During his stay in South Africa, Mahatma Gandhi edited and published a newspaper that became an important vehicle for expressing the concerns of the Indian community there. Which one of the following newspapers was edited by Gandhiji in South Africa?

Introduction / Context:
Before returning to India to lead the freedom struggle, Mahatma Gandhi spent many years in South Africa, where he first developed and tested his ideas of satyagraha and non violent resistance. During this period, he felt the need for a newspaper to present the problems of the Indian community and to spread awareness about rights and injustices. This question asks you to identify which newspaper he edited while in South Africa.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The newspaper was edited by Gandhi during his time in South Africa.- It focused on issues affecting the Indian community there.- We must distinguish this paper from newspapers he edited after returning to India.

Concept / Approach:
Gandhi edited several periodicals over his lifetime. Harijan and Young India were associated with his activities in India, particularly during the later phases of the freedom struggle. Indian Mirror is linked to other reformers. The newspaper that Gandhi started and edited in South Africa to give voice to Indian grievances and to promote his ideas was called Indian Opinion. This paper became an important tool in mobilising the Indian community and in articulating early satyagraha campaigns.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall Gandhi's South Africa period, which preceded his return to India in 1915.Step 2: Recognise that Harijan and Young India were periodicals associated with Gandhi's campaigns in India, especially on issues like untouchability, village reconstruction and national movement activity.Step 3: Remember that Indian Opinion was established in South Africa and served as a mouthpiece for the Indian community there, edited by Gandhi.Step 4: Indian Mirror is not one of Gandhi's papers and is associated with other reformist circles.Step 5: Therefore, the correct answer is Indian Opinion.

Verification / Alternative check:
A quick way to verify is to match the names with locations: Indian Opinion with South Africa, Young India and Harijan with British India and the freedom struggle. If you remember that Indian Opinion is the earliest of these in Gandhi's publishing history, the question becomes straightforward.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B (Harijan) is wrong because it was launched in India to address issues such as untouchability and social reform among caste Hindus.Option C (Young India) is wrong as it was a nationalist weekly published from India and associated with the Congress led movement.Option D (Indian Mirror) is wrong because it is not one of Gandhi's newspapers in South Africa.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates confuse the various periodicals associated with Gandhi, especially Harijan and Young India, because these are more frequently referred to in accounts of the Indian freedom struggle. Remembering the chronological sequence and matching each paper to the country and phase of his life helps avoid such confusion. Indian Opinion is firmly linked to his South African period, while Harijan and Young India belong to his Indian years.

Final Answer:
Correct answer: Indian Opinion