June 2012 Blog Posts (47)

On one occasion, when Gandhi was released from a term of imprisonment in South Africa, he found that one of his close associates, Ms. Millie Graham Polak, was not well: The Polaks were members of the spiritual community that he was building around his ‘Sadligna'. When Gandhi wanted to know the reason for her being so ill, Mrs. Polak said that she could not get proper sleep at night because of insomnia. One of the contributory causes was also the trouble she was…

The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has launched three new modular programmes on Mahatma Gandhi and Peace Studies.

The Indian National Congress met at Nagpur in December 1920. By then it had become customary to refer to Gandhi as 'Mahatma' Gandhi. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, who later became the founder of Pakistan, spoke on a resolution. He spoke in English. In the course of his speech, he referred to Gandhi as Mr. Gandhi, and not Mahatma Gandhi. Maulana Mohammad Ali, a famous Muslim divine and leader of the Khilafat Movement, objected to this, and requested Mr. Jinnah to refer to Gandhi as Mahatma. Many…

Millions of Indians want a corruption free India. But, most of them are themselves part of the corruption.  One can rarely find an Indian in India today who has not paid bribe for one reason or the other.

The problem in India is that everyone complains about corruption but is unwilling to make necessary sacrifices in personal life to defeat this evil.

To expedite matter or escape from any offence, many people readily pay bribe but accuse the bribe taker.  Unless the Indians…

Mr. Pyarelal Nayyar, one of Gandhi's principal secretaries who worked with him for many years, recalls what he noticed of Gandhi's habits of work. "During the days that followed I noticed several things. One was Gandhiji's marvellous capacity to go on working day after day with only three or four hours' sleep — sometimes without any sleep at all. The second was his precision and thoroughness in the minutest details. The third was his meticulous regard for…

He would change the wooden sandals that he wore only when the impression that his feet made on them became too apparent a depression. If the soles of his slippers (chappals) got worn out, he would get them re-soled, and continue to use them, instead of throwing them away. He never used soap on his body, but used to rub himself clean with a wet towel. He used to get through his shave while soaking himself in the bath tub, and did not use a mirror or brush and…

Once, when Gandhi was in Calcutta, he was staying in a newly built house of an educational society. A young associate had been detailed to look after him and serve him. In the morning when Gandhi stepped out with a mug, soap and towel for his bath, the young man rushed to Gandhi and asked to be permitted to carry the soap, mug and towel to the bathroom. Gandhi quietly told him that what he was carrying was not too heavy. The worker then requested that he be allowed to wash Gandhi's soiled…

Physician: "What about your memory?" Gandhi: "As rotten as you can imagine. I have lost the memory for details. I often envied my friends who could roll out whole poems after reading them once." Gandhi added: "If you can give me that gift, shall become your unpaid advertising agent." Physician: "God alone can give these gifts, Mahatmaji."

Physician: "Do you remember the occasion when years ago you visited the Mission Hospital at Hardwar? It was I who took you around." Gandhi: "Yes, I…

Physical Labour

A farmer, while he was ploughing his field, once asked, “kindly tell me about the dignity of labour”. In response, he said, “perform physical labour so that you are in unison with the universe and the soul of universe.

To be lazy and to be indifferent to the seasons amount to walking against the very process of life that marches towards the infinite, taking pride in the total surrender.

When you are…

It is well known that doctors who practise Homoeopathy have many questions to ask of their patients. They have to know symptoms, and likes and dislikes, and a host of other details about the patient, and sometimes even about the patient's parents and their parents. On one occasion a homoeopathic physician who was recommended by a friend met Gandhi to diagnose his ailments and prescribe remedies. The physician started: "When and what did your father die of?"…

Horace G. Alexander was at Gandhi's Ashram at Sabarmati, and had walked with him to the prayer ground. When the prayer was over, there was a roll-call of the members of the Ashram, and each one reported on the quantity of yarn that he or she had spun on the Charkha. Horace happened to notice thus : "While the names were being called out and the record of the week's events read, Mr. Gandhi enjoyed himself stretching out his hand as if to touch one or two small infants who were running about…

Agatha Harrison was a Quaker and close associate of Mahatma Gandhi. Mahatma Gandhi discussed with him on current issues. He played a significant role during independent of India.

Mahatma Gandhi wrote a letter to Agatha Harrison on dated 8 March 1932 that you are quite correct in not giving me details of the activities of friends, nor am I eager to know them. I am quite sure that all of you over there are doing your best and what is proper. Do you hear from or see Maud? Please tell her…

Mr. Kallenbach, bought a farm of about 1,100 acres and gave the use of

it to satyagrahis free of any charge. Upon the Farm there were nearly one thousand fruit-bearing trees and a small house at the foot of a hill with accommodation for half-a-dozen persons. Water was supplied from two wells as well as from a spring. The nearest railway station, Lawley, was about a mile from the farm and Johannesburg was twenty-one miles distant. We decided to build houses upon this farm and to invite…

Leo Tolstoy was a great philosopher, writer in his age. He had born in Russia on 9 September 1829. He wrote many famous novels. His famous novel war and peace was read by Mahatma Gandhi. Mahatma Gandhi had accepted it that he had learnt Ahimsa by Leo Tolstoy. He died on 20 November 1910.

Mahatma Gandhi wrote a letter to Leo Tolstoy on dated 1 October 1909 that I take the liberty of inviting your attention to what has been going on in the Transvaal (South Africa) for nearly three…

Devdas Gandhi was youngest son of Mahatma Gandhi. He loved him very much. He taught him everything. He gave him suggestion in every difficulty. He supported in every movement to his father.

Mahatma Gandhi wrote a letter to Devdas on dated 26 March 1932 that I received today permission to write to fellow-prisoners, and hence this letter. I think of you every day. Mahadev has been brought here. All three of us are well. More after I hear from you in reply to this. Give me news about your…

Devdas Gandhi was youngest son of Mahatma Gandhi. He was born in South Africa too. He returned India with his parents. He participated in freedom struggle with his father. Later he became a prominent editor of Hindustan Times. He wrote on current issue regularly.

Mahatma Gandhi wrote a letter to Devdas Gandhi on dated 16 December 1914 that Improve your handwriting. Ba’s condition has grown very bad of late. She and I both believe that medical treatment has had altogether an adverse…

Ramdas Gandhi was third son of Mahatma Gandhi. He was a freedom fighter. He had taken part in every freedom movement. He had sent many times jail by the British Government. He had not believed in eleventh wolves of Mahatma Gandhi. He opposed many times to Mahatma Gandhi on the poverty.

Mahatma Gandhi wrote a letter to his son Ramdas on dated 8 January 1934 that I got both your letters. Do not worry about your having opened Manilal’s letter. You are free to open any…

Ramdas Gandhi was the third son of Mahatma Gandhi. He was born in South Africa at 1896. He was very different his parents and his brothers. He never adjusted to the idealistic poverty imposed by his father. He had taste for hunting. He took part in the cremation of Mahatma Gandhi with his brother Devdas Gandhi. He had taken part in Indian independence movement.

Mahatma Gandhi wrote a letter to his son Ramdas on dated 27 November 1909 that I write this letter to you as I do…

Mahatma Gandhi wrote a letter to Manilal and his wife on dated 16 February 1936 that I have been getting your letters, but I was helpless. Of course I did have energy enough to write, but chose to follow the doctors’ orders. Now I have got the permission to write a few letters such as this. What about the Agent’s betrothal? You write nothing about it. Perhaps your next letter will bring the information. If you have not written to me of this already and if there is something I should know, do…

There is a famous Goddess Kali temple in Kolkata. It was then the practice to sacrifice goats there to propitiate the goddess.

Mahatma Gandhi wrote in Navajivan on dated 7 November 1920 that there were many who felt satisfied at having saved one of the goats which were to be slaughtered in sacrifice to Mother Kali. Had the goat been saved in the right manner, I would have felt very happy, but in saving the goat they hurt many human beings. For saving the goat, force was used…