My dad has been the greatest educator in my life than my life itself.
In one of our discussions in my adolescent years, i blatantly blamed Gandhiji for the great divide to take place between India and Pakistan, how could he have allowed the division of countries, was he favoring the partition which was more or less based on religious values, if he had really wanted, he could have stopped, was my childish arguement.
He looked at me with those eyes that meant i was growing up and am entitled to my opinions. Yet, in few words he said "That wasnt true, it wasnt in his hands to decide, i cant allow you to think about a great man in ways that are not true". He suggested when i'm old enough, i'll UNDERSTAND the history. I took it that reading about it wasnt enough, i had to grow some more and i pondered was there more to it than what i know....The more i acquaint myself with his legacy, the more i'm fascinated by him, i feel there must be more to all this than what we read.
When i was in india last, my chacha, took a broom and started to clear the blockage of leaves in the narrow path of dry sewage next to our house that was clogging water. I quickly saw and went to rescue him and say "kyon chacha, app karr rahe ho, when the maids will come they'll do it". Yet, my chahcha said, "You know linku, bapuji said, if everyone does thier job without associating shame or embarrassment to it, the world would be a much better place to live".
There i was holding a sleepy baby Taran in my hands, next to my chacha, and he was blessing me with his deep sense of individuality.
All these feelings have been ruffled today as I came across this website, The Satyagraha House, the very house that housed Gandhiji and his architect friend Herman, his priniciples, his unrest, his simplicity and where the Satyagraha movement started its roots. Its recently been restored by a French company "Voyageurs du monde" and is now open to public. It gives a unique opportunity to stay in the guest house or just visit it as a museum. Kudos to the team of historian, curators, interior designers - who made this possible, who brought us little closer to the history of the life of a man we need to reacquaint ourselves with.
Thank you....merci beaucoup.
In one of our discussions in my adolescent years, i blatantly blamed Gandhiji for the great divide to take place between India and Pakistan, how could he have allowed the division of countries, was he favoring the partition which was more or less based on religious values, if he had really wanted, he could have stopped, was my childish arguement.
He looked at me with those eyes that meant i was growing up and am entitled to my opinions. Yet, in few words he said "That wasnt true, it wasnt in his hands to decide, i cant allow you to think about a great man in ways that are not true". He suggested when i'm old enough, i'll UNDERSTAND the history. I took it that reading about it wasnt enough, i had to grow some more and i pondered was there more to it than what i know....The more i acquaint myself with his legacy, the more i'm fascinated by him, i feel there must be more to all this than what we read.When i was in india last, my chacha, took a broom and started to clear the blockage of leaves in the narrow path of dry sewage next to our house that was clogging water. I quickly saw and went to rescue him and say "kyon chacha, app karr rahe ho, when the maids will come they'll do it". Yet, my chahcha said, "You know linku, bapuji said, if everyone does thier job without associating shame or embarrassment to it, the world would be a much better place to live".
There i was holding a sleepy baby Taran in my hands, next to my chacha, and he was blessing me with his deep sense of individuality.
All these feelings have been ruffled today as I came across this website, The Satyagraha House, the very house that housed Gandhiji and his architect friend Herman, his priniciples, his unrest, his simplicity and where the Satyagraha movement started its roots. Its recently been restored by a French company "Voyageurs du monde" and is now open to public. It gives a unique opportunity to stay in the guest house or just visit it as a museum. Kudos to the team of historian, curators, interior designers - who made this possible, who brought us little closer to the history of the life of a man we need to reacquaint ourselves with.
Thank you....merci beaucoup.
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