Five Gandhians You Would Like To Meet

Krishna Vidyarthi is a busy man these days. He is overseeing the arrangements for the October 2 (Gandhi Jayanti) function that would take place at the Valmiki Mandir, Panchkuin Road. The function starts with All Religion Prayer. He is a dignified individual and is a caretaker of Valmiki Temple where Gandhi ji had spent 214 days. Vidyarthi is around 62 years old and has lived in this temple since childhood. His family also lived in the Valmiki colony adjacent to the temple for around 100 years. Not only is he in charge of the Valmiki Temple, but he also preserves the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi. In a small room in the same Valmiki temple complex, Gandhiji stayed from April 1, 1946, to June 10, 1947. Vidyarthi ji prefers to stay out of the limelight. He meets those who come to the temple and takes visitors to the room where Gandhi ji stayed and also runs his classes. “Here in Valmiki temple, Gandhi ji taught kids of Valmiki families living here only. Students from Harcourt Butler School, Raisina Bengali School, Delhi Tamil School too began to come to his classes. Some children came from Karol Bagh and Irwin Road,” Vidharthi informs you.

Wearing Khadi clothes, he tells you that his father and other family members also attended the classes of Bapu. “Gandhi ji would scold those students who did not come to class clean. He paid special attention to cleanliness. He believed that you cannot gain knowledge without being clean.” The room where Gandhi taught is still in the same position as it was then. A painting is placed there, which shows some children clinging to his feet. You are unlikely to see such a picture anywhere else. Gandhi ji’s attempt was to make those who could not read or write at all learn to do so.

From Pandit Nehru to the Frontier Gandhi, Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan, came to the Valmiki Temple to discuss matters with Bapu. Frontier Gandhi stayed here with Bapu on many occasions. Even now, people come to see Bapu's room. "We have not changed a single bit in Bapu's room. His bed and writing desk are exactly the same. Flowers are offered at both places every day," he concludes.

Sculpting the Legacy of Bapu

Ram Sutar, now around 99, is renowned for his captivating sculptures of Mahatma Gandhi. His journey with the Father of India began in 1938, when a young Ram Sutar witnessed Gandhi's public gatherings in Dhule, Maharashtra. It was then that he was first inspired by Gandhi's ideologies, becoming a staunch follower. Following Gandhi's assassination in 1948, Ram Sutar began sculpting his first bust, marking the start of a lifelong devotion to immortalizing Gandhi's image. He has since created hundreds of busts and life-sized statues of Gandhi, each infused with a deep reverence and connection to the leader he admired. "Every time I sculpt Gandhi, I feel like I am conversing with him," Ram shares.

Sutar’s passion for his craft led him to the capital in 1958, where he started sculpting full-time after leaving a government job. He created his first life-sized statue of Gandhi in 1968, which was initially intended for India Gate. The statue, featuring Gandhi with two children, eventually found its home in Patna. Sutar’s work has adorned significant locations, including the Parliament House, where his statue of Gandhi in a meditative pose stands as a symbol of serenity.

Ram's sculptures possess a unique vitality, capturing the essence of Gandhi's spirit with an unparalleled intensity. He sees each sculpture as a testament to Gandhi's enduring legacy, and the appreciation he receives from admirers fills him with a sense of fulfillment, as if he has been blessed by the Mahatma himself.

Tallest Gandhian at Rajghat

The tender looking diminutive Katsu Saan, 89, has not missed even a single all religion prayer since she was first asked to join it way back in 1969. That was the birth centenary of Gandhi ji. She recites Buddhist prayer on Gandhi Jayanti (2 October) and on Martyrs’ Day ( January 30) at the Rajghat and later Tees January Marg. Japanese by birth, Katsu Saan came to India in 1959 to study Buddhism in the land of Buddha. In the process, she learnt both Hindi and Gandhian thoughts as well. “While exploring Buddhism here I started loving India deeply. That has forced me to stay here for the rest of my life. I learnt Hindi and the life and times Gandhiji from Kaka Kalalker in Delhi,” informs Katsu Saan, who looks after the affairs of the Vishwa Shanti Stupa, also known as the World Peace Pagoda, located in the heart of Delhi in the Indraprastha Park. Everybody calls her Katsu Behn. She speaks fluent Hindi. According to Dr. RK Jain of Delhi University, “ Katsu behn is the tallest Gandhian in the capital. She spreads the message of love and brotherhood of Gandhi ji all the time.”

“With the passage of time, prayers of Jain, Baha’i and Parsi faiths were also included in the All-religion prayer meetings that are held at Rajghat and other places. The Baha’i prayer was introduced thanks to the efforts of noted Gandhian Nirmala Deshpande in 1985,” Katsu Saan informs.

Gandhi and St. Stephen’s college

Brother Solomon George considers Mahatma Gandhi as his very own for the reason that when he visited the capital for the first time on March 12, 1915, he stayed at St. Stephen’s College, Kashmiri Gate. Brother Solomon, who is an active member of Delhi Brotherhood Society ( DBS) that had established St. Stephen’s college and also runs many schools and Vocational Training centres in capital , says that Gandhi ji’s came to know about Christianity while he was in South Africa. There he met Christian missionary Joseph Doke, who wrote his first biography, and CF Andrews, a teacher in St. Stephen’s College and active member of DBS, informs Brother Solomon, who is a priest in one of the Churches of capital. Brother Solomon says that Gandhi ji is the greatest apostle of peace the world has seen after Buddha and Christ. His notion of peace is centered on nonviolence, individualism, soul force and forgiveness. At first glance, global peace initiatives might be perceived as far-flung methodologies that have wholly diverged from his ideologies.

One of Brother Solomon’s favourite Gandhian teachings is — If an enemy strikes your left cheek, offer him your right. Greatly influenced by Mahatma Gandhi, Brother Soloman has also participated in all faith prayer umpteen numbers of times in various places. He recites from the Bible during the prayer. “Very honestly, it gives great joy and happiness when you take part in all faith prayers. It gives a strong message that we all have to live together to make India truly a secular country.”

Science teacher tryst with Bapu

A Science teacher, Maqsood Ahmad came to Delhi in 1992 to teach Botany in Anglo Arabic School, Ajmeri Gate. And he does not remember when he has ever missed visiting the Rajghat on Gandhi Jayanti. “The serene mood of both Rajghat October 2 cannot be described in words. One feels so good and connected to almighty while praying there,” says Maqsood Ahmad. Ahmad’s first tryst with Gandhiji was started when he read his autobiography when he was in college. It has greatly influenced him. “At all stages during the freedom movement, he preached and practised only non-violence. The first thing that inspires me is to use love as a weapon. While the British sowed hatred between Muslims and Hindus to divide them, Gandhi ji had invited the two communities to show love for each other. This is further demonstrated in Gandhi’s quote “An eye for an eye ends up making the whole world blind”. Thanks to Gandhi, Ahmad had started wearing Khadi clothes during his college days. Apart from teaching in his school, he also teaches to kids of poor families in Sui Walan area of Delhi-6. “I started teaching them when I learnt that despite his busy schedules, Gandhi ji also used to teach Dalit kids in Delhi. I also distribute books on Gandhi ji to them. I also take them to Rajghat,” he informs.

“I don’t think any other country in the world has anything similar to our all-religion prayers started by Gandhi ji. Surely, only Gandhi could think of such a gathering. When I witness all religion prayer, I feel very happy and there is a sense of fulfilment that I am sitting with scholars of other religions,” Maqsood Ajmad concludes.

(The author is Delhi-based senior journalist and writer. He is author of Gandhi's Delhi which has brought to the forth many hidden facts about Mahatma Gandhi)