Dr. Kanu Ramdas Gandhi

[Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav]

Dr. Yogendra Yadav

Gandhian Scholar

Gandhi Research Foundation, Jalgaon, M.S.

Contact No. – 09404955338

 

Dr. Kanu Ramdas Gandhi

Kanu Gandhi, a grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and son of his third son Ramdas Gandhi. His real name was Kanam Gandhi. But Mahatma Gandhi called and wrote him as Kanu Gandhi. So after all he will be famous as a Kanu Gandhi. He stayed with Mahatma Gandhi in his childhood. Later he studied of medical science and became a doctor. Now he knows as a Dr. Kanu Ramdas Gandhi. He is very active these days in many gandhian movements. He is working for peace in a number of countries. You can see him in many photographs with Mahatma Gandhi. He lived many years with Gandhi. Mahatma Gandhi guided him his whole life.

Mahatma Gandhi wrote him, “I received the plans sent by you. I learnt about your perseverance, as also about the service you are rendering to your grandmother. We can serve our elders even when they are no more. There is likely to be greater purity in such service. My purpose in writing this is, however, different. That you are immersed in study is good, no doubt, but you must realize its limitation, which is this: Spiritual progress is as essential as intellectual progress; so also development of the body. We often tend to forget this. Don’t you forget this? The rest when we meet, although, I am afraid, it will be some time before we can meet.”1

“I have your letter. Your handwriting, I must say, is very shabby. You ought to cultivate tidiness in all respects. You should properly space your words, and use punctuation marks. I hope, you don’t want to forget the Gujarati script altogether. We will certainly play odds-and-evens when we meet. But shouldn’t you play games involving vigorous physical exercise? Your English handwriting also needs improvement. How can one believe in both violence and non-violence? Can one ride two horses simultaneously?”2

“I got your letter today. I shall not be able to always fulfill your expectation of a reply by return of post. You have spoilt your handwriting so much that now it is difficult to read it. Sita’s handwriting is so beautiful that it deserves to be emulated by all of you. No doubt she writes in English but whoever writes a good hand in one script must necessarily write equally well in another. About the injustice to the residents of Sevagram, ask me when we meet. I have had enough of watching the cinema all by myself without my compatriots at Sevagram. When I am out and engaged in some good activity I would remember all of you. There was no such thing in the present case. Hence nobody has lost anything by not witnessing the show. On the contrary, I have lost something after having seen the picture. You may ask me what it is.”3

“Your letter of August 15 is lying with me. I see that you have tried to improve your handwriting. You should pay still more careful attention to improving it. I will not discuss now the matters you have raised in your letter. I see that much of what you write; you do just for the sake of writing, what you write shows intellectual speculation but not good sense. Good sense is very necessary. Write little, but whatever you write, write after careful deliberation, courteously and with genuine curiosity for knowledge. You are no longer a mere child. I was certainly glad that all of you came here but I was not satisfied with the way you behaved and with what you said. I did not see any courtesy in your behavior. I saw a good deal of impertinence in your way of talking. What you said was all superficial. It can be seen even in your letter. If you can get rid of these defects, you will go far.”4

“I have your letter. As desired by you, I am returning it. I am glad that Father has now got dentures. Now he should not misuse them by eating indiscriminately. Your preparation seems all right. What little was taught to you here seems to have borne fruit. Write an essay comparing Nagpur and Sevagram and send it to me. My health is all right, but the pressure of work is fairly heavy. I shall, therefore, correct the essay when I get the time and return it to you. I don’t believe in ghosts. I have had no such experience. It is all right if Bhansalibhai believes in them. That does not detract from his saintliness. But there is no reason to believe that everything a saint says must be true. No one is omniscient. The planchette business is pure fraud. Do not get involved in it.”5

“I could not reply to your letter at once. If you are convinced that ghosts do not exist, then the article in the Times should have no effect on you. There are some good things in newspapers but there is a lot of nonsense too. The readers of newspapers, therefore, should be always on their guard. Your method of doing algebra is good. This appears below a statement of accounts of the Charkha Sangh under Prabhudas Gandhi’s signature. The earlier part of the letter is not available. It shows that your intelligence is developing. That method is actually used in arithmetic. You should develop the habit of assuming ‘x’ as a quantity. You will realize the value of this as you go on. Improve your handwriting still further.”6

“Why should you fall ill? Do you observe rules of health? You want to learn much and rise very high. You will not do anything if you start falling ill from now. “First happiness is keeping the health of the person.” We get the full meaning if we interpret “the person” to cover the physical, mental and intellectual. Now I receive Sumi’s letters regularly.”7

“I have your letter. I am writing this on the train. I shall certainly be in Bombay for about a week. I cannot say anything about the programme later. However, when it is finalized you will see it in the papers. Nanavati tells me that Ramdas is ill. It is good if he has taken leave and is going to Poona. I am all right.”8

 “I was happy to read your letter. I had already got the news of your arrival. Secure the same marks there also as you did in your examination at Nagpur. In Sevagram, marks are given for goodness isn’t that so? One must get mixed in society as sugar does with milk. You seem to have done very well in the examination. One day you will come first. Do you know that Valjibhai’s Nanu1 stood first out of thousands of students? He is as good as he is intelligent. Your handwriting cannot be said to be good.”9

I have your letter. I will say, your handwriting is all right this time. Still there is room for improvement. You will form a good hand if, whenever you write to anyone, you do so in a neat handwriting. You are learning well there too. Show this to Krishnachandraji so that he will teach you if he has time. Come to me whenever you want to. You will be accommodated here. Up to the 20th I shall be a little short of time. After that I hope to have some leisure.

“I got your postcard today. Manilal and Devdas left for Bombay this morning. You may come whenever you wish to. I will leave Mahabaleshwar for Panchgani on the 31st of this month. It will, therefore, be better if you come on the 1st of June to Panchgani. Nevertheless, if you wish to come to Mahabaleshwar, do so. I hope you are keeping good health. It is cool here, but it cannot be described as chilly. One feels pleasant in the sun. The difference in altitude between this place and Panchgani is 500 ft. But here it rains so heavily that one cannot stay on after the rains start in June.”11

“This is for you. Do not forget the three gurus3. Improve your Urdu and learn to use the Gujarati script correctly. Whatever you write should be like a pearl. Sumi is growing daily.”12

“I am writing this on a moving train. I am going to Bengal. I do not consider your handwriting too bad. Still you can improve it. You are engrossed in your studies. I do not know when I shall be going that way.” 13

“I have your nice letter. I am keen on writing to you but I must restrain myself. It will soon be 4 o’clock and I must brush my teeth and wash. Get rid of the cold. Did you not learn that from Vinoba? Learn to do pranayama. Learn a few yogic exercises also and find out the right diet for you. The result of your examination will surely be in your favour as you are so energetic and also growing in wisdom. May God grant you long life.”14

 

1. LETTER TO KANAM GANDHI; June 8, 1944

2. LETTER TO KANAM GANDHI; June 14, 1944

3. LETTER TO KANAM GANDHI; July 25, 1944

4. LETTER TO KANAM GANDHI; August 28, 1944

5. LETTER TO KANAM GANDHI; January 16, 1945

6. LETTER TO KANAM GANDHI; February 8, 1945

7. LETTER TO KANAM GANDHI; March 11, 1945

8. LETTER TO KANAM GANDHI; March 31, 1945

9. LETTER TO KANAM GANDHI; May 1, 1945

10. LETTER TO KANAM GANDHI; May 9, 1945

11. LETTER TO KANAM GANDHI; May 22, 1945

12. LETTER TO KANAM GANDHI; June 25, 1945

13. LETTER TO KANAM GANDHI; October 28, 1946

14. LETTER TO KANAM GANDHI; January 10, 1947