During my visit to Ahmedabad to attend my brother's convocation, I visited the Sabarmati Ashram. I have read about Gandhiji and Sabarmati Ashram and had seen photographs of the Ashram. I had planned for a short trip before the convocation, but later decided to go to the Ashram at a more leisurely pace. What a decision it was...
As I went around to see his house, the place where he used to meet people, take rest etc. The simplicity of the man reflected in every stone, every grain of sand in that place. His house reflected his thoughts - clean, clear and simple. The 3-monkey statue so aptly implied his philosophy of life.
I spent a few hours trying to understand the Mahatma and his life. It was great eye-opener to me. After I came out of the Ashram, I had a lot of thoughts. In the city of the Mahatma, so many things have happened which should have never happened. I think it is the time for all of us to realize the true meaning of his life, his teachings of ahimsa and satyagraha and practice them.
We need not leave the world a better place than what it was when we came. But at least, let us leave it as the same place it was, when our fathers and their fathers gave it.
The road outside the Ashram had its own share traffic, noise pollution etc. But once inside, I could feel the peace and 'hear the silence'. I was astounded by the simplicity of the place. Here I was standing in the same place as the Mahatma, from where he took on the British. I went around the entire photo exhibition, learning a lot about the Mahatma in the process, trying to understand his thoughts and what went in his mind. Mahatma had the support of Kasturba and what surprised me was that it took him some time to convince her about untouchability, one key thought which changed the way India was.
I went around the photo exhibition, till one photo caught my attention - it was of the Mahatma. I could not refuse to take a photo of the same. Here was a man who was fighting the might of the British and had so many issues to contend with. But the peace in his face belied all that worries. I could not imagine if any other man could have been so peaceful but still shouldering the burden of an entire nation. No wonder, we call him Mahatma.
As I went around to see his house, the place where he used to meet people, take rest etc. The simplicity of the man reflected in every stone, every grain of sand in that place. His house reflected his thoughts - clean, clear and simple. The 3-monkey statue so aptly implied his philosophy of life.
I spent a few hours trying to understand the Mahatma and his life. It was great eye-opener to me. After I came out of the Ashram, I had a lot of thoughts. In the city of the Mahatma, so many things have happened which should have never happened. I think it is the time for all of us to realize the true meaning of his life, his teachings of ahimsa and satyagraha and practice them.
We need not leave the world a better place than what it was when we came. But at least, let us leave it as the same place it was, when our fathers and their fathers gave it.
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