My early memory of Gandhi stem from reading much about him. In my first year college , I was exposed to a lesson "Some Reminiscences of the Bar", which impressed me to a large extent. I read that chapter so many times , the main narrative text of which I could recall verbatim even now- "...Is it not sharp practice Mr Gandhi.... I boiled within...". In fact, I searched Google with these key words to locate the full name of the chapter ! (http://www.mkgandhi.org/autobio/chap122.htm )
During my student vacation days, I used to take chapters from his autobiography to practice my hand writing daily. The reading of books like "Freedom at Midnight" gave me deeper insight of this great personality. Though I do not subscribe to hero worship, I regard this old man of India as one whose qualities are worthy of emulation.
In the pre-independence days, it was stalwarts like Gandhi, who led so many struggles, who went under the British baton, who languished under the unbearable heat and humidity of prisons of those days, which lacked even the basic amenities unlike the current day facilities. This was the one man army which held the then Calcutta peaceful, while the rest of India burned. This was the one who travelled in the ordinary second class train compartments and mingled with the common man unlike the later day 'leaders'. This was one of those who created , chiseled and worked with such personalities as Dr P.C.Ray who took forty rupees of his Eight hundred rupees salary and gave the rest for the freedom struggle; Was able to change the perception and style of personalities Vallabhai Patel, who was popularly remembered for his focus to continue his peroration in court, even after he was informed of his wife's demise. This was one man who did not need AK-47s to rock the empire but did it with a pinch of salt!
Compare this Bapu with some of today's leaders who swindle at the drop of a hat be it purchase of helicopter or fodder or cemetery or footwear or midday meals ....anything on earth where from currency could be milked.
After this 'Gandhi' Indian polity is replete with so many Gandhis, but none of these could match the stature and sacrifice of this 'half naked fakir', who troubled the Crown so much that Churchill was repeatedly questioning as to why he did not die yet !
This bapu drank goat's milk, ate nuts, adopted nature therapy, cleaned his own toilet, gave new dimensions to celibacy and starved for months for the welfare of the common man.
Later day Gandhis and Bapus never drank anything less than apple juice and mineral water; ate at five star luxury hotels with specially ordered items from a la carte menus; could not sleep without conditioned air even while the common man was suffocating under the cruel Indian summers without power for greater part of the day; could travel only in AC coaches and special airplanes; ignoring the natural wealth of medical professionals in the country who are well respected outside, rush to foreign soil more to 'gaurd' information about their state of health than for 'better' treatment.
There are people who love to hate the Gandhis and the likes of yesteryear and I have no quarrel with them, for they are entitled to their opinion as I am to mine. But, let us ponder whether the current 'bapus' could have survived in those conditions whereas the original 'Bapu' would have lived with ease even at the current state of affairs. For the "Bapu" had no 'expectations' while those who 'followed' him could not live without them.
It is a matter of satisfaction that we allocate at least a day yearly to reminisce and savor the thoughts of such great sons of this land!
During my student vacation days, I used to take chapters from his autobiography to practice my hand writing daily. The reading of books like "Freedom at Midnight" gave me deeper insight of this great personality. Though I do not subscribe to hero worship, I regard this old man of India as one whose qualities are worthy of emulation.
In the pre-independence days, it was stalwarts like Gandhi, who led so many struggles, who went under the British baton, who languished under the unbearable heat and humidity of prisons of those days, which lacked even the basic amenities unlike the current day facilities. This was the one man army which held the then Calcutta peaceful, while the rest of India burned. This was the one who travelled in the ordinary second class train compartments and mingled with the common man unlike the later day 'leaders'. This was one of those who created , chiseled and worked with such personalities as Dr P.C.Ray who took forty rupees of his Eight hundred rupees salary and gave the rest for the freedom struggle; Was able to change the perception and style of personalities Vallabhai Patel, who was popularly remembered for his focus to continue his peroration in court, even after he was informed of his wife's demise. This was one man who did not need AK-47s to rock the empire but did it with a pinch of salt!
Compare this Bapu with some of today's leaders who swindle at the drop of a hat be it purchase of helicopter or fodder or cemetery or footwear or midday meals ....anything on earth where from currency could be milked.
After this 'Gandhi' Indian polity is replete with so many Gandhis, but none of these could match the stature and sacrifice of this 'half naked fakir', who troubled the Crown so much that Churchill was repeatedly questioning as to why he did not die yet !
This bapu drank goat's milk, ate nuts, adopted nature therapy, cleaned his own toilet, gave new dimensions to celibacy and starved for months for the welfare of the common man.
Later day Gandhis and Bapus never drank anything less than apple juice and mineral water; ate at five star luxury hotels with specially ordered items from a la carte menus; could not sleep without conditioned air even while the common man was suffocating under the cruel Indian summers without power for greater part of the day; could travel only in AC coaches and special airplanes; ignoring the natural wealth of medical professionals in the country who are well respected outside, rush to foreign soil more to 'gaurd' information about their state of health than for 'better' treatment.
There are people who love to hate the Gandhis and the likes of yesteryear and I have no quarrel with them, for they are entitled to their opinion as I am to mine. But, let us ponder whether the current 'bapus' could have survived in those conditions whereas the original 'Bapu' would have lived with ease even at the current state of affairs. For the "Bapu" had no 'expectations' while those who 'followed' him could not live without them.
It is a matter of satisfaction that we allocate at least a day yearly to reminisce and savor the thoughts of such great sons of this land!
