Editor's Note:
We once had a Mahatma. He was also called Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Mohan, Gandhiji, Gaandhy, Gandhi or simply Bapu ‘father of the nation’. He walked the dusty village roads and city streets, leading hundreds of inspired youth to free our nation from British rule. Their dream was to reconstruct India with self-reliance, idealism,and a dignity of life. That was Gandhi’s call for Swaraj.
He has since, been banished into crowded bookshelves or imprisoned in photo frames of
oblivion. There is of course, the mandatory reference in student’s history books–a relic to be summoned for exams and quickly dismissed. He is also printed on our currency, a twinkle-eyed profile, smiling in amusement to be presiding there, as pasha or president of a country. He would perhaps, have been
happier to have resided in the hearts and minds of the people, as Bapu.
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Bina Sarkar Ellias
Editor