Amdavadis were happy to know more about Bapu, interesting facets of his life that may not be found anywhere else including his autobiography, from Narayan Desai, who spoke on the Mahatma's life at length. Desai narrated various incidences of Gandhi's life, which are largely unknown to the masses, in very lucid and interesting manner.
Ashram organised 'Gandhi Katha' from Saturday to Wednesday from 5 to 8 pm, where Desai, a man who saw the Mahatma from very close quarters, as a child, gave the city another opportunity to get an insight into Gandhi's life and personality. Besides being a Gandhian scholar, the septuagenarian Desai has links with the Mahatma that goes back a generation: he's the son of Mahadev Gandhi, the Mahatma's secretary and close associate. Desai said that he thought his recent four-volume biography of Gandhiji, Maru Jeevan Aej Mein Vaani, will let the world know what the Mahatma was and what he stood for.
"As I realised that there are people who cannot read or do not have time to read, I came up with the idea of organising 'Gandhi Katha' to educate people," he added. The katha is made interesting with various parts divided into verse as well as song.
Around 40 eminent writers, besides Jitendra Desai, managing director of Navjivan Trust and students from Ashram shala hostel attended the programme. Megha Pathak, student, said, "It is interesting to know how Bapu fought for the nation. The knowledge will help in choosing between the right and the wrong path in life."
Janesh Bhadia, President of Gandhi Ashram Youth Sanghatan Samiti, said this event is one of the important and first of its kind to be organised in the Ashram.
Amrut Modi, secretary of Sabarmati Ashram Memorial Trust, said, "The 'Gandhi Katha' is open to public and our effort is to attract more young people to get a glimpse of Gandhi's life, his thinking, his ideals and philosophy of life."
