Our Bapu - Mahatma Gandhi

Our Bapu
As soon as Gandhiji was convinced of the sincerity of these leaders, he broke
his fast, and from that moment conditions in Delhi began to improve steadily."
"I remember the day when Bapu broke his fast, mother. There was rejoicing all
over the country."
"You are right, my son, Gandhi's fast had a great effect on all good people, but
there were some who did not approve of his efforts in the case of Hindu-Muslim
unity. They thought that such attempts would weaken India, and that the only
way of becoming strong was to return bullet for bullet. To try to overcome evil,
with good was, according to them, a sign of weakness and cowardice. They also
knew that as long as Bapu was alive, he would continue to strive for harmony
between all communities, and that he would not heed to their evil counsel. And
so there was only one way for them, and that was to kill Bapu.
The Light Goes Out
Bapu was in the habit of
having his evening meals
early, and exactly at 5
o'clock he used to hold his
prayer meetings. Men and
women would gather for
these meetings long
before appointed hour,
and as Bapu passed
through the crowd, people
would bow and greet and touch his feet, Bapu would sit on a low dais
surrounded by his associates and read the Koran and Gita or sing hymns. The
prayer would begin with some recitations from the Koran and then there would
be readings from the Gita and the singing of hymns. And then Bapu would
preach a short sermon, and talk to the people about the situation in the
country and in the world. A favourite hymn of Bapu's which would be sung
everyday in the prayer meetings began thus:
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