plaintiff's witnesses. But he could not proceed. He says "I stood up but my heart sank into my boots. My head was reeling and I felt as though the whole court was doing likewise. I could think of no question to ask. I sat down and told the client that I could not conduct the case" and refunded the fee promptly. The case was then taken up by another leading lawyer. He thereupon left the court ashamed of himself and decided not to take up any cases until he had the courage to conduct them.
While in Bombay, he lived in a locality called Girgaum and walked daily to the High Court, a distance of about two miles. It took him over forty five minutes to walk the distance, but he did not mind it and even recommended this practice to other briefless lawyers.
He thereafter tried for a teacher's job. He saw an advertisement for such a job on Rs.78 per month and applied for it. He was called for an interview, but he was rejected by the principal of the school as he was not a graduate!
Gandhi was in despair. He closed his office in Bombay and left for Rajkot to practice law there with his brother's help. He never resorted to any falsehood in his profession. He always confessed this to his clients or colleagues whenever he felt he could not conduct a case. He would simply ask his clients to consult some other counsel. This frankness earned for him the unbounded affection and trust of his clients.
He was getting on well at Rajkot on monthly income of Rs.300/-, but this was not encouraging enough. He felt despondent.
About this time, he had a call from a rich Muslim, a native of Kathiawar, residing in South Africa, to take up his case in Durban on a liberal fee, with a free return passage to Africa. Gandhi gladly accepted it. He had only a vague knowledge of the colour bar in that continent and had never given a thought as to how he would react if he were to be personally attacked or insulted.