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<strong>Our</strong> <strong>Bapu</strong><br />
communities are alike. God has created the Hindus, the Muslims as well as the<br />
Christians, and all must live together in love and harmony.''<br />
Hari suddenly sat up and asked, "Mother, what must I do in order to become a<br />
true Indian ?"<br />
"There is only one way," answered the mother, "and that is to follow the path<br />
that <strong>Bapu</strong> showed us. We must try and make India a country where there shall<br />
be no poverty or suffering, where the strong shall not oppress the weak, where<br />
there shall be no distinction of rich and poor, Hindu and Muslim, but all shall be<br />
equal, happy and prosperous. We can achieve this end only through Truth,<br />
Sacrifice and Perseverance. And <strong>Bapu</strong>' soul will rest in peace if we can all work<br />
sincerely towards this end. It is not necessary that our efforts should bear<br />
immediate fruit. There will be many failures and disappointments, but we<br />
should not waver or despair. That would be unworthy of <strong>Bapu</strong>'s followers. We<br />
should work earnestly and righteously, without worrying about the results. That<br />
would be true service of humanity, and thus alone could we become worthy<br />
disciples of <strong>Bapu</strong>."<br />
The mother was narrating the story of <strong>Gandhi</strong>ji's life, when Hari's father<br />
returned. He had listened to the statements of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and<br />
Sardar Patel on the radio. He told them that Panditji overwhelmed by the<br />
tragedy, and in a voice trembling with emotion, had said, 'Friends and<br />
comrades, the Light has gone out of our lives and there is darkness everywhere.<br />
I do not know what to tell you and how to say it. <strong>Our</strong> beloved leader <strong>Bapu</strong>, as<br />
we called him. the Father of the Nation is no more. Perhaps I am wrong to say<br />
that. Nevertheless. we will not see him again as we have seen him for these<br />
many years, The Light has gone out, I said, and yet I was wrong. For the light<br />
that shone in this country was no ordinary light. The light that has illumined<br />
this country for these many years will illumine this country for many more<br />
years, and a thousand years later, that light will still be seen in this country<br />
and the world will see it and it will give solace to innumerable hearts.<br />
'A mad man has put an end to his life, for I can only call him mad who did it and<br />
yet there has been enough of poison in this country during the past years and<br />
www.mkgandhi.org Page 67
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