ABSTRACT
No Indian leader had been to South Africa before, or for that matter to any other place outside India to which Indians had emigrated, with a view to examine their condition. The Satyagrahis realized the immense importance of this visit of a great leader like Gopal Krishna Gokhale and determined to accord him a reception which even princes might envy, conducting him to the principal cities of South Africa. The Union Government offered Gokhale their hospitality beforehand during his stay at Pretoria and placed at his disposal the State railway saloon. At Cape Town, Gokhale made a speech, concise, full of sound judgment, firm but courteous. This immensely pleased the Indians and fascinated the Europeans. In fact, he won the hearts of the different people of South Africa from the first day that he set foot on South African soil.
