SoCultures October 2018

SoCultures October 2018
S And of course lots of fights with siblings?
M As a child, Moniya means me, seldom liked to stay at home. He would go
home for his meals and then run away again to play outside. If one of his brothers
teased him or playfully pulled his ears he would run home to complain to his
mother. 'Why didn't you hit him back? She would ask.
'How can you teach me to hit people? Why should I hit my brother? Why should I
hit anyone? It would be Moniya’s prompt reply.
S You always wanted to become Bapu or Mahatma even as a child?
M I preferred living alone and would read books for hours..ahh …yes .. I
remember that I liked people. However I had one friend, a very good friend. Uka!
Uka was a sweeper-boy and an untouchable. One day Moniya was given some
sweets. He offered sweets to Uka. Later my mother saw this and asked sternly,
'Don't you know that high caste Hindu should never touch an untouchable? She
asked
sternly.
'I find nothing wrong in touching Uka. He is not different from me, is he?
She looked angrily and told Moniya (me) to go and have a bath and say his
prayers.
Marriage
S So, when the marriage happened? I want to know about Ba.
M
(brightens up, smiles)
I was only thirteen when was told that I will soon to be married. My parent had
already chosen the bride, Kasturbai. We were about the same age. We married in
1882.
Kasturbai was a pretty and lively girl. We often played together. Many times, I
tried to teach my wife, but she could never concentrate on books, though she was
quick to learn the household work. But later on, she taught me so much about
idealism and selfless devotion. Kasturba relentlessly stood by me through thick
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