"What's the day today ?" I asked my Kid over breakfast table casually dipping biscuit in my tea cup.
"Sunday !" She answered looking at her glass of bournvita-milk and circling spoon in it. Am sure she ran through her calculation as usual - "yesterday I had school but he was at home so was saturday, today we both at home should be sunday"
"No no... I mean what day it is today.. its 2nd October !" Now I starred to her so she knows I mean its a serious question and I expect her to know the answer.
I wasn't really expecting her to answer, I was expecting she should say she doesn't know. Then I go on telling her its Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday and blah ! blah !....... do my best to pass on knowledge to next generation and feel good about day spent well.
She blinked for a while and said "You tell, what it is ?" and slightly dismissive she continued looking at whirl created by stirring spoon her glass.
Without wasting seconds I spoke like a Gyaani Guru "Its Bapu's birthday, Mahatma Gandhi !"
To my amusement, she raised her head and all I could she her twinkling eyes. "Really .. Wow !" she said happily.
Satisfied with my family-social-responsibility feat, I continued to sip my tea and her mother joined in to remind her all Gandhiji lesson she's learning in her school.
As generations go by, remembrance to Gandhiji may not go beyond this day or best its exclusive place on India currency remains forever. What I did wasn't much I could think of to pass on importance of this day and I continued to plan the usual "Holiday" surfing channels for whats best movie available.
I bet there's more around that we can do to keep ourselves and new generation be proud to be born in this nation of great leader like Bapu. Little surfing on net and this is what I think is best we can do.
1. Watch Movie Gandhi (1982)
You haven't watched this movie than thats #1 you can do as you spend good long time watching Bapu's contribution to India's freedom. 8 Academy Winner and Directed by Richard Attenborough this movie is a best picturised film nearly 19 years back. Ben Kingsley's role may wipe even real picture of Bapu from your mind for a moment. Not to miss. Surf few channels on TV you will surely find it today or buy a DVD ... Its worth a buy in your collection !
2. Watch Movie - Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006)
Now thats what my Kid really related too.. Who haven't loved this movie which almost started Gandhigiri revolution in India. Tickling you funny bone... this movie is worth watching with entire family while giving lessons of ahimsa (non-violence) which was always Gandhiji's philosophy.
3. Visit Gandhi Museum
A time spent well outside house it well spent holiday. Visit Bapu's museum in you happen to be in one of the following cities. You will be incited reading through collection of books, biographies of Bapu's life and things that you didn't beyond his satyagraha movement.
- National Gandhi Museum &1 Library, New Delhi
- Mani Bhavan Gandhi Sangrahalaya, Mumbai
- Sabarmati Ashram & Museum, Ahmedabad
- Gandhi National Memorial Society, Pune
- Gandhi Sangrahalaya, Patna
- Gandhi Bhavan, Trivandrum
- Gandhi Memorial Museum, Madurai
- Kirti Mandir, Porbandar
- Magan Sangrahalaya, Wardha
- Gandhi Memorial Museum, West Bengal
4. Swadeshi for a day
Buy some khadi.. or may be some handloom, handicraft, any hand made products. You will do your part to promote swadeshi movement of Bapu, contributing to welfare of lakhs of women & men promoting dying art of handmade products. Hey you know what... Khadi looks cool too. You should know where to find them. Google by "Khadi Gram Udyog" to find one store in your city.
5. Do some Gandhigiri
Send some flowers with "Get well soon" Card to your local Corporator ! You heard me right.. what can be a day best than Gandhi Jayanti to show your Gandhigiri against your Corporator on long waiting issues. Be it potholes, water-cut, garbage menace, increase crime ... Gandhigiri is there to work, but it won't happen unless you act.
6. Sport some Gandhi Topi (cap)
Ain't they popular after Anna Hazzare's agitation ? But it won't be called Anna's Topi. Fact is Gandhiji never sported that Topi as part of his personality. Its called Gandhi Topi as his followers during all the movements sported this topi. People will easilty relate to what you are upto ... imagine you walk into a Mall sporting Gandhi Topi... Won't mind if you paint some "I am Gandhi" on it !
7. Books by Gandhi
Yes there are 3 popular books written by Gandhiji. I haven't read it myself yet. But reading is not in my mind recommending this point. Gift it .... wouldn't that be great gesture to show your love towards Bapu.
8. Quit Drinking (Ouch !!)
Now this one looks tough ! Ain't this a day a Dry Day and we already practicing no-alchohol day. There's one quote by Gandhiji on drinking. It reads as follows -
Drink makes a man forget himself. He ceases to be a man for the time being. He becomes less than a beast.
Yes we all know it, so if you plan to quit alchohol, it could be best day to showcase best moral towards this cause.
9. Post, Tweet, Blog
If you often spend time on Social Media via Facebook, Twitter or are a avid blogger, do you bit. Google and post some wiki's or video's about Bapu on Facebook. Follow some trending hashtag's on Bapu for retweet. You may event tweet some Gandhiji Quotes. If you are witty , #Gandhigiri may help some trending. If you are a avid blogger, voice out your views... like it did !
Thats it !! Go Ahead start one of them if you like it !
Oh ! Yes.. the 10th point ??.. Why don't you pen down one in comment below !
You know what if you do that... you have done your bit for this day towards Gandhiji.
Thanks for reading.
4 comments:
10)take an oath you will stand up for the truth at some point of the time, evn if no one backs you!
Adopt a child for education. padhega india, tabhie to badhega india.
Thanks Shweta, Ani & Purvesh...! Gandhiji is smiling too ;)
brilliant finally something that we can do :)
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