Gandhian Narayan Desai
spins the symbolic Charkha during his homage at the
Gandhi Statue in the King district!
Text and Photos: Mahadev Desai
Narayan Desai, a Gandhian, and son of Mahadev Desai (no
relations of the writer of this report, just namesake), one of
Gandhiji’s closest aides, was in Atlanta (‘a city too busy to
hate’) during the last weekend of March. The honor of hosting
him and his devoted daughter Dr. Sanghamitra Gadekar at the
revered King Historic District, on Saturday, March 31st,
naturally went to the Gandhi Foundation of USA (GFUSA).
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Narayan Desai spinning Charkha while
Subash Razdan presides |
Narayanbhai Desai, 87, born in Bulsar, Gujarat, moved to
Gandhi’s ashram as a three month-old baby in 1924. He spent next
23 years of his life in the Sabarmati Ashram, getting educated
and trained directly by Gandhi and his close associates. After
Indian Independence, Narayanbhai joined the Peace Brigade
“Shanti Sena”, (founded by Vinoba Bhave and presided by
Jayaprakash Narayan). Narayan Desai, who is the author of over
50 books and hundreds of articles and a recipient of numerous
awards, is the Chancellor of Gujarat Vidyapeeth, the university
established by Mahatma Gandhi himself.
Desai’s complete attachment to Gandhism was obvious during his
tribute to Gandhi organized by GFUSA at the Gandhi Statue in
Atlanta. Even before a formal welcome by GFUSA’s Antony Thaliath
could take place, Narayanbhai opened his box of Charka (spinning
wheel which he carries with him all the time) and immersed
himself in spinning diligently (using organic cotton wool) as a
symbolic gesture and reverence to Gandhi’s call for self
reliance during the Independence movement. The symbolism of the
Charkha was explained by his daughter Sanghamitra who is
accompanying him on this tour of USA. Veteran Gandhian Narayan
Desai, who won the UNESCO Prize for International Peace, wore
his own handspun khadi dyed in organic vegetable dyes.
GFUSA Chairman Subash Razdan, who presided at the homage,
remarked that it was his unique honor and privilege to present a
Gandhian (Narayan Desai) and his daughter to all those young and
old who had gathered at the historic venue. He added, “Mahatma
Gandhi and his right hand man and alter ego, Mahadev Desai,
father of our revered guest Narayan Bhai, worked closely
together for India’s freedom movement. It is also heart-warming
to see so many children from Chinmaya Mission Bal Vihar here,
some of whom are winners of the Essay Competition which included
topics like Peace, Non-violence, Relevance of Gandhi, etc.”
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G.S. Rajan on flute |
Razdan narrated a brief history of how the Statue of a foreign
leader by Indian sculptor Ram Sutar came to be a reality on the
Federal land of USA after some initial setbacks. He continued,
“This was all possible due to the sincere and sustained efforts
of the National Federation of Indian American Associations (NFIA),
the Embassy of India/Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR),
City of Atlanta, King Center, National Park Service (NPS), and
the diverse community organizations. Almost a million visitors
come here annually and admire the Gandhi Statue. We are also
fortunate to have amidst us G.S.Rajan here today. He is a
flautist of national fame and will give a rendition of
Gandhiji’s favorite bhajan ‘Vaishanava Janato’ on
flute.”(Applause)
The audience stood in rapt silence, listening to a memorable and
soothing flute rendition of Gandhiji’s favorite bhajan
‘Vaishanava Janato’ by Rajan.
Well, youth were not to be left behind! In his brief remarks,
one of the Bal Vihar students of Chinmaya Mission, Guru Raj
Deshpande lauded Gandhi for fighting against discrimination with
satyagraha and non-violence which ultimately led India to its
 freedom. “With education, determination and discipline, we can
change the world”, Guru said.
President-elect of American Association of Physicians of Indian
Origin (AAPI), Dr. Narendra Kumar presented his special
greetings. Dr. Narendra Kumar, recalled his visit and homage at
the Gandhi Statue (eight years ago), when Minister for Overseas
Indian Affairs, Hon. Vyalar Ravi was visiting Atlanta. Paying
tribute to Gandhi, he said, “Gandhi Ji’s teachings continue to
remain relevant even now, so everyone should follow these
teachings.” Thanking Dr. Kumar for his remarks, Razdan requested
him to persuade AAPI to help support GFUSA’s endeavor for a
possible Gandhi Center in the Peace Triangle of Carter Center,
King Center and the planned Gandhi Center.
Another community leader and President of the Indian American
Cultural Association (IACA), Kaushal Tripathi paid his tribute
stating, “Today is a historic day for us. We have been reading
about Gandhi and Mahadev Desai since our childhood. We feel
blessed to see one of their own here. It is an unforgettable
experience. We hope you (Narayan Bhai) can visit us again. IACA
would like to organize Gandhi Katha if it is convenient for you
in the near future.”
Activist daughter, Dr. Sanghamitra, who runs the charity
Sampoorna Kranti Vidyalaya in Vedchhi, Surat, Gujarat, observed
that, “as a doctor, as a woman and as a human being, I feel that
we should strive to make the world better with
knowledge/research on environment, on pollutants, on development
issues, etc.. We must ensure that our children do not blame us
for leaving behind a hazard of nuclear weapons, nuclear poison,
chemical pollutants, environment degradation, etc.”
In his keynote address, Narayan Desai said that the India-wide
popularity of ‘Vaishanava Janato’ is due to Gandhi’s embracing
of whole humanity in this song. Receiving his welcome bouquet
from NPS officer Mari Hayden (of Black ethnicity), Narayanbhai
observed the absence, in general, of the participation of the
black community in such an important diverse event attended
primarily by the Indian American audience. He said he was
however very happy to see many children in the audience. “When
children ask me as to when was the first time I saw Gandhi? I
reply, that it was Gandhiji who saw me first because I was only
three months old when my mother brought me into the ashram.”
(Laughter). He recalled some amusing anecdotes appropriate for
children present about life in the ashram and Gandhiji’s love
and affection for children. “Gandhi Ji became a child when he
was with children. To me and the children of the ashram,
Gandhiji was not a ‘Mahatma’, nor was he a ‘Bapu’ to us. He was
only our jolly good friend and companion--one who laughed with
us and made us laugh; one who splashed water on us and enjoyed
being splashed over by us! We had lot of fun with him when going
on walks with him or playing games with him. He taught us not to
compete against other children but against ourselves and to
build a world with cooperation rather than a world with
competition.”(Applause). He added, “All visitors regardless of
their status or position were requested to be quick being brief
and be gone after ‘darshan’ and a brief meeting with Gandhi Ji.
Yet no one seemed to mind because, as one visitor reported after
his visit with Gandhi ji, ‘in two minutes, Gandhiji poured his
whole heart in me. I felt his spiritual energy in me’. Gandhiji
had a knack of winning over even those who disagreed with him.
Rajaji (First Indian Gov. General of Independent India) had once
remarked that ‘Gandhi understood us more than we understood
ourselves primarily because Gandhi Ji was a patient listener’.
God has given us one tongue and two ears because God wants us to
listen twice and speak once”. Desai advised the children to
follow Gandhi’s method of truth, love, of caring and sharing to
make a better world.(Standing Ovation).
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Homage at the Statue |
Narayanbhai then led the audience into singing ‘Raghupati Raghav’
followed by the tradition of garlanding the Statue
Sandeep Gauba, an IT consultant from IIT Delhi and a volunteer
of Chinmaya while assisting Narayanbhai with presentation of
Gandhi books autographed by Narayanbhai, said, “It was a
blessing to listen to Narayanbhai. His stories were truly
inspirational not only for children but for all. The message he
shared is for everyone because Bapu was a Bapu for everyone. I
applaud this special recognition today by you (Narayan Bhai) of
the Bal Vihar Essay- winners. The Essay Winners- Suma Gangasani;
Neharika Bhatia; Sanjana Basker; Gururaj Deshpande;Manasi
Deshpande;Sandya Valli Vikram; Preity Chauhan; SrijaSomaka; and
Ayshali Gauba. were presented their Prizes by Narayanbhai.
After the tribute at the Statue, the gathering then walked in
peace to the Visitor Center to view the exhibits on the Civil
Rights Movement. After the Peace Walk, Narayanbhai and his
daughter laid wreaths and paid homage at the white marble crypts
of Dr. King and his beloved wife Coretta Scott King. At the next
stop in the Freedom Hall, they viewed the exhibits and
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Homage at the King Crypts |
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memorabilia in the King Room, Rosa Parks Room, followed by the
Gandhi Room which has a huge portrait of Gandhiji and his
artifacts donated in 1987 at the time of dedication of the
Gandhi room.
Both Narayanbhai and daughter Sanghamitra are devoted to taking
the message of Gandhi to the general public not only through the
medium of books, but through more effective non-literary forms
such as songs, plays, street theater and most recently through a
contemporary version of “Katha” (an age-old traditional story
telling form). They have established a center at Vedchhi, a
small tribal village in south Gujarat where hundreds of young,
mainly rural activists, have been trained in values (originally
enunciated by Gandhi) of self reliance, organic farming,
non-violence, and community service.
Among those present was Dr. Uma Majmudar, who presented
Narayanbhai her own book on ‘Gandhi’s Pilgrimage of Faith: From
Darkness to Light’ at the Statue.
Earlier on Friday, they were greeted by CEO of King Center Rev
Bernice King and Dean R. Kamphaus of Georgia State University in
the Gandhi Room in the Freedom Hall.
This writer would like to add,”This was a rare, once in a
lifetime, memorable moment for me personally which I will always
cherish till I breathe. I felt as if I was able to accomplish my
own pilgrimage by physically meeting such an honest and noble
Gandhian in the revered and serene King environs of the Gandhi
Statue.”
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