Our Bapu - Mahatma Gandhi

Our Bapu
sealed lips and avoided human society, he would now make the whole Ashram
ring with his hearty laughter. He even agreed to wear a short dhoti, but more
than this he would not keep anything else with him. He would walk fearlessly to
a place full of snakes and scorpions. Sometimes, however, he would get into
one of his old moods, and then he would go to Mahatmaji, troubled and upset,
and ask for permission to hang himself upside down in a well. Of course he was
never allowed to do anything so foolish; for Bapu's word was law to him and he
would obey it unquestioningly like a child.
In those days Bapu was working from his Ashram to remove untouchability,
ignorance and superstition from the country. He started the Charkha 34 Institute,
the Education Institute, and the Institute for the Protection of Cows. It was his
wish to provide occupation for the villagers, when they were idle and had no
work to do in the fields and thus add to their income. Such occupation, he
thought, could be found in spinning, weaving newar 35 or some other similar
handicraft. At the same time he also wanted the villagers to learn to read and
write, and thus prepare themselves for the final battle for freedom. He wanted
to get them freedom not only from the British, but also from poverty, diseases
and ignorance.''
Hari had begun to yawn and so, the mother asked, "You seem to be tired and
sleepy. I have come nearly to the end of my story, but I shall continue it
tomorrow."
"No," said Hari, "I am not at all sleepy. In fact, I am all attention and I don't
think I can go to sleep before I have heard the entire story. Do please go on,
mother dear."
31. Betel leaf
32. A holy man or a hermit
33. A tree common in India.
34. Spinning wheel.
35. A broad rough tape.
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