To Celebrate his 150th Birthday:
What come to my nind, when I think of Gandhiji esp. on his birthday October 2nd, every year:
1. I was planning to write a message of Gandhiji for Oct. 2, 1969, for the Local News Paper in Bellevue Ohio. I was working for GE in that town for about three years. My boss called me and gave me two months to find another job in the City, as Bellevue was very small town and we had moved right after our wedding in 1966. Niru did not enjoy our living in very small village and cannot find any job. Of course, Rajiv’s entry in life made pleasant change.
2. I succeeded in Vinit – the forth year in Hindi Govt. exams, on the third attempt. I was in High School then, so around 13 – 14 years young. So I was forced to study his Auto Biography three times. That left deep impressions on my mind.
3. His Message on Saty-Agrah: Insist on what you perceive as Truth.
4. When he was 35, he made a vow for Celibacy for Life as he missed seeing his father's departure. He asked his uncle to tend to his father as he got an urge to make love … next thing he was disturbed to learn, that his father was no more!!!!!
5. Once, Kasturba tucked one rupee note under her Asan and Gandhiji saw that. He said only mother would do so. So since then he called her BAA – mother, Kasturbaa!
6. Once some one asked Bapu (He was affectionately called Bapu (Father): Who is the most beautiful women in World! He blurted out, “Kasturbaa!â€. Reporter went to Kasturbaa and told her about Bapu’s response! She said, Bapu never lies!!!
7. When he was young and was afraid of Darkness, so his mother asked him to recite the name “Ram’ That helped him when he drew his last breath @ the age 79? Hey Ram!
8. His motto: Truth is God and God is Truth!
9. “I would have gone Lunatic but for Prayers in my Life†- From Dale Carnegie’s book on How to Stop worrying and start Living.†– Chapter on Prayer.
10. Gandhiji studied Geeta for some 35 minutes a day seating on John - Toylet, while he was in England studying to be a Lawyer. He became barrister. “Everytime he faced a dire situation and could not think of any solution, he turned to Geeta and he found solace or the solution.
11. When he was coming from Africa to India to lead the Independence movement, his mind was flooding with thoughts as to how to go about it. He would not stop writing … kept exchanging hands …. That book is called Hind Swaraj which became his Guiding Light or Road Map to Independence Movement. The original script is in Harvard Library and I am told that you can get a copy of that for some $35/- ? I have the Printed Copy, if you are interested.
12. When we were coming to USA for further Studies in 1964: I came across his advice to Students: Keep track of every penny you spend!
13. An Autobiography of Gandhi by By Louis Fischer, NY Times Correspondent. Chapter on Magician: Hindu & Muslim leaders urged Bapu to address the crowd to stop riots. He came on the stage and set in front of the microphones but would NOT say anything and maintain silence. Both the leaders asked Bapu to say something: He said if U promise me that there would be NO riots, then I will say something. Leaders said how can we promise? He said well U call yourself their Leaders! So they promised. He immediately stood up and left the stage. I got what we need. There is NOTHING to say. There were NO more riots in Calcutta, since then.
14. An apostle of PEACE died with Violence, who promoted Non-Violence and won Independence for India. However, he left his mortal body peacefully … “Hey Ram!â€
15. Here are some of his famous Quotes that appealed to me:
1. “I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides and my windows to be stuffed. I want the culture of all lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by anyâ€
2. I refused to be tyrannized over by anyone other than my inner Voice!
3. His book on “All Religions are True!â€
4. His Book on ‘Niti naas ne Maarge’ Morality is on the way to Destruction!
6. A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes.
7. An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind.
8. The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.
9. You must be the change you wish to see in the world.
10. Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.
11. First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.
12. Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul. It is daily admission of one's weakness. It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without a heart.
13. Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.
14. Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.
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