Mahatma Gandhi 50 - Self Purification And Farewell Poem by Geeta Radhakrishna Menon

Mahatma Gandhi 50 - Self Purification And Farewell

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Gandhiji had set high value on
His experiments with the Truth.
To describe Truth
In its pristine pure form was
His persistent effort and objective
Throughout his life.
These exercises gave him ineffable joy,
Contentment and mental peace.
Gandhiji was convinced and upheld that
There is no other God than Truth.

Every episode or incident in his life
Loudly proclaimed that Truth is Ahimsa.
Yet, Gandhiji honestly admitted that
His strivings after Ahimsa were still
Inadequate and imperfect.
The little fleeting glimpses of Truth
Hardly conveyed an idea of
The indescribable lustre of Truth.
He declared that he had caught only
A glimmer of that mighty effulgence!

Gandhiji's magnanimous mind perceived
The all pervading spirit of Truth -
To love the meanest of creation
As oneself!
A man who aspires for
The universality of his love cannot
Afford to keep out any field of life.
That's the reason that his devotion
To Truth led him
Into the field of politics!

A man who gave everything of himself
To his country,
To his people,
A teacher of Truth
A teacher of Non-Violence was
Attacked by a violent, fanatic mind
While Gandhiji was on his way
For a prayer meeting,
For the unity of all people,
For the peace of this world!

It was a fateful evening of 30th January 1948,
Even Gods must have shivered,
The angels would have hidden,
When the satan with evil intentions
Stuck out its evil fangs
To pounce on an innocent, pure soul!
As Gandhiji walked briskly for the prayers
With his arms around Abha and Manu,
He was brutally shot point blank, three times by a man
Who had pretended to bow down before him.

The assassination took place
In an open ground in Delhi
In front of a crowd gathered for prayers
His palms were joined in reply
To the assassin's greetings.
As he crumbled and fell down,
He uttered the words 'Ram! Ram! '
Gandhiji left this earth fully purified,
His heart singing the hymn of truth
His soul rejoicing the victory of Ahimsa!

Gandhiji had most solemnly affirmed:
'Purification with everything that lives
Is impossible without self purification.
Without self purification the observance of
The law of Ahimsa must
Remain an empty dream.
God can never be realised by one
Who is not pure of heart.
Self purification therefore must mean
Purification in all the walks of life! '

Gandhiji had purified himself through
A hazardous steep climb of
A powerful and eventful life, enveloped with
Innumerable experiments and experiences!
As the vital force of his life ebbed
Out of his frail body
He was, now, absolutely free from every
Thought, word and deed.
He merged peacefully with God
To become one with pure Love!

The Editorial of the London Times,
Just a day after Gandhiji's demise, declared:
'No country but India and
No religion but Hinduism
Could have given birth to a Gandhi.
It is true that we see in Gandhi
The qualities we regard as
Characteristic of India…. at its inspired best.
Yet he belonged by right to humanity's
Greatest of all time'.

Gandhiji's spirit lives today
Through his high ideals and human values
Lofty thoughts, morals and ethics.
His humane quality surpassed all his virtues.
His name will echo and re-echo for centuries,
As a torch bearer of Truth and Non violence,
As a Mahatma - A great Soul!
The soul can never die, be divided or dissolved,
Soul is eternal and all pervading!
So shall the spirit of Mahatma Gandhi live forever!

Mahatma Gandhi 50 - Self Purification And Farewell
POET'S NOTES ABOUT THE POEM
Here, I conclude the life and story of Mahatma Gandhi.
I started writing these verses from 2nd Oct 2015. It was a long journey
of nearly two years. This was a great learning period for me.
A period of reflection and a mild attempt at self-purification!

This book titled 'Mahatma Gandhi -Simple living High thinking' is mainly based on Gandhiji's writings specially his Autobiography -‘The story of my experiments with the truth'. I have also gathered a lot of minute information on Gandhiji's life from Gandhiji's grandson-Rajmohan Gandhi's book ' A true story of man, his people and an empire'. The rest of the books referred to have been listed in the bibliography.

My main focus has been on Gandhiji as a exemplary human being with a strong will, determination and an indomitable spirit.
I am totally ignorant about politics and so have avoided the political aspect of Gandhiji's life except for certain major events in his life.

These verses are not poetical in the sense of rhyme and rhythm.
They are verses in prose format focusing on the content rather than on the
poetic embellishments.

I have penned it in simple English so that all can understand my writing.

With sincere hope and prayer that my readers will at least, get a glimpse of this great human being, who lived an exemplary life of love, truth, non-violence and sacrifice.
COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Dr Dillip K Swain 09 May 2023

Great tribute to father of my country! I quote from your poem, 'His experiments with the Truth. To describe truth In its pristine pure form was his persistent effort and objective throughout his life. ', I unquote!

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Rajnish Manga 10 August 2017

Hats of to you on completion of this series on the essence of Gandhian thought and philosophy which also touched certain important events of Gandhiji's life. I this parting piece, you have presented a very moving account of the moment when Gandhiji was assaninated. Albert Einstein was right when he said about Mahatma Gandhi '“Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth”. Truth.... In its pristine pure form was His persistent effort and objective Throughout his life. There is no other God than Truth.

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Rajnish ji, my heartfelt thanks for reading this last poem on Gandhiji's life and work. Your consistent support throughout this journey was not only encouraging but a source of great inspiration for me. I am both thankful and grateful.

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Geetha Jayakumar 08 August 2017

Mahatma - A great Soul! Gandhiji's spirit lives today Through his high ideals and human values Beautiful and historical write on Mahatma Gandhiji. Loved reading it. Though I haven't read all. But I will read them.

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Geetha, i am really happy that you read this poem. Thank you.

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Kumarmani Mahakul 02 August 2017

Gandhiji, the father of nation, had strong personality and unshakable faith on truth which is known as Ahimsa too. He had purity and pure love to God. In this regard you have painted nicely that.. .. Gandhiji had purified himself through A hazardous steep climb of A powerful and eventful life, enveloped with Innumerable experiments and experiences! ' This is indeed a beautiful historical poem. Thanks for sharing.

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Thank you Kumarmani ji for reading this last poem of the Mahatma Gandhi Series and your appraisal of other poems on Gandhiji as well. I am, indeed, grateful for your support.

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