Gandhiji’s movement
– Photo: AMAR UJALA
Expansion
The room in which the British Government officials gave the first notice of independence to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, still makes one feel his presence there. The pictures of his meeting with the British officers may have started to fade, but as soon as they enter the room, they bring back memories of that period. There is a distinct silence in the Bapu Niwas of Maharishi Valmiki Temple located on Mandir Marg in New Delhi area.
His bed has been wrapped with a white sheet. But, Bapu used the table in the room. Pen and pen stand on it. A symbolic spinning wheel. On the other side is his throne. The black board right behind that. This scene contains the memories of Bapu.
Things and photographs related to him are still preserved in the room. Bapu spent 214 days here between April 1, 1946 and June 1947. Not only domestic but also foreign tourists still visit this residence remembering Bapu and searching for the address of his building. Some people come to know about them. The slight light coming from the window seems to be attracting people towards itself. Preparations for Gandhi Jayanti have also been completed. The room has been painted. According to the information, Bapu was also interested in bhajan-kirtan. This was the reason that during his stay here, Kabir used to recite bhajans and Geeta sitting on the platform in the courtyard of the temple in the evening. This platform still exists today.
The blackboard on which he used to teach is also present
The black board inside the room is still present. However, it has been painted black from time to time. In this he used to teach children. Officials associated with the temple say that children were taught here even before Gandhiji taught. But, after Gandhiji’s arrival, the activity of the school reduced. Seeing this, Bapu himself started giving practical education to the children. When Gandhi used to go for a walk in the nearby colony, the children there used to hug him. In such a situation, he continued teaching the children in the room itself. As long as Gandhi was here, children kept coming to study with him.
Not only British officers, even top leaders of the country used to come to meet him.
At that time, not only the British officers but also the top leaders of the country used to come here to meet Bapu. One of its hallmarks is shown by the pictures on the walls here. Many leaders including Lord Mountbatten and Lady Mountbatten, Lord Pethick Lawrence, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, Sucheta Kripalani used to come to meet him on the wall. The officials looking after Bapu Bhawan say that his room is still the same as it was before. Rooms are cleaned daily. It is open all days. But, it closes at seven in the evening.
Earlier the sages and saints of Valmiki community lived in the room where Bapu stayed. A school also operated here, whose children Gandhiji had expressed his desire to teach. Every day after waking up in the morning and taking bath, he used to meditate in the courtyard of the temple. After this he used to meet the people who came to meet him. Gandhiji was a very simple person. This temple is established before 1933.
-Swami Sant Krishna Sah Vidyarthi Maharaj, Maharishi Valmiki Temple, Mandir Marg