Gujarat commands “glory and respect” in India and across the world because of Mahatma Gandhi, said renowned writer and Padma Shri awardee Raghuveer Chaudhari on Wednesday, while speaking at Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad on the occasion of Gandhi’s birth anniversary. Chaudhari, who is also conferred with the Jnanpith Award and Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak, was the main guest speaker at the public function organised by Sabarmati Ashram Preservation and Memorial Trust at Hriday Kunj. The day is also observed as the International Day of Non-Violence. “Gujarati writers are influenced by three great personalities: Gandhiji, Rabindranath (Tagore) and Shree Arvind (Aurobindo)… Gandhiji was president of Gujarat Sahitya Parishad and in one of its conventions, Rabindranath Tagore was a guest. So, because of Gandhi, Gujarat kept on expanding and became world famous,” said Chaudhary. He said that he has come in contact with many Gandhian workers, and Gandhi was part of many of his writings in different manners. Calling Gandhi a “man of heart”, Chaudhary noted that even the place he lived in is known as Hriday Kutir. “Even his wisdom was passing through his heart. Such a sensitive man! There have been (sensitive men): Buddha was there, Ishu was there, Mahavir was there, the sages of the Upanishad era were there. But the sensitive one close to us was Gandhi,” he said. Chaudhary recollected a number of aspects of Gandhi’s personality while also recollecting how he did not accept the proposal of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Jawaharlal Nehru of getting him security — days before he was assassinated by three bullets. Chaudhary said that it seems to him that “Vaishnav Jan to…”, the famous bhajan by Narsinh Mehta, was penned precisely for Gandhi.
