Gangabehn Muzumdar and Mahatma Gandhi

[Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav]

Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav

Senior Gandhian Scholar, Professor, Editor and Linguist

Gandhi International Study and Research Institute, Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India

Contact No. – 09404955338, 09415777229

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Mailing Address- C- 29, Swaraj Nagar, Panki, Kanpur- 208020, Uttar Pradesh, India

 

 

Gangabehn Muzumdar and Mahatma Gandhi 

 

 

Gangabehn Muzumdar was a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi. She lived in Sabarmati Ashram and had participated in activities of Ashram. She worked for Ashram’s women. He was old Ashramites. I read only today the postcard giving the news that you, Kiki and others have fallen ill. I was, however, glad to read that, by the grace of God, you were all improving. The bodies of those who have accepted the way of service should be as strong as steel. There was a time when our forefathers could thus harden their bodies. Today we have become pathetically weak and succumb to the innumerable poisonous germs in the atmosphere. The only way to escape from this, despite our fallen state, is self-control, moderation, call it what you will. It is the opinion of doctors, and they are right, that the body will run least risk if two things are attended to. Even after one feels that one has recovered from an illness, one should take only liquid and bland food easy to digest, and should continue to rest in bed. Many patients, deceived when the fever comes down on the second or third day, resume their work and start eating as usual. This brings on the attack again, and generally it proves fatal. I would, therefore, request you all to remain confined to bed. Write to me every day to give me news of your health. I am still in bed and will have to remain there for many days; but it can be said that my health is improving. The doctors have forbidden even writing letters; but how can I help writing to you? If you are inconvenienced there and want to come over here, by all means do. There are ten sick-beds in the Ashram just now, but the only serious case appears to be that of Shankarlal. Even he seems to have taken a turn for the better today. 1

What can I do if you distrust persons who stay with me? I can’t agree upon the prices, etc., of two years ago. I can pay you only at present rates. Over and above that, I shall try to pay you as much as I can. I only want you to appoint someone you trust to sit with a person nominated by me. Both of them may fix the prices according to existing conditions and I am prepared to pay them. I would request you to settle this matter urgently. 2 I find that I have not been able to persuade you. I am helpless since you would neither accept my suggestion for arbitration nor let the man sent by me inspect the goods. I am in no wise bound to buy the goods, as you seem to think. It is my duty to save the Rs. 10,000 which I have given to you. This is my last request to you. If you agree to nothing, I would be driven in desperation to approach a lawyer. 3

Your allegations are such as do not deserve to be answered, so also your language. But since you agree to the appointment of an arbitrator, we must appoint one. But I can see that making the panchnama is itself going to be a problem. However if you get a panchnama made, send it to me so that I shall be able to think over it. But I feel you must consult a lawyer about all this. 4

 

References:

 

1. Letter to Gangabehn Majmundar, October 11, 1918
2. Letter to Gangabehn Majmundar, June 12, 1926
3. Letter to Gangabehn Majmundar, June 15, 1926
4. Letter to Gangabehn Majmundar, June 19, 1926