Bapu’s kids

And every year,it’s a different lesson for Jai. From Bapu’s writings on ahimsa to truth,he has read it all.

“I had bought him an Amar Chitra Katha on his first birthday. He was quite naughty then; he tore it into shreds the moment he caught hold of it.

But I knew he had to love Bapu’s books for life. I brought him to the centre next year,only to pick up three more books. And now,he understands and respects books,” says Chaitra.

Ever since,Jai has read over hundreds of books,but Gandhi literature is his favourite. “I love Our Bapu the most. I love the simplicity with which he led his life.”

Like the Mehtas,over a lakh and half children come and buy books on the Mahatma from the Navjivan Trust outlets across the country. “I bought the cartoon edition of Bapu’s teachings last year for my son. He was distressed to see the way Bapu was dressed. He wondered why such a great man doesn’t even wear a shirt. After some discussions and reading,he realised the greatness of Gandhi,” says Surendranath Roy who collects Gandhi literature from around the globe along with his son.

“There is so much to read on Bapu. I hope to complete each and every book on him someday,” says Aatendra,a class V student. 

The Sarvodaya Mandal has brought out simplified versions of nearly 15 books in 12 languages. “There have been times when Bapu’s books were the most in demand among the younger generation,and we hardly had books for kids below 10. Slowly we began preparing small booklets on Bapu’s life and youth,” said TRK Somaiya of BSM.

The Navjivan Tust has a collection of over 5,00,000 books on Gandhi. The Story of My Experiments with Truth is by all means a bestseller,with over 43 lakh copies sold,and it still continues to attract people.

The book is available in a dozen languages — Indian and foreign.

“Bapu’s autobiography is available at Rs 30; some books are priced at even Rs 5. We try to attract as many as possible. Money is not our motive,” says Somaiya.