Here,Bapu’s passion for nature cure lives on

Spread over an area of 1.6 acres,National Institute of Naturopathy (NIN) is a place one can’t fail to notice on the ever-busy Tadiwala Road. Though the place is abuzz with visitors all through the day,there is rarely a visitor who comes to NIN especially to view the area where Mahatma Gandhi stayed once. In fact,very few people in the city are aware that Gandhiji frequently visited NIN,also called Bapu Bhavan.

Around 1922,the institute,earlier known as Nature Cure Clinic and Sanatorium (NCCS),was started by Late Dr Dinshaw K Mehta. “When Gandhiji was in South Africa,he had read a book Return to Nature by Adolf Just,which drew him towards naturopathy. From 1904,when he came to India,he started propagating naturopathy in India too. The popularity reached Gandhi’s ears,and from 1942,he started visiting the institute,” said Dr Babu Joseph,director of NIN.

Between 1945 and 1947,Gandhi visit NIN seven times and stayed for 156 days. The All India Nature Cure Foundation Trust was established at the institute and Gandhi became its chairman. In 1975,NCCS was handed over by Mehta to the government of India for starting NIN. The taking-over process was formally finished by 1986 and NIN came into existence,which is run by Department of Ayush,Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

A visible part of this historic structure is the room where Gandhiji stayed during his visits. Well-maintained,the board above the entrance of the room reads Gandhiji Ka Kamra (Gandhiji’s room). There is a small garden outside the room,with a number of plants. At the entrance,there is a statue of Gandhi,which was inaugurated by Yashwantrao Chavan in 1961.

As you enter the room,you encounter various materials used by Gandhi. There are two black chairs and one writing table,which are in good shape even today. There is a bed with a bolster. The most eye-catching are the two spinning wheels (charkhas),which were used by Gandhi during his stay.

There is also a handwritten letter by Gandhi to Mehta on June 25,1934,in which he talks about his impressions about Mehta’s naturopathy services received by him when he was in Yerawada Jail. There is a small bottle which has a small spinning wheel inside it. “This was gifted to Gandhiji by someone during his stay here. There is also a brass plate with Natraj,which was also a gift. We have kept everything as it was,” said Joseph.

Then there is a photo in which Gandhi is seen with Mehta,Barrister Jaikar and Dr Susheela Nayyar,clicked during a visit to NIN. The room also houses a photo of Gandhi putting oil on leprosy patient Parchure Sastri,clicked at Sevagram Ashram,Wardha. Another photograph shows Gandhi with Gulzarilal Nanda,the then minister for planning,labour and employment.

As you come out of the room,you come across an area which is under construction. “This used to be the prayer platform used by Gandhi. The followers used to sit on the open ground in front of the platform. The roof had deteriorated,hence we are repairing it. The work should be over within a week,” said Joseph.

He said he comes across senior citizens in their late 80s or early 90s,who fondly recall their meetings with the Father of the Nation at NIN. He adds that the library of the institute houses two books written by Gandhiji,Ramanama and Key to Health.