Gandhi Jayanti: Five people who’ve continued in footsteps of the Mahatma

In the heart of India, five remarkable individuals carry forward the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi, each contributing to his vision in their own unique way.

Guardian Of Gandhi’s Sanctuary

Krishan Vidyarthi, 62, is a man of few words, though his responsibilities keep him occupied. As the caretaker of the Valmiki Mandir on Panchkuian Road, he is overseeing preparations for the upcoming Gandhi Jayanti function on October 2.

The Valmiki temple holds a significant place in history, as Gandhi preferred staying in a modest room within its complex, spending a total of 214 days there during his trips to Delhi from April 1, 1946, to June 10, 1947.

Vidyarthi has been the guardian of this sacred space for years, having lived at the temple since childhood. One of his responsibilities includes maintaining Gandhi’s room.

His family, residents of the nearby Valmiki Colony for almost a century, also share this long connection to the temple. Yet, Vidyarthi prefers to stay out of the public eye, quietly attending to the temple’s needs and showing visitors the room where Gandhi lived and taught.

“Here in the Valmiki temple, Gandhi ji taught the children of Valmiki families,” Vidyarthi explains, his voice soft but firm. “Soon, students from Harcourt Butler School, Raisina Bengali School, Delhi Tamil School, and even children from Karol Bagh and Irwin Road began to attend his classes.” Dressed in simple Khadi clothes, he recounts how his father and other relatives were also among Gandhi’s pupils. “Gandhiji was strict about cleanliness. He would scold anyone who didn’t come to class clean, as he believed knowledge couldn’t be gained without it.”

The room itself remains frozen in time, just as it was when Gandhi stayed there. A unique painting, which shows children clinging to Gandhi’s feet, can be seen in the room, an image rarely seen elsewhere.

Even today, people visit the temple to see this room. “We’ve kept everything the same. His bed and writing desk are untouched, and flowers are offered daily at both places,” Vidyarthi says with quiet pride.

Many notable figures, from Pandit Nehru to Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan, also known as the Frontier Gandhi, visited the temple to meet Gandhi. The Frontier Gandhi even stayed here with him on several occasions.

Sculpting The Legacy Of Bapu

Ram Sutar, now around 99, is renowned for his captivating sculptures of Mahatma Gandhi. His journey with the Father of India began in 1938 when a young Ram Sutar witnessed Gandhi’s public gatherings in Dhule, Maharashtra. It was then that he first embraced Gandhi’s ideologies, becoming a staunch follower.

Following Gandhi’s assassination in 1948, Sutar began sculpting his first bust, marking the start of a lifelong devotion to immortalising Gandhi’s image. Since then, he has created hundreds of busts and lifesized statues of Gandhi, each infused with deep reverence for the leader he admired. “Every time I sculpt Gandhi, I feel like I am conversing with him,” Sutar shares.

Sutar’s passion for his craft led him to the capital in 1958, where he began sculpting full-time after leaving a government job. He created his first life-sized statue of Gandhi in 1968, originally intended for India Gate. This statue, featuring Gandhi with two children, eventually found its home in Patna. Sutar’s work has adorned significant locations, including the Parliament House, where his statue of Gandhi in a meditative pose stood as a symbol of serenity.

Recently, this statue has been relocated to a corner of the Lok Sabha complex, where a dedicated area called Prerna Sthal (place of inspiration) is being developed to host all statues within the Parliament complex. Sutar’s contributions continue to reflect the enduring legacy of Gandhi, ensuring that his spirit remains a source of inspiration for generations to come.

Sutar’s sculptures possess a unique vitality, capturing the essence of Gandhi’s spirit with unparalleled intensity. He sees each sculpture as a testament to Gandhi’s enduring legacy, and the appreciation he receives from admirers fills him with a sense of fulfilment, as if he has been blessed by the Mahatma himself.

Tallest Gandhian At Rajghat

The tender-looking diminutive Katsu Saan, 89, has not missed a single all-religion prayer since she was first asked to join it way back in 1969, the birth centenary of Gandhi ji. She recites Buddhist prayers on Gandhi Jayanti and on Martyrs’ Day (January 30) at Rajghat and later at Tees January Marg.

Japanese by birth, Katsu Saan came to India in 1959 to study Buddhism in the land of Buddha. In the process, she learned both Hindi and Gandhian thoughts as well.

“While exploring Buddhism here, I started loving India deeply. That has forced me to stay here for the rest of my life. I learned Hindi and the life and times of Gandhiji from Kaka Kalalker in Delhi,” informs Katsu Saan, who looks after the affairs of the Vishwa Shanti Stupa, also known as the World Peace Pagoda, located in the heart of Delhi in Indraprastha Park.

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Everybody calls her Katsu behn. She speaks fluent Hindi. According to Dr RK Jain of Delhi University, “Katsu behn is the tallest Gandhian in the capital. She spreads the message of love and brotherhood of Gandhi ji all the time.”

“With the passage of time, prayers of Jain, Baha’i, and Parsi faiths were also included in the all-religion prayer meetings that are held at Rajghat and other places. The Baha’i prayer was introduced thanks to the efforts of noted Gandhian Nirmala Deshpande in 1985,” Katsu Saan informs.

Gandhi And St Stephen’s College

Brother Solomon George considers Mahatma Gandhi as his own, as he stayed at St. Stephen’s College, Kashmiri Gate, during his first visit to the capital on March 12, 1915.

An active member of the Delhi Brotherhood Society (DBS), which established St. Stephen’s College and runs many schools and vocational training centres in the capital, Brother Solomon shares that Gandhi came to know about Christianity while in South Africa. There, he met Christian missionary Joseph Doke, who wrote his first biography, and CF Andrews, a teacher at St. Stephen’s College and an active member of DBS.

“Gandhi ji is the greatest apostle of peace the world has seen after Buddha and Christ,” informs Brother Solomon, who is a priest in one of the churches in the capital.

He believes Gandhi’s notion of peace is centred on nonviolence, individualism, soul force, and forgiveness. At first glance, global peace initiatives might be perceived as far-flung methodologies that have diverged from his ideologies.

One of Brother Solomon’s favourite Gandhian teachings is, “If an enemy strikes your left cheek, offer him your right.” Greatly influenced by Mahatma Gandhi, Brother Solomon has participated in all-faith prayers numerous times in various places, reciting from the Bible during these gatherings. “Very honestly, it gives great joy and happiness when you take part in all-faith prayers. It sends a strong message that we all have to live together to make India truly a secular country.”

Science Teacher’s Tryst With Bapu

A science teacher, Maqsood Ahmad, came to Delhi in 1992 to teach Botany at Anglo Arabic School, Ajmeri Gate. He does not remember a time when he missed visiting Rajghat on Gandhi Jayanti.

“The serene mood at Rajghat on October 2 cannot be described in words. One feels so good and connected to the Almighty while praying there,” says Ahmad.

His first tryst with Gandhiji began when he read his autobiography in college, which greatly influenced him. “At all stages during the freedom movement, he preached and practised only non-violence. The first thing that inspires me is to use love as a weapon,” added Ahmad.

“While the British sowed hatred between Muslims and Hindus to divide them, Gandhi ji invited the two communities to show love for each other. This is further demonstrated in Gandhi’s quote, ‘An eye for an eye ends up making the whole world blind.’” Thanks to Gandhi, Ahmad began wearing Khadi clothes during his college days.

Apart from teaching at his school, he also teaches children from poor families in the Sui Walan area of Delhi-6. “I started teaching them when I learned that, despite his busy schedule, Gandhi ji used to teach Dalit kids in Delhi. I also distribute books on Gandhi ji to them and take them to Rajghat,” he informs.

“I don’t think any other country in the world has anything similar to our all-religion prayers started by Gandhi ji. Surely, only Gandhi could think of such a gathering. When I witness all-religion prayers, I feel very happy, and there is a sense of fulfilment in sitting with scholars of other religions,” Ahmad concludes.