FROM 23 Dec. MANI BHAVAN .... GANDHI's HOUSE
Mani Bhavan, the house where Gandhi stayed in Bombay between 1917 and 1934 is down a leafy backstreet of the the city. It's an old style Bombay house beautifully preserved and maintained and on the 1st floor is the simple room where Gandhiji stayed, still arranged in the simple manner in which he lived, with a spinning wheel and small mattress on the floor. He used to spin every day, as an example to the Indian people to wear homespun cotton Khadi, instead of buying imported British fabrics. It was here that he learnt to spin and also from where he started the Satyagraha movement. The walls are filled with old black and white photos of the Mahatma, (Great Soul) you can almost feel his presence. The miniature tableaux, exquisitely made, depicting major events from his life are an easy and colourful way to learn about his life and work, from the death of his father to his law studies in London, working for Indian rights in South Africa, his return to India, the famous salt march to Dandi, and his struggle to achieve Indian Independance. I was particularly interested in his efforts to village industry in India. He was most concerned about the erosion of rural life and urban migration, perhaps he foresaw the poverty and degradation of the masses in the city slums. He fought ceaselessly for the writes of 'Untouchables' fasting almost to the death on many occasions.
His prison bowl and eating utensils are here (Gandhi was "a guest of his Majesty the King" as he liked to say, many times, a total of around 6 years spent in British prisons) as are letters he wrote to Tolstoy and one to Hitler, imploring him not to go to war with Europe.
