# Parsi Rustomji — The Story of My Experiments with Truth character guide

> Parsi Rustomji in The Story of My Experiments with Truth by Mahatma Gandhi.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** the late Parsi Rustomji, Rustomji, Parsi Rustomji, The good Parsi, the old Parsi

**First appearance:** 0033-part-ii-vi-arrival-in-natal

## Snapshot

A prosperous Parsi merchant in Natal who opened his purse and his warehouse to Gandhi's earliest campaigns, then quietly paid for his own mistakes.

## Who they are

Rustomji was the kind of supporter every movement needs — wealthy, well-connected, and generous to the point of recklessness — but he was also human, and once smuggled goods in a moment of weakness that Gandhi refused to cover up. Their confrontation over that lapse tests whether Gandhi's ethics applied to friends as strictly as to enemies. He matters because he shows the early satyagraha as a fragile coalition of imperfect, loyal men rather than a chorus of saints.

## In the story

### [On the Way to Pretoria](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_experiments_with_truth_se/chapters/part-ii-viii-on-the-way-to-pretoria)

Mentioned as an acquaintance Gandhi made in Durban.

### [Settled in Natal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_experiments_with_truth_se/chapters/part-ii-xvii-settled-in-natal)

Active volunteer in obtaining signatures for the petition.

### [Homeward](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_experiments_with_truth_se/chapters/part-ii-xxiv-homeward)

Considered as a potential leader for the Congress and Education Society during Gandhi's absence.

### [The Bombay Meeting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_experiments_with_truth_se/chapters/part-ii-xxvii-the-bombay-meeting)

Makes amends for a Parsi friend's broken resolve to go to South Africa.

### [The Test](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_experiments_with_truth_se/chapters/part-iii-iii-the-test)

His house is the destination for Gandhi's family and later becomes a refuge.

### [Spirit of Service](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_experiments_with_truth_se/chapters/part-iii-vi-spirit-of-service)

His charities enabled the opening of a small charitable hospital under Dr. Booth's charge.

### [Return to India](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_experiments_with_truth_se/chapters/part-iii-xii-return-to-india)

Appointed as one of the trustees for the community trust created from the returned gifts.

### [The Phoenix Settlement](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_experiments_with_truth_se/chapters/part-iv-xix-the-phoenix-settlement)

Supports the project by providing building materials for the press shed.

### [How a Client Was Saved](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_experiments_with_truth_se/chapters/part-iv-xlvii-how-a-client-was-saved)

Client and coworker who confesses to smuggling; follows Gandhi's advice to confess and accept penalty.

### [A Peep Into the Ashram](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_experiments_with_truth_se/chapters/part-v-xxi-a-peep-into-the-ashram)

Mentioned as Sjt. Punjabhai Hirachand, a merchant who helped procure land for the Ashram.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_experiments_with_truth_se/characters/parsi_rustomji
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_experiments_with_truth_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_story_of_my_experiments_with_truth_se/characters