My Life Is My Message

Today we celebrate Gandhi Jayanthi, the 147th birth anniversary of the Father of our Nation, Mahatma Gandhi or Bapuji, as he is fondly addressed.

Gandhiji’s influence is global and he continues to inspire millions today. He believed that non-violence is the way, and proved it during his lifetime, sticking to his values and principles.

On this occasion, I am pleased to share some photos of the Sabarmati Ashram, which I visited last year.

Also known as Satyagraha Ashram and Harijan Ashram in Ahmedabad, which was Gandhiji’s residence for over twelve years from 1917 to 1930, the Sabarmati Ashram is on the banks of the Sabarmati river and a national monument.

Speak no evil, See no evil, Hear no evil

From Mohan to Mahatma

Using the ashram as his base, Gandhiji led the Dandi march or the Salt Satyagraha on 12^th March 1930 from here.

This display of nonviolence had a significant impact on the Indian Independence movement.

India’s freedom struggle began at the ashram.

The ashram focuses on a number of activities to preserve India’s freedom struggle and the history, teachings and life events of Gandhiji. He was multi-lingual – he could sign off in so many languages!

The place itself is tranquil and serene, and lush with greenery.

I enjoyed the memorial museum, which has a large collection of Gandhiji’s writings, nicely preserved. The picture below proves Gandhiji’s popularity – he received letters addressed to him as “M K Gandhi, New Delhi”  Cool or what?

There is also a library, auditorium and photo galleries with an archive of Gandhiji’s letters, his  manuscripts, films about his life and India’s freedom struggle and plenty of books.

The ashram is open to all and a wonderful place to spend a few hours.

I also visited the shop inside the museum to buy some mementoes.

More about the ashram here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabarmati_Ashram

Here are some of my favorite inspiring quotes by Gandhiji

1. You must be the change you wish to see in the world.
2. The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.
3. An eye for eye only ends up making the whole world blind.
4. Where there is love there is life.
5. Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.
6. Nobody can hurt me without my permission.
7. When I admire the wonders of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, my soul expands in the worship of the creator.
8. Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.
9. The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.
10. A ”No” uttered from deepest conviction is better and greater than a ”Yes” merely uttered to please, or what is worse, to avoid trouble.
11. First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.
12. There is more to life than increasing its speed.
13. You can chain me, you can torture me, you can even destroy this body, but you will never imprison my mind.
14. Monotony is the law of nature. Look at the monotonous manner in which the sun rises. The monotony of necessary occupation is exhilarating and life giving.
15. If you don’t ask, you don’t get.
16. I suppose leadership at one time meant muscles; but today it means getting along with people.
17. If I had no sense of humor, I would long ago have committed suicide.

My life is my message #WomenAtWork

I’ve met and admire all kinds of working women but I especially bow to those who think nothing of standing in the scorching sun all day to make a meagre living, and what’s more, they do it with a smile. Today’s choice represents millions of women across India: fruit sellers outside tourist sites. These cheerful women were selling fruit: fresh date fruit, melons, papaya, bananas, mangoes, pomegranates, plums and mangoes outside the Adalaj Stepwell It was an extremely warm day and we had finished off our bottles of water soon after we set out to explore the city.

The fruit and juice stalls outside the stepwell were a blessing. I saw fresh date fruit for the first time in my life here.

We buy dates regularly at the supermarket. They’re de-seeded packaged, and ready to eat.

I’ve always admired how these sellers are always so pleasant. I mean, it must be tough standing in the sun all day. Also, it is not easy running their business. For one thing, they have to head off in the early hours of the morning to procure their wares, after much haggling. Then they must sell it to people who’ll bargain like crazy. What margins might they make? And they must sell, since fruits are perishables.

What is wonderful is their generosity, in spite of all the hardship they go through. They’ll happily add an extra to your purchase, with a smile.

So much good Karma.

Don’tcha love these women? You’ll find them everywhere, struggling, yet appearing happy with their lot and willing to have a conversation. They take pride in their work, look after their children lovingly and appear quite content.

Just as Gandhiji said “My life is my message”, I think these women convey the same through their lives.  The message that it doesn’t take much to be happy, and happiness is a choice.

Have a great week!

Linking up with Parul for the Women at Work bloghop