Gandhi's inspiring short stories selected from the book Everyone's Gandhi
When Gandhi was a prisoner of the South African Government in November 1913 in Bloemfontein Gaol, his jail card bore the following among other details:
No. : 1739
Name : Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
Religion : Hindu
Age : 43
Trade : Solicitor
Date of Sentence : 11-11-13
Date of Discharge : 10-11-14
Sentenced : Pounds 20 or 30 months (on each of four counts).
Gandhiji was awarded 50 marks for good conduct. As he did not pay the fine, he had to serve the full sentence. The card bears his thumb impressions.
About the prison diet supplied to him the card says:
"Allowed vegetable diet owing to religious scruples.
Diet : 12 bananas, 12 dates, 3 tomatoes and 1 lemon each, 2 ounces of olive oil, and 3 selected groundnuts."