Gandhiji

Dear Shiva,

I too is a Gandhi buff. Was fortunate
enough to visit Sabarmathi Ashram at
Ahamadabad in 1988. Spent some hours
there reliving the past...

And i couldn't control my tears when
i first visited Raj Ghat in Delhi in 1992.
Same at Birla Hosue at where i bought the
book "Gandhi" movie screeplay ; it is
a remarkable screeplay, better than the
film.

He was a great man but still had his
defects and blunders, esp in his personal
life. His fanatic belief is naturopathy
made him stop the rare Pencillin injection
for his very sick wife in 1944 at Pune
prison. the British had specially flown
in the medicine from war torn UK. But
without the injection Ba died and he
was forlorn with greif and guilt....
Also his experiments with his grand nieces
were unneccessary and unscientific...

I have a biography of him by Vincent
Sheean (Lead Kindly Light) and another
one by Louis Fisher, apart from
Sathya Sothanai.

And i am an ardent fan of Rajaji who was
a close friend, associate and sambandhi
of Gandhiji. I try to read all the works of
Rajaji. His "Sathyameva Jeyathe" collection
of 4 volumes from his journal Swarajya is
a must read for us. His vison and depth
are peerless ; he is easily the greatest
leader and visonary of our times. His
warnings about pseudo socialism and
'license, permit, quota' raj are
remarkable.

I treausre an autobiography of Kovai
Ayyamutu (1898-1977) who was a sisya of
Rajaji and Gandhiji. He was a freedom fighter,
established Khadar movement in Tirupur ;
was a writer, poet and movie director ;
an entreupreuner and agriculturist and
finally an active memeber of Swathanthra
Party. He was a collegue and friend of
EVR Periyar in Vaikam movement in 20s.
Served in army in Baghdad in 1918..
I re-read this book once in a while for
inspiration. Kamaraj, C.Subramaniam,
G.D.Naidu and EVR's activities and anecedotes
are there....

Hope you have read JJ Sila Kuripugal of
Nagarkovil SuRa.

Also i was a fan of Writer Sujatha and have
read almost all his works. Met him twice
and regulaly chat with him every saturady
thru ambalam.com. a versatile writer who
has been under rated.

ok. see you later.

anbudan
Athiyaman