Why Third

Gandhiji always traveled third class in trains. He did so because all poor people in India traveled third. In those days there were three classes in trains. Once Gandhiji got off at Bombay from a third class railway compartment. Many people had come to see him. Among them were some American men and women. They went into the compartment of Gandhiji. They saw that it was very small.

Why doesn’t he travel first?” asked one of the ladies. “I don’t know. Let’s go and ask him,” replied one of the gentlemen. “Mr. Gandhi, we’ve come to ask you a question,” the gentleman said to Gandhiji.

You’re the leader of the Indian people, but you travel third. Please tell us why you travel third.” Gandhiji laughed and said, “The answer is very simple. I travel third because there is no fourth.” He laughed again and the American ladies and gentlemen laughed with him.