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OCTOBER 2015
PRABUDDHJEEVAN
47
GANDHI KATHA
Gujarati : UMASHANKAR JOSHI • English Tran. : DIVYA JOSHI
BIGINNING NEW SERIES OF INCIDENCES IN GANDHIJI'S LIFE FROM THIS GANDHI JAYANTI
Sevagram ashram had just started. Children would boy said, 'My name is Somo. I have lived in Sabarmati come from nearby villages to learn spinning and card- Ashram earlier. Now I want to stay here in this ashram. ing and they earned some money too by the evening. Vijiya took him to Bapu. Bapu recognised him. He They would come in the morning and go back in the was a Harijan boy. Bapu told Vijiya to let him stay at evening. Once, before going to sleep Gandhiji asked the Ashram. and instructed her to give him some work Vijaya, "What happens about the afternoon meal for and to look after him. those children?'
Somo had come from the Faizpur Congress sesVijiya used to go to the well every afternoon, to wash sion directly, having absolutely nothing with him. He a bucket of clothes of Ba, Bapu and herself. The chil- was merely wearing a half Pant and Bandi (jacket): dren also used to come there around the same time at
that's all he had. Vijiya arranged for his meal and the bank of the well for their meal. So, she knew about one carpet to sleep. Mother Kasturba provided a blantheir meals and sometimes she would even ask them: ket for cover. What is there for your meal today? Children would an
It was Sunday. Bapu would observe silence from swer: Bhakhri- shak (wheat flour cake and vegetable).
Sunday night till the evening of Monday. A night, beVijiya informed all these to Bapu in detail.
fore going to bed, Bapu gestured with his hand indicatBapu asked, 'Do we have extra Butter milk?'
ing height of a small boy and thus asked the details of Vijiya answered, 'Yes.'
Somo. He shook his head, moved his eyes, and through Ranu immediately caid Then serve Butter milk to bodily gestures wanted to know how he was. Vijiya those children from tomorrow'
detailed Bapu with all the arrangements. She tried to
convince Bapu about his well being. But Bapu put his Vijiya accepted this responsibility.
hand on her shoulder and suggested, let us go there.' After three days, Bapu asked Vijiya before going to
He would not be satisfied otherwise! He had to verify bed: Vijiya, are you giving Butter milk to children?'
himself the comforts of the little child, so he would perVijiya replied, Bapu, I forgot that. I am Sorry.
sonally go and check. They went and saw that Somo Bapu just hesitated a bit, and then told her with af- was peacefully sleeping in the Verandah, comfortably fection, 'No, you have not forgotten. You are not for- covering himself. Bapu took Vijiya inside the room and getful. You do all my work very meticulously. When I stood near a bundle hanging on the wall. He then ingo for my walk, the sandals are nicely cleaned and structed her to take it and open the same, again through arranged. Stick is also kept in its place. Your nature is his gesture. Then he sat down and started searching not of the kind to forget things. But, shall I tell you? You for something. The bundle cotained old and used loindo all my work, and you never forget anything, that is clothes of Bapu. He took a heap of folded clothes and because I am a 'Mahatma', is it not? We always tend got up. Then he went to Verandah and removed cover to do the work of big people properly. But, these are from his face. Somo was fast a sleep. Bapu lifted his small, strange children and so we forget their work. head, placed a pillowof folded clothes below the head But, let me tell you that it does not matter if you forget of the child, covered him again properly and then he my work. If you do their work with extra care and at- went to sleep. tention, that will give me the utmost satisfaction.'
Somo was fast a sleep. He was under the care and XXX
comfort of the Mahatma, who had showered his affecA boy was roaming around in Sevagram Ashram. tion in the form of the pillow. Vijiya saw him and asked hin his whereabouts. The
(TO BE CONTINUED)
