As I have moved well into my sunset years, there are not many people left, great leaders who I still admire. But my long lasting admiration of Mahatma Gandhi made me, the other day, once again access the internet and search for little vignettes and incidents from his life, which make him seem not only a great leader who led the country into freedom but also one who was simple to the core, truthful to the end, a great agent of reconciliation, but also a fighter against injustice, who lived and worked in solidarity with common people and had a puckish sense of humour.
It is these few incidents in his life that I want to share in this article selected from the book: “Everyone’s Gandhi.”
All For A Stone
Many people know that instead of soap, Gandhiji used a stone to scrub himself. Very few people, however, know how precious this stone, given by Miraben, was to Gandhiji.
This happened during the Noakhali march, when Gandhiji and others halted at a village called Narayanpur. During the march, the responsibility of looking after this particular stone, along with other things, lay with Manuben. Unfortunately, though, she forgot the stone at the last halting place.
“I want you to go back and look for the stone,” said Bapu. “Only then will you not forget it the next time.” “May I take a volunteer with me?” she hesitantly asked. “Why” he asked.”
Poor Manu did not have the courage to say that the way back lay through forests of coconut and supari, (betel nut) so dense that a stranger might easily lose his way. Moreover, it was the time of riots. How could she go back alone?
Janina Gomes
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