Prisoner no. 1739

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."