An Account of an Unexplored Side of

Mahatma in Uma Shankar Joshi’s “Stories

From Bapu’s Life”
Ms. Jankiba Zala
Student of English Department,
Uma Arts & Nathiba Commerce Mahila College,
Gandhinagar

Abstract
This paper discusses how Gujarati writer Uma Shankar Joshi has presented unexplored sides of
Gandhiji through his short stories. Innumerable books are written on Gandhiji across time, culture,
nation and language. However, this single short story from Uma Shankar Joshi’s collection of short
stories titled as ‘Stories From Bapu’s Life’ open up very significant life lessons to today’s
generation. Besides this, these stories are specifically written for kids. Thus, it is very surprising
that how beautifully Uma Shankar Joshi has simplified high moral values of Mahatma for today’s
kid who have seen Bapu only through currency notes and TV screens.

Key Words
Noakhali, Partition, Women, Stone, unusual methods, kids, communal peace, riots.

Research Objectives
To throw light on rare sides of Gandhiji
To show how Uma Shakar Joshi has described Gandhiji’s unique teaching methods and his
revolutionary ideology

Introduction
Gandhiji is often being named as ‘One Man Army’ (Hindustan Times) by many scholars because
of his greatness. Besides being Mahatma and Father of the Nation for the Indian people, Gandhiji
is having treasure of qualities which can become leading path for today’s generation, who seem to
be under utter need for moral and ethical values. One can see him with his Spinning Wheel in
pictures but his ideology related with Charkha is more interesting. Today’s youth seem to know
about Gandhiji’s ‘Dandi March’ and ‘Salt Satyagraha’ and all significant events associated with
him; but they probably are unaware of Gandhiji’s insignificant looking small deeds and gestures
which could open a way to hearts of lakhs of Indians and even people outside India. Sometimes
even one small gesture or lesson changes many solve complicated things. Through his life,
Gandhiji has always set an example of a good civilian individual or a good human being through
his actions and his seemingly unusual methods.

Umashankar Joshi was born in Bamna, Sabarkantha in Gujarat in 1911. He wrote extensively since
an early age, as a means to express his nationalist spirit and his understanding of the society and
share them with his readers. He is most renowned for enriching Gujarati literature with his poems.
Umashankar Joshi's first published work was as an anonymous write-up in the ‘Satyagraha’
journal. By the time he was twenty-six years old, he was already an established poet, story writer,
novelist, essayist and playwright who has written several critical pieces of nationalist literature.
Many of his poems were also taught in colleges as a part of the course. As was the case with
several nationalist writers participating in the freedom movement, Umashankar Joshi was also
jailed at multiple instances. He wrote the poem Vishwa Shanti while he was in jail. The poem
reflects on Gandhi’s message, life and work. Umashankar Joshi’s writings reflect a deep and
passionate nationalist sentiment. HE was also drawn towards reading and writing about the Indian
heritage, human life and myriad social realities of the time. Umashankar Joshi passed away in
1988.(www.indianculture.gov.in)

Usually, a short story contains its essence in limited words, unlike forms like novella and novel. It
is a big challenge to portray great and unique personalities in limited word-frame of a short story.
The short story collection anthology named ‘Stories From Bapu’s Life’ written by Umashankar
Joshi contains nine short stories from incidents of life of Gandhiji. This article is focused on the
last short story of this anthology in particular. This book is actually written for kids. Thus, it is part
of kids’ literature. Having books like this in kids’ literature is not less than having treasure.
Because today’s generation seems to need good thoughts and good examples which can pave the
way for them to become good and more importantly happy human beings. Since today’s generation
is sticked to screens of mobile phone and TV. In order to drag them out from this deadly addiction,
books like ‘Stories From Bapu’s Life’ are very much crucial. Every single story of this book
throws light on very rare and untold sides of Bapu.

The story which is selected for the purpose of this research paper bears no title. It is the ninth story
and the last one in the anthology. The story of this title-less story is presented below in brief:

This short story is written on one of the incidents of Bapu’s life. The story is set in Noakhali during
the year 1946; precisely during pre-partition period. Here in this story, there are two characters
only – Gandhiji and his grandniece Manuben Gandhi. Gandhiji was visiting the sensitive areas one
after one which were affected because of communal riots. On one fine evening, Manuben came to
know that the rough stone of Gandhiji, which he needed during his bath, was missing. When she
found out that she forgot that stone at weaver’s place which they visited last. Then surprisingly
Gandhiji told her to go to weaver’s place and fetch that stone. Manuben could not believe that he
was sending her to bring a mere stone from weaver’s place, that too Bapu asked her to go all alone.

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Gandhiji did not give her permission to take anyone along with her on a harsh forest road full with
betel nut and coconut. But finally, after following the footprints, Manuben found weaver’s house.
The old lady there had thrown out that stone in rubbish since she was not aware that it was of
Gandhiji. But they could find it in the end. After getting the stone back, she returned in afternoon.
She put the stone in Gandhiji’s lap with tears in her eyes. Then Gandhiji told her that it was test for
her and this stone was not a mere stone for him but it has been companion of him since last twenty-
five years, from jails to mansions. And he adds that he wants to make women strong and fearless
and from this incident he also learnt a lesson. Manuben is busy in thinking that how unusual the
methods of Gandhiji were.

Critical Evaluation
Historical Background of Noakhali
Gandhi was in Noakhali and Tipperah districts from 6 th November, 1946, and he stayed there till
the end of February, 1947. His visits to the villages stirred the entire area with new life, provided
succour to the violated humanity and provided people outside Noakhali a sense of relief in having
someone of Gandhi’s stature there in those trying circumstances . Today, after almost 73 years
from hence, those lonely furrows of Gandhi remain with us as the only blueprint of how to combat
the situation when communalism and communal violence grip the human mind in a deadly bind.(

His personal secretary Pyarelal writes,

“The issue was one of vital importance. If the Hindus could live side by side with the
Muslims in Noakhali, the two communities could co-exist in the rest of India, too,
without vivisection of the Motherland. On the answer to the challenge of Noakhali thus
hung the fate of India.” (Going to Wipe- Their Tears, p. 50)

The historical background of the story is Noakhali of pre-partition era of 1946. In the story, the
historical background is not that much important but to understand the story properly, one must be
aware of its historical context. The time Gandhiji spent in Noakhali reflects the fact that Gandhiji
was not only concerned about getting freedom but was also worried about non-violence and
communal peace.

Here in the story, Uma Shankar Joshi has written,

“This incident occurred in Noakhali. After the Hindu – Muslim riots Gandhi toured the
area on foot to reassure and comfort the people. He would set off from a village soon
after dawn and arrive at the next village after sunset.”
(www.gandhiashramsevagram.org)

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Only these many lines of this story are enough to give an idea that how worried Gandhiji was to
maintain peace and non-violence. During the years, he fought for freedom and during this course,
he went through too many fasts and many more things. This story reflects the idea that he had a
very crucial sense of compassion in his heart. He knew how to heal people from trauma of partition
and the violence occurred through Hindu-Muslim riots. He was aware of the condition of the poor
people. When all other leaders were busy preparing for the Constitution and planning for
Independence, he was the man who was busy healing the wounds of people which resulted from
declaration of partition.

What is the most frightening fact is that Gandhiji had time for everyone who wanted to talk to him.
Even when someone was against him, he was ready to listen and answer it in satisfactory sense.
One such incident of Noakhali, a group of young people were against Gandhiji. He gave very good
reply to those young souls. About that incident Pyarelal notes,

“Much water has flown under the bridge since August 1946. What the Muslims did then
was utterly wrong. But what is the use of avenging the year 1946 on 1947? I was on my
way to Noakhali where your own kith and kin desired my presence. But I now see that I
shall have to serve Noakhali only from here. You must understand that I have come
here to serve Hindus, Muslims and all alike. Those who are indulging in brutalities are
bringing disgrace upon themselves and the religion they represent. I am going to put
myself under your protection. You are welcome to turn against me or play the opposite
role if you so choose. I have nearly reached the end of my life's journey. I have not
much further to go. But let me tell you that if you again go mad, I will not be a living
witness to it. I have given the same ultimatum to the Muslims of Noakhali also; I have
earned the right.” (Going To wipe their tears, p.105)

It is not a mere stone

The entire story is based one single rough stone which Gandhiji used for bathing. In beginning of
the story, the author has told that the grandniece of Gandhiji named Manuben could not find that
stone and later she recollected that she forgot it at weaver’s place which they had visited the
previous day. Here, Gandhiji orders her to go by herself and fetch the stone. When she gets back
the stone, she was very irritated that Bapu sent her to bring the small rough stone. Uma Shankar
Joshi has expressed her sentiments in the following words:

“ …Worn out, hungry and irritated she went straight to Gandhi and put the stone in the
lap. Then she burst into tears.” (gandhiashramsevagram.org)

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Here one can clearly get an idea that how tired Miraben was feeling. For her it must be a very
normal stone. But for Gandhiji, it was not a normal stone. Uma Shankar Joshi writes the dialogue
between Bapu and Manuben thus:

‘Gandhi told her gently’. “Do you know that this stone has been with me for the last
twenty-five years. It has gone with me everywhere, from jails to mansions. I can easily
get another stone like it, but I wanted you to learn that it is bad to be careless.” (www.
gandhiashramsevagram.org)

Gandhiji explained to his niece that this was not a normal stone for him. It had been his witness of
freedom struggle of 25 years and has been companion from jails to mansions. It seems very normal
happening but it is not. In our materialistic world we value those things only which have price. We
are used to prioritize price over value. We forget that the emotions and memories attached to tiny
little objects and things are more valuable than those which are having only money value attached
to them. Gandhi’s pilgrimage to Noakhali was summed up well by Nirmal Kumar Bose. He
recounts how in a speech on January 4, 1946:

Gandhi said, “he had not come to talk to the people of politics, nor to weaken the
influence of the Muslim League and increase that of the Congress, but in order to talk
to them of the little things in their daily life. Ever since he had come to India thirty
years ago, he had been telling people of these common, little things which, if properly
attended to, would change the face of this land.” (www. gandhiashramsevagram.org)

Gandhiji treated every single happening and things in his surroundings with his full attention, just
like this small stone. Here one can see that even being lawyer by profession, he was sensible to tiny
and normal things and little memories attached to them. In this materialistic world, one must value
every object and subject with his or her full attention sincerity to keep alive his or her liveliness.
He reflected through his action that everything has its own value irrespective of their price.

The other thing this stone in the story reflects that how Gandhiji was used to relate every little
thing with freedom struggle. His whole life was dedicated to free India from cruel hands of
Britishers. This single sentence of the story saying,

“…this stone has been with me for the last twenty-five years. It has gone with me
everywhere, from jails to mansions…”
Above-mentioned lines of the story are enough to give an account of his deep intensity of
dedication and unbreakable consistency of freedom struggle. Fight for freedom and service of
needy people had become his only profession. A common people like us can not even complete our
own tasks in our daily life. For people like us Gandhiji is really great role model who was multi-
tasking in each field of his life. He was able to maintain his strict daily routine while handling the
pressure of whole nation on his shoulders.

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This stone in the story reflects Gandhiji’s idea of “Simple Living and High Thinking”. He gave a
lesson of detaching ourselves from unwanted and unnecessary materialistic thing. He has said it
many times in different forms. He writes in the weekly magazine ‘Harijan’ that,

“Man falls from the pursuit of the ideal of plain living and high thinking the moment he
wants to multiply his daily wants. History gives ample proof of this. Man's happiness
really lies in contentment. He who is discontented, however much he possesses,
becomes a slave to his desires. And there is really no slavery equal to that of the desires.
All the sages have declared from the house-tops that man can be his own worst enemy
as well as his best friend. To be free or to be a slave lies in his own hands. And what is
true for the individual is true for society.” (p.27)

In one of his speeches, he had said,

“I should not have labored my point as I have done, if I did not believe that, in so far as
we have made the modern materialistic craze our goal, so far are we going downhill in
the path of progress... Hence the ancient ideal has been the limitation of activities
promoting wealth. This does not put an end to all material ambition. We should still
have, as we have always had, in our midst people who make the pursuit of wealth their
aim in life. But we have always recognized that it is a fall from the ideal... That you
cannot serve God and Mammon is an economic truth of the highest value. We have to
make our choice. Western nations are today groaning under the heal of the monster-god
of materialism. Their moral growth has become stunted. They measure their progress in
L.s.d. American wealth has become the standard. She is the envy of other nations. I
have heard many of our countrymen say that we will gain American wealth but avoid
its methods. I venture to suggest that such an attempt, if it were made, is foredoomed to
failure... Ours will only then be a truly spiritual nation when we shall show more truth
than gold, greater fearlessness than pomp of power and wealth, greater charity than love
of self. If we will but cleanse our houses, our palaces and temples of the attributes of
wealth and show in them the attributes of morality, we can offer battle to any
combinations of hostile forces without having to carry the burden of a heavy militia. Let
us seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and the irrevocable promise is
that everything will be added unto us. These are Real Economics. May you and I
treasure them and enforce them in our daily life..” (Speeches and Writings of Mahatma
Gandhi, p.353-355)

I want to make women brave and fearless

In the story when Manuben Gandhi was told to bring the stone from weaver’s house. She hesitated
to go alone because the road to weaver’s house was full of betel nut and was easy to lose one’s
way. But she had no option except following Gandhiji’s order. After finding stone from weaver’s

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place she came back at afternoon. And when she came back from there ; she was so irritated that
her eyes got filled with tears. Then Uma Shankar Joshi writes further the reply of Gandhiji ,

“I want to make women brave and fearless…” (www. https://www.gandhiashramsevagram.org)

When Gandhiji denied to take anyone along with her; his motive was to make her brave and self-
sufficient. Here Gandhiji’s action reflected that women don’t need men’s company to go through
obstacles of life. She can handle every fear and situation on by her own. Gandhiji was surrounded
by women freedom fighters whom he taught to become self sufficient and independent. He writes
that,
“Woman may not look for protection to men. They must rely on their own
strength and purity of character and on God as did Draupadi of old. (H, 15-9-
1946, p. 312)

Gandhiji also said,

“Woman must cease to consider herself, the object of man’s lust. The
remedy is more in her hands than man. She must refuse to adorn herself for
men, including her husband, if she will be an equal partner with man. I cannot
imagine Sita even wasting a single moment on pleasing Rama by physical
charms.” (YI, 21-7-1921, p. 229)

Gandhiji used to believe that woman’s beauty does not lie within cosmetic products. But her
courage and will power make her beautiful. He is saying that,

“If I was born a woman, I would rise in rebellion against any pretension on
the part of man that woman is born to be his plaything. I have mentally
become a woman in order to steal into her heart. I could not steal into my
wife’s heart until I decided to treat her differently than I used to do, and so I
restored to her all her rights by dispossessing myself of all my so-called rights
as her husband. And you see her today as simple as myself.
You find no necklaces, no fineries on her. I want you to be like that. Refuse
to be the slaves of your own whims and fancies, and the slaves of men. Refuse
to decorate yourselves, and don’t go in for scents and lavender waters; if you
[women] want to give out the proper scent, it must come out of your heart,
and then you will captivate not man, but humanity. It is your birth-right. Man is
born of woman; he is flesh of her flesh and bone of her bone. Come to your
own and deliver your message again.” (YI, 8-12-1927, p. 406)

Through character of Manuben Gandhi Uma Shankar Joshi has portrayed the ideology of Gandhiji
on women in this short story. From the Later Vedic Period male society prohibited women to go
out of the home without taking a man along with her. But Gandhiji’s ideology was opposite to it.

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In Harijan, Gandhiji has written that,
“There is no occasion for women to consider themselves subordinate or
inferior to men. Languages proclaim that woman is half of man and, by parity
of reasoning, man is half of woman. They are not two separate entities, but
halves of one. The English language goes further and calls woman the better
half of man.
Therefore, I advise women to resort to civil rebellion against all undesirable
and unworthy restraints. All restraints to be beneficial must be voluntary.
There is no possibility of harm resulting from civil rebellion. It presupposes
purity and reasoned resistance. (H, 23-3-1947, p. 80)

This short story supports the fact that woman needs no approval of man for her own decision. She
has all the rights to make for her life. In today’s time parents do not allow their daughters to go out
of their houses without their brothers and father. For people like them Gandhiji is an eye opener
exemplar who was a man of 19th century and was living and thinking ahead of his time. His
comment in Harijan is sparkling,

“Woman may not look for protection to men. They must rely on their own strength and purity of
character and on God as did Draupadi of old. (H, 15-9-1946, p. 312)

He speaks about true bravery in Harijan,

“I make no distinction between man and woman. Woman should feel just as
independent as men. Bravery is not man’s monopoly. (H, 5-1-1947, p. 478)

Thus, Gandhiji’s ideas about bravery and self reliance of women is perfectly portrayed by Uma
Shankar Joshi in this short story.

“If I was born a woman, I would rise in rebellion against any pretension on
the part of man that woman is born to be his plaything. I have mentally
become a woman in order to steal into her heart. I could not steal into my
wife’s heart until I decided to treat her differently than I used to do, and so I
restored to her all her rights by dispossessing myself of all my so-called rights
as her husband. And you see her today as simple as myself.
You find no necklaces, no fineries on her. I want you to be like that. Refuse
to be the slaves of your own whims and fancies, and the slaves of men. Refuse
to decorate yourselves, and don’t go in for scents and lavender waters; if you
[women] want to give out the proper scent, it must come out of your heart,
and then you will captivate not man, but humanity. It is your birth-right. Man is
born of woman; he is flesh of her flesh and bone of her bone. Come to your
own and deliver your message again.” (YI, 8-12-1927, p. 406)

Gandhiji : A teacher with unusual teaching methods

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It is being said that great teacher’s methods of teaching tend to be very unique and being precise;
unusual. In this story he teaches a lesson to her grandniece Manuben who forgot his stone at
weaver’s place. She thought that it was a mere stone. But to make her learn the value of small
things Gandhiji sent her to get that stone back without anyone’s help; instead of giving her lecture
on explaining her fault. Through this story it seems that Gandhiji was not a lover of only
theoretical method of teaching. He seemed to be lover of practical method of teaching. When
Manuben brought the stone back , Uma Shakar Joshi writes in the story that,

“This stone was a real test for you," Gandhi told her gently. "Do you know that this stone has been
with me for the last twenty-five years. It has gone with me everywhere, from jails to mansions. I
can easily get another stone like it, but I wanted you to learn that it is bad to be careless.”
(www.gandhiashramsevagram.org)

Here Gandhiji reveals the reason of sending her to bring the stone back in the last. That indicates
his quality of great teacher. He tells her that the stone was not a stone only but was a real test for
her. Through this lesson she will never forget that how to value small things. He made this stone a
medium for him to make Manuben a great life lesson.

Further Uma Shankar Joshi says in the story that,

“Today not only you but I too learnt a lesson.” (www.gandhiashramsevagram.org)

Here it can be seen that how Gandhiji also learnt a lesson while teaching it. It is the characteristics
of great teachers. He was a life time learner. Story has been successful in proving the fact that
Gandhiji was keen learner who was always curious to learn something new from even small
incidents of daily life.

“Dr Radhakrishnan believed that “teachers should be the best minds in the country”. Indeed,
teachers are lifelong learners because learning never stops neither for them nor for the students.
(www.hindustantimes.com)

Research Contribution
This research will pave the way for teachers and students to follow the path of Gandhiji’s ideal.
Actually, this paper is based on ninth story from Uma Shankar Joshi’s Kids story book named
‘Stories From Bapu’s Life’. This paper will help to derive small but important and significant
personality traits of Gandhiji. This research paper has also presented Gandhiji’s qualities as
teacher; it shall help the teachers to get inspiration from Gandhiji.

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Conclusion
he once said: “My life is my message.” (www.areviewofbooks.org)

As he said that his life is his message; we can clearly observe the relevance of his statement in
Uma Shankar Joshi’s short story. His every action is filled with some life lessons. Uma Shankar
Joshi’s initiative to write short stories for kids seem really effective. His story book is particularly
written for age group of 5 years to 12 years. Today’s generation really needs such literature and
role models like Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhiji has shown his multifaceted personality through one
incident. Here, Uma Shankar Joshi has really been successful in presenting unusual methods and
great lessons in simplified and in less complicated manner. Today’s kid needs super hero like
Gandhiji along with Super Man and Bat Man. Such kids book are inspiring the kids and also the
youth of the country that how to lead a great life with morals. If today’s kids will be taught that
how to treat women and qualities of self-Reliance the perhaps it is still possible to create India of
Gandhiji’s dream.

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.

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