The Hindu : Mahatma's simplicity leaves her spellbound

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 15, 2004

National

National

Mahatma's simplicity leaves her spellbound

By Gargi Parsai

Shabana Azmi at Gandhiji's Sewagram Ashram at Wardha. Photo: Gargi Parsai.

WARDHA, FEB. 14. Her eyes are moist as she turns away after reading about Gandhiji's devotion to wife Kasturba when she was ill. "I make time to look after ailing Kasturba because I love her and like to take care of her personally." Then a description of how he washes her clothes, empties her spittoon, cleans her toilet and helps her with her personal effects.

"I will come back with my husband," she declares.

On her first visit to Wardha-Sewagram on Thursday, Gandhiji's simplicity left Shabana Azmi spellbound. "He was such a great man and he lived with such few things in a mud house. It's unbelievable." For a long time, the actress-activist sat cross-legged on the floor in Gandhiji's office, taking in the ambience and the Bapu's all-pervading spirit. And as if unable to stop herself, she got into a discussion with an ashramite on why the Mahatma supported the Khilafat Movement during the freedom struggle.

Ms. Azmi was there to participate in the valedictory function of the CAPART-supported weeklong Gramshree-Wardhawardan exhibition-cum-fair and a preparatory meet for the rural science congress organised by the Magan Sangrahlaya Samiti. Her daylong visit also included visits to the Vinoba Bhave ashram, the Sewagram, and interaction with members of women self-help groups organised by the Samiti.

The function highlighted the fact that science and technology were not being applied to address the problems of the rural population.

Setting the tone for the evening, the chairperson of the Samiti, Vibha Gupta, said there were no institutions or schools that focussed on the low-cost building material — "mud, bamboo, cowdung and poles"— being used by 70 per cent of the rural population because these were not the concerns of the scientific or political community.

The exhibition, in which 150 groups participated from 20 States, showcased the work of rural artisans and alternate technology that required only a basic knowledge of science. Likewise, the problems of women required simple scientific applications, Ms. Gupta added.

The former Chief Justice of the Mumbai High Court, C.S. Dharmadhikari, and the "waterman", Rajinder Singh, said the exhibition was a message that the rural and marginalised populations were trying to convey.

Mr. Dharmadhikari urged people to abandon "exploitative economics." A Gandhian, he said: "You get market when (khadi) spinners wear what they spin and the wearers spin what they wear."

Ms. Azmi said the exhibition had "opened a lot of windows" for her. She was impressed by the artisans' skills, particularly by the hand-made toys that "connected children with their culture," but asserted that the hand skills that brought about drudgery should be abandoned.

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