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MAHATMA GANDHI IN JAIL
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during the day. Sardar Vallabhai once ran short of his slivers, and he sent for some through the Superintendent. My stock used to be rather poor. Gandhiji doubled his time at the bow, with the joy of a mother cooking for her dear children.
MID-DAY MEAL.
At eleven, we used to take the mid-day meal. Again, it used to be curds mixed with a pinch of soda-bi-carb, dates or raisins and boiled vegetables The newspapers come about the same time. I would read out the latest news about the lathi charges and the brave ladies of Bombay hoisting the national flag aloft. We rarely used to discuss the news. That was reserved for the evening walk.
Dietetics and nature cure used to be the main topics at dinner time, because Gandhiji has read deeply and experimented deligently in this field.
The wheel must follow the meals immediately; after it, the newspapers and then the mid-day siesta. At half past one, he takes a cupful of water, with the sour juice of a lemon neutralised with soda-bi-carb. Then comes the reading or writing of letters. Hymns from the Ashram prayer book must be translated into English for the benefit of Mirabai.
AT TAKLI.
At four, you will see him with the takli-a thing of his own manufacture out of a broken tile and a bamboo stick walking in the sun and pulling the milk white yielding yarn, "Smear takli and your fingers with a pinch of fine ashes wrote Winoba from Vardha Ashram and the speed is increased.
EVENING LUNCH.
At the stroke of five would begin our evening mealcurds, dates and some vegetables. Again, the goats would come and the kiddies wagging their tiny tails. Meals over, I would wash the utensils and Gandhiji would prepare the dates for the next day and soak them in water. Then the evening walk. The colours of the evening sky, the glory of the setting sun and the wierd shapes of the fast grey clouds are a 30
Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
