He visited Income Tax Commissioner Curtis regarding a surcharge on 3 February 1863. With the help of friends, he started a biweekly newsletter called "Dandiyo" ( A drum stick), modelled after British weekly "The Spectator," in September 1864. It was loudly reformist in its stand and attacked traditional customs of Hindu society. It ran until 1869 when it was merged with "The Sunday Review". On 18 January 1864, his father died, aged 56. He moved back to Surat in July 1865 and sheltered Savitagauri, a widow, in a neighbouring house. He published "Narmagadya" in September 1865. He was banished from his caste due to reform activities on 18 August but reinstated on 21 November 1866. The same year, he wrote his autobiographical work, "Mari Hakikat", the first autobiography in Gujarati. He published "Nayikavishaypravesh" and "Uttam Nayika" dedicated to his then separated wife, Dahigauri. In early 1867, he published "Narmakavita", a poetry collection. He had debts of 10,000 that caused him great concern. He married again in 1869. He published summaries of "Ramayana", "Mahabharata" and "Iliad" in 1870. He published the school version of "Narmagadya" in 1874 and the edition for the government in 1875.