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Our Bapu - Mahatma Gandhi

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<strong>Our</strong> <strong>Bapu</strong><br />

members of the Viceroy's Council tendered their resignations. But the<br />

government did not yield an inch.<br />

At long last the ordeal was over; <strong>Gandhi</strong>ji, on the 3rd of March, broke his fast<br />

with a glass of orange-juice given to him by Kasturbai. Miraben sang some<br />

Christian hymns, friends recited the Holy Koran, and Parsees, Hindus and<br />

Buddhists all read to him passages from their Holy Scriptures.<br />

The country heaved a sigh of relief when the fast ended.<br />

Kasturba Passes away<br />

But <strong>Bapu</strong>'s trials were not yet over. He had hardly recovered from the blow of<br />

his dear friend Mahadev Desai's death, when Kasturbai fell ill. Efforts were<br />

made to persuade her to return home, but she would not leave <strong>Gandhi</strong>ji. It<br />

seemed as though she knew she would die, and so did not want to leave her<br />

husband. Her health continued to decline, and at last she died."<br />

"How bitterly <strong>Bapu</strong> must have cried over Kasturbai's death !' said Hari.<br />

"My child," answered the mother, "anyone else would have completely broken<br />

down in the face of such a calamity. But even in such a crisis, <strong>Gandhi</strong>ji did not<br />

lose faith in God, nor did he forget to pray for his suffering countrymen.<br />

A memorial was raised for Kasturbai alongside that of Mahadev Desai, and as<br />

long as <strong>Bapu</strong> was detained in the Aga Khan's Palace, he would lay flowers on<br />

both the samadhis and offer prayers everyday. And even today hundreds of<br />

people visit the palace on Sundays and pay their homage to the memory of the<br />

departed souls.<br />

There was sorrow and calamity on all sides, and <strong>Bapu</strong> was trying to brave all<br />

this alone. But there are limits even to the endurance of a man like <strong>Gandhi</strong>ji.<br />

His strength began to decline and he fell ill. When his condition became<br />

serious, the government felt that it would be both safe and wise to set him<br />

free. They knew that his death in jail would throw the whole country into<br />

chaos. And, so, on the 6th of May, <strong>Gandhi</strong>ji and his companions were<br />

www.mkgandhi.org Page 58

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