| |
Back
Reminiscences
Of Gandhi
Sweet And Sad
- P. G. Mavalankar
WHEN I was studying in the English sixth standard, I
contributed an article to the school Annual, wherein I stated that my
life-ambition was to advance culture, through work in the field of education.
All seemed to like my writing. Thereafter my father went to Sevagram for the
first time in 1944, after his release from jail, for a meeting of the Kasturba
Trust Fund. I insisted on his taking my article and give it to Bapu for his
opinion. My joy knew no bounds when I got, through my father, a letter in Bapu's
own handwriting:
Dear Purushottam, .
You have selected the best but a difficult ideal. May God help you. Do come here
some time. Love.
BAPU
It was May 1944. Bapu was at Juhu. I went to him with my father. After the talks
(between him and my father) were over, I placed in Bapu's hands my autograph-
book for his autograph. He took the book with the five- rupee note, and asked
for a fountain pen, which was then offered to him by my father. But he returned
it, stating that it was of foreign make. He even rejected my pen, which was
known as 'Gooptu's Perfection' and was made at Calcutta, under the impression
that it was of foreign make. He signed his autograph with a pen lying near him.
While signing his autograph, he gave us, in a romantic manner, the history of
his own pen. He said: "Once I had been to Banaras. Mahadev was with me. I lost
my . pen there. Mahadev was naturally upset. So our host, the late Shivaprasad
Gupta, presented a pen to me. He gave one to Mahadev also. I am still using that
pen. It is entirely Indian-made,-manufactured in Banaras-and it works well."
After saying this, he said with a smile: "I was told the story (of the
manufacture of the pen) by Shivaprasad. I do not know anything about it. But
what he stated must have been true."
It was the month of May in 1945. There was a meeting of the Kasturba Fund
Trustees in the cool climate of Mahabaleshwar. Bapu presided over it. During the
discussion on a certain subject, Shri Devdas (youngest son of Gandhiji), who is
a trustee of the Fund, said: "Bapu, I wish to say something about this." Bapu
said: "Surely, say whatever you like." "But it is something against the view you
propound," said Devdas. Bapu smiled and said: "An obedient son may feel shy of
speaking to the face of his father. But you need have no such feeling. Say
frankly what you want." Pointing to Shri Thakkar Bapa, he added with a hearty
laughter: "But look here, here are two instead of one Bapa (father). I can
appreciate, therefore, your embarrassment." Shri C. Rajagopalachari happened to
be there at the time, and he caused addition to the peals of laughter by saying:
"But, Bapu, here there are three fathers instead of two! This was quite correct;
as Shri Rajaji is the father-in-law of Shri Devdas. Bapu had all along joined in
the laughter.
I was in Delhi in October 1946, and one day (on 24th October) accompanied my
father to the Bhangi Colony at prayer time. As we approached the place, we
noticed some turmoil from a distance. We were afraid that we were a bit late for
the prayers. Instead, we saw a different situation. Bapuji was standing on the
plat- form, with others, and was talking to the crowd, some among whom were
raising some slogans. The situation appeared to me from a distance to be strange
and sad.
Bapuji was standing and was saying something with a sad heart as appeared from
his face. It was not possible to know what exactly was happening. I imagined
that he might be saying .good-bye with a heavy heart, to the crowd, on the eve
of his departure for Bengal next day. We entered the premises with curiosity,
and stood on the left side of the prayer platform. We saw some young and angry
faces, among the crowd, carrying boards displaying the following slogans: "Down
with Bengal Ministry", Save Bengali Hindus from mass slaughter", "Expel Ben- gal
Governor", "Remove Suhrawardy Ministry", "Rescue abducted women". They were very
vocal, with slogans against the Muslim League and the League Ministry in Bengal.
We learnt afterwards that they were local Bengali Hindus. Bapuji was appealing
to all of them to be quiet. He said to the angry crowd: "Prayers will begin if
you keep quiet. You have come here for prayers. You can go elsewhere, if you do
not wish to join these. There is no obligation on anyone here (to remain
present); but if you choose to stay, you must keep quiet."
For a while nobody complied with his request. The slogans continued. He was
patiently trying to have his say; but Who would- hear him in such a tumult? At
last one voice angrily said to him: "Gandhiji, we want the Central Government to
intervene in this matter. We want that our people must be saved from this
calamity. We want you to intervene. Why don't you immediately go to Bengal?" I
also felt moved at the piteous appeal of the man to the Father of the Nation.
What could helpless people do in such a situation? Whom else could the afflicted
appeal to, but to the Father of the Nation?
Did Bapuji not know the situation in the country? .
But his hands were tied in many ways. At last he showed great presence of mind
and abandoned a large part of the prayers. He took up only Ramdhun. He saw that
it was impossible to induce the excited crowd to keep quiet for fifteen - to
twenty minutes. The 'Ramdhun' brought about a sweet silence. Cheerfulness and
patience replaced irritation. and anger. Bapu then began his address to the
crowd. He had felt the pulse of the distressed people. This was not a new
experience. He did not attempt to find fault with people who had gone mad with
rage. On the contrary he spoke to them with sympathy: "All leaders are fully
alive to the situation in Bengal. The Congress Cabinet is at present considering
the very question, and I am also preparing to go to Bengal. All of us are moved,
when we read or hear the Bengal atrocities; but you should all keep some
patience, have some courage, and trust in God. Solid work and not mere slogans
are essential on such occasions. First decide whether you want to kill or to
die. Empty slogans will serve no purpose. I can only show to you the way to die,
to sacrifice all that you have, not the way to kill. I have been preaching this
in India for the last thirty years-in fact, since the South African days and
therefore for the last fifty years." Bapu spoke to this effect. His voice showed
the deep sorrow of his heart. He even referred to the Interim Government and
said: "Pandit Jawaharlal; Sardar Patel and other leaders have been very much
grieved at the Bengal atrocities; but leaders cannot afford to sit silent in
grief. What an amount of responsibility Jawaharlal is bearing today! He carries
the burden of . anxiety for the entire nation. He is overburdened with work. He
could not sleep till two o'clock last night. But what is the remedy? Everyone
must discharge his duty. If Members of Government feel convinced that the Bengal
conflagration can be put down by their sacrifice, none of them will fail to act
accordingly."
Bapu then turned to the atrocities against women. While explaining that, though
our sisters in Bengal might keep with them knives for self-defence if necessary,
the knives would be of no avail against crowds, he said: "I have told women long
ago that it is better to end one's life by poison than suffer insults. I wish
our sisters become brave."
At the end, congratulating the crowd for maintaining peace, he said: "I am very
grateful to you: all for having given a patient hearing to' me, after
participating in Ramdhun."
Ahmedabad, 21-11-1948.
|
|
 |
