Gandhi remains a symbol of peace and unity for Indians

The Mani Bhavan Gandhi Museum in Mumbai offers an interesting trip down memory lane through the life and times of Mahatma Gandhi

A visit to Mani Bhavan Gandhi Museum, Mahatma Gandhi's residence in Mumbai from 1917 to 1934, can be an uplifting experience. Located at 19, Laburnum Road, Gamdevi, it is an essential destination in the itinerary of tourists visiting the commercial capital of India.

It is one of the few important places closely associated with the life of the Mahatma who was born on October 2, 1869, as Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi in Porbandar on the western coast of Saurashtra in Gujarat. The diverse collection of exhibits offers a fascinating insight into Gandhi's life and times.
His life was his message to the world. He was an apostle of peace and non-violence, unity, equality and brotherhood.

India's epic struggle for freedom from the British colonial masters was fought under his unique and able leadership. This was the place where Gandhi prayed, meditated and rested. The walls of this house were a witness to many historic decisions linked to India's freedom struggle. Gandhi launched the Satyagraha in 1919 and the Civil Disobedience Movement in 1932 from this house.

Photographs of this pragmatic leader fighting the social and political evils of those days adorn the walls. A well-stocked library of books documents the life and achievements of the leader. Framed are poignant quotes: "Rights accrue automatically to him who duly performs his duties," and "Democracy must in essence, therefore, mean the art and science of mobilising the entire physical, economic and spiritual resources of all the various sections of the people in the service of the common good of all."

A collage of pictures of his close associates and the freedom movement in India make for an exciting viewing experience. They include 'Iron Man' Sardar Vallabhai Patel, Meerabehn, the English woman born Madeleine Slate, who took the Indian name to become Gandhi's associate.

Gandhi breaking the fast, working in Mani Bhavan and replicas of his simple and humble belongings are all part of the exhibits. Artistically designed miniature static displays lead you systematically through the historical events that marked India's freedom struggle.

Of significance are those on the eve of Gandhi's departure for the Round Table Conference in England on August 28, 1931, and the Congress Working Committee Meeting held on his return from London on December 28, 1931.

Gandhi had built a strong relationship with his father. One display was titled 'Stealing and atonement.' The description read: "Once Mohan stole a bit of gold, but it weighed heavily on his conscience. He confessed to his father and asked for punishment. Repentance won Mohan his father's acceptance."

There are scenes of him nursing his ailing father who was bedridden for over five years. Mohan, the dutiful son patiently took care of him while listening to discussions on different faiths. He was also attached to his mother. In 1888, he sought her permission to go abroad. She consented to his trip to England for further studies only after he took a vow not to touch wine, women and meat.

In South Africa, where he was working as a lawyer, he organised people against apartheid and in 1913, he led the Epic March of hundreds of Indians from New Castle to Transvaal as a protest against the white rulers. He was arrested three times in four days as the marchers continued their protest.

Gandhi returned to India from South Africa in 1914, after 21 years. He and his wife, Kasturba, were given an impressive reception in Bombay. People started addressing Gandhi as "Mahatma," the great soul, as they saw him as the embodiment of peace and love.

In 1917, Gandhi espoused the cause of the oppressed peasants on Bihar's indigo plantations and launched his first civil disobedience movement. As a result, the British colonial rulers were forced to withdraw the compulsory cultivation of indigo.  The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre in 1919, in which 400 people were killed on the orders of a British military officer Brigadier General Edward Harry Dyer was an important event that shaped Gandhi's political outlook. Other major events are the death of Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, one of the earlier architects of India's freedom movement in 1920 and the Great Trial of 1922 where Gandhi was tried for sedition.

He was a staunch supporter of the handspun Khadi and village industries and also fasted for the eradication of untouchability in 1932. The fast was broken after six days when major community leaders signed an agreement calling off the uncivilised practice.

Gandhi was a pilgrim of peace and communal harmony. On September 1, 1947, he began his fast in Calcutta to end communal violence that erupted after Partition of the country as India and Pakistan. This caused deep soul-searching among all concerned. The perpetrators of the crime had to finally surrender their weapons and Gandhi ended his hunger strike on the restoration of peace. Gandhi fell victim to a fanatic's bullet on January 30, 1948.  

His message of goodwill and peace continue to serve as a beacon to this trouble-torn world. Modern leaders should pay attention to his words to make the world a better place. Mahatma Gandhi was as victorious in death as in life.

- suchitra@khaleejtimes.com

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