Connection with Gandhiji 
Gandhiji established a community settlement at Phoenix, approximately 21 km from Durban. He also shifted the operation of the weekly Indian Opinion there. It occupied an important place in the history of Satyagraha in South Africa.

Background  
• Gandhiji came in contact with Mr. Polak, a fellow vegetarian and a believer in the simple life, at Johannesburg. When Gandhiji was leaving for Durban, Mr. Polak gave him a book, John Ruskin’s Unto This Last, to read during the journey. It had an instant and intense impact on Gandhiji. He decided to change his life in accordance with the book and also to shift the operations of Indian Opinion weekly to the new place.
• The idea was to shift to a farm where ‘everyone should labour, drawing the same wage and attending to the press work in spare time. Mr. West, who was looking after the press, approved of the proposal and 3 pounds was decided as the monthly allowance per head irrespective of colour or nationality'.
• Six months after establishing the settlement and shifting the press there, Gandhiji elaborated the thought behind the Phoenix settlement and hoped for threefold incentive: (1) an ideal to work for in the shape of Indian Opinion. (2) Perfectly healthy surroundings to live in. (3) an immediate prospect of owning a piece of land on the most advantageous terms and direct, tangible interest and participation in the scheme.
• Gandhiji and his associate Mr. West went to inspect an estate with 20 acres of land, a spring, and a few orange and mango trees. Adjoining it was an 80 acre land with more fruit trees and some dilapidated quarters. They purchased a total of 100 acres for the settlement. It was 4 km away from Phoenix railway station. Gandhiji’s well-wisher Mr. Rustomji helped with basic building material. Some Indian carpenters and masons helped in erecting a 75 feet long and 50 feet broad shed for the press.

At Phoenix Settlement  
• Gandhiji chose Phoenix as Settlement’s name instead of adopting any Indian name. Explaining his decision, he wrote to his nephew and close aide Maganlal Gandhi on November 24, 1909, ‘It is not worth bothering about giving names, etc., at present. What is the good of a name when we are just making experiments? And even when a name is given, we shall have to find a common word over which the question of Hindu or Mussalman will not arise… ‘Phoenix’ is a very good word that has come to us without any effort on our part. Being an English word, it serves to pay homage to the land in which we live. Moreover, it is neutral. Its significance, as the legend goes, is that the bird phoenix comes back to life again and again from its own ashes, i.e. it never dies…At present, our whole structure and behaviour are those of the bird phoenix.’
• Gandhiji dedicated a chapter on the difficulties in bringing out the first issue of Indian Opinion from the Phoenix Settlement in his autobiography.
• Gandhiji’s close associates like Maganlal Gandhi, Chhaganlal Gandhi, Albert West joined the Phoenix settlement. Henry Polak joined later but he had to leave after some time as he was needed at Johannesburg by Gandhiji.
• As Gandhiji left Johannesburg for serving in the Zulu ‘rebellion’, Kasturba was sent to Phoenix Settlement.
• Gandhiji took the vow of brahmacharya at Phoenix after returning from ambulance work in Zulu ‘rebellion’.
• Maganlal Gandhi took care of the Settlement in absence of Gandhiji. Many settlers joined the settlement. Kasturba and Gandhiji’s sons lived there for long durations when Gandhiji was occupied with community work and the struggle.
• As Transvaal became a new centre for the movement, Tolstoy Farm was established in 1910. It became a new place for the satyagrahis. Gandhiji did not stay for long periods even at the Tolstoy Farm. It was wound up and all the settlers were relocated to Phoenix Settlement on January 10, 1913.
• Gandhiji considered Phoenix a public institution. As he wrote in a letter dated March 1, 1910, ‘the workers working there live in poverty for the sake of community and Phoenix itself was bought for the community. Whatever activity is carried on there is done for its sake. I, therefore, regard Phoenix as a public institution.’
• Phoenix settlement was Gandhiji’s first experiment in community living. Gandhiji could not stay there for long period and had to shift to Johannesburg. Gandhiji noted regretfully, ‘My original idea had been gradually to retire from practice, go and live at the settlement, earn my livelihood by manual work there and find the joy of service in the fulfillment of Phoenix. But it was not to be.’
• Gandhiji went to Phoenix for the last time on July 5, 1914, attended many functions at Durban, and left Phoenix on July 11, 1914.

Site Address/Contact Details
Mahatma Gandhi House, Phoenix Settlement Durban
120518 St,
Bhambayi,
Inanda,
4309,
South Africa
Phone: +27 31 373 5486

Additional Details:  
• The rioters of the 1985 Inanda Riots caused severe damage to Phoenix Settlement. Some structures including Gandhiji’s house were rebuilt after the election of South Africa's first democratic government in 1994.
• Gandhiji’s house was named ‘Sarvodaya’ after it was rebuilt.