Bapuji writes…

Here you go with a fictitious letter but with factual feeling!! This is written not to hurt anyone’s sentiment but to share some of my feelings.

Bapuji writes…

Dear Friends,

I wish that every Indian will see this appeal and give thoughtful attention to it.

For the past few days, I was just watching drama that is going on across the globe. News paper, news sites, TV channels milled my name many times. It is on the auction of my personal belongings. I want to share few things with you on this openly.

First of all, I really don’t know whether those materials are the ones which I used. I didn’t even have time to give attention to those worldly possessions. My heart and soul was focused only towards my beloved GOD and Nation. When my people were living without food, should I think about my old metal dinner bowl? When my heart was pulling me to read a letter from my fellow fighter, should I think of the shape of my spectacle? When I was thinking about the destination to reach, should I care for my sandals? All these material items are mere sand and dust when compared to the values which we need to embed in our lives.

Yet, I was much touched by your love and national feeling. I appreciate you all for making one single voice irrespective of religion, political party and other divisive forces. I still see traces of patriotism sitting inside, which made me to write to you all friends.

At the same time, I want to put few questions before you all. I ask for no patronage, I merely point out to you as a friend, a value namely Ethics, is open to you. The questions are:

• When you are ready to pay any amount of money for my possessions, why are you not ready to pay your life with values which I emphasized?

• When you value my sandals so much, why not you buy Truth and Discipline to walk in your life, which I practiced?

• When you are very keen in getting back my spectacles from foreigners, why are you not getting my Vision of Ram Rajya (Now, a politically misused word) for our nation?

• Have you ever thought of practicing values like Cooperation, Freedom, Happiness, Honesty, Humility, Love, Peace, Respect, Responsibility, Simplicity, Tolerance and Unity by which I lived and loved to practice?

After so many years of independence, still I am only hoping and praying and I want all the friends here and in other parts of the world to hope and pray with me that this blood-bath of morality will soon end.

I am,

Your faithful friend,

M. K. GANDHI