An inspiring visit to the Mahatma Gandhi museum and the joy of being in his home where he had lived for 15 years while growing up

By K.R. Nayar in Rajkot

G Force Cricket Academy’s tour is a journey for every student to transform into a good cricketer. Rajkot is the place from where Mahatma Gandhi’s journey of transforming himself from Mohandas to Mahatma began. So the G Force Under-11 boys were taken on a trip to the Mahatma Gandhi Museum here in Rajkot to get a feel of how an ordinary man from humble surroundings could rise to such great heights and become known as the ‘Father of the nation’.

 

G Force Under-11 boys at the Mahatma Gandhi Museum 

The museum is located in the school where Gandhiji did his basic schooling and was previously called the Mohandas Gandhi Vidhyalaya. It was also a great feeling to visit his home located in a narrow by-lane, walkable from this museum. It is said that Gandhiji imbibed the foundations of his beliefs that made him a Mahatma while living here.

 

G Force boys had an inspiring tour of the museum 

A guide explained to the boys everything about Gandhiji’s life and his achievements that were on display at the museum. Gandhiji had once said “My life is my message.” Gallery 1 and 2 were about his birth and family, the lessons he learnt in early childhood, his marriage to Kasturba, and his confessions about his bad habits. Gallery 3 and 4 were about him taking oath never to indulge in bad habits and getting his mother’s permission to go to England, followed by his life in South Africa, how he was pushed out of a train at Pietermaritzburg in SA since he was travelling in a whites-only carriage. It was this incident that ignited his battle against racism and later untouchability.

 

Some of Gandhiji’s quotes are relevant in cricket too. One of them is, “To lose patience is to lose the battle.”  Another one says, “an ounce of practice is worth a thousand words.” For those who get hurt by criticism because of failure, Gandhiji’s famous remark, “People cannot hurt you without your permission,” is so appropriate. Another one pertinent for all those boys on the tour who dream of becoming a cricketer was: “A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks he comes.” 

Personally for me, Gandhiji’s finest remark is: “There are only two days in the year that we can not do anything, yesterday and tomorrow.”  This has always made me do what I need to do, and savour the happiness of having done it at the end of the day.

 

The entrance to Mahatma Gandhi's home 

It was truly special and inspiring to visit Mahatma Gandhi’s home. It was difficult to believe that a small by- lane led us to his home. At the entrance is written ‘Kaba Gandhi No Delo’, which translates as Kaba Gandhi’s residence. This was Mahatma Gandhi’s father Karamchand Gandhi’s house. 

 

 Mahatma Gandhiji's parents

In Mahatma Gandhi’s book ‘My experiments with the truth’, he mentions that though he was born in Porbandar (on October 2, 1869), he did not have any distinct memory of that place since his family had moved to Rajkot when he was seven years old. Gandhiji is said to have stayed in this house till he was 22 years old.

 

Mahatma Gandhi with Lakhajiraj, the ruler of Rajkot in 1925 

Stepping into the ordinary house, I could not but bow in reverence as I walked through the rooms telling myself that this was where Gandhiji had once walked and slept. The doors and windows of the house have been keep intact, and when I touched them I felt like touching the life of a man who had touched numerous lives and ultimately won independence for India.

 

Write up about Mahatma Gandhi's home at the entrance 

Did Gandhiji have any connection to cricket? A study reveals that he used to play cricket as a student at Rajkot since the headmaster of the school had made cricket and gymnastics mandatory for everyone. Incidentally, Gandhiji had once remarked that he regretted not playing any sport. One of the reasons for that was mainly due to Gandhiji being very shy to take part in any game, and also partly because he wanted to be with his ailing father after school. It is said that Gandhiji had once candidly admitted that shyness was one of the reasons for him remaining aloof, which he later felt was not right.”

 

I made it a point to walk through every room in that house. It was touching to seen the images of his last journey on the walls. There is a write up about this home at the entrance that has all details about Kaba Gandhi No Delo.

Albert Einsten's remark about Mahatma Gandhi displayed on the wall 

Also displayed on the walls are remarks about Gandhiji from great people around the world. The one written by the famous scientist Albert Einsten says: "Generations to come, it maybe, will scarce believe that such a one as this, ever in flesh and blood, walked upon this earth." Those lines kept coming back to mind as I left the house, while feeling happy that a visit to the home of a great man who walked on this earth was truly inspirational.