A Kurta for Bapu

A Kurta for Bapu

Children loved visiting Gandhiji. A little boy, who was there one day, was greatly distressed to see the way Bapu was dressed. Such a great man yet he doesn’t even wear a shirt, he wondered.

Why don’t your wear a kurta, Bapu?” the little boy couldn’t help asking finally.

Where’s the money, son?” Bapu asked gently. “I am very poor. I can’t afford a kurta.

The boy’s heart was filled with pity. “My mother sews well,” he said. “She makes all my clothes. I’ll ask her to sew a kurta for you.

How many kurtas can your mother make?” Bapu asked.

How many do you need?” asked the boy. “One, two, three… she’ll make as many as you want.

Bapu thought for a moment. Then he said, “But I am not alone, son. It wouldn’t be right for me to be the only one to wear a kurta.

How many kurtas do you need?” the boy persisted. “I’ll ask my mother to make as many as you want. Just tell me how many you need.

 I have a very large family, son. I have forty crore brothers and sisters,” Bapu explained. “Till every one of them has a kurta, how can I wear one? Tell me, can your mother make kurtas for all of them?

At this question the boy became very thoughtful. Forty crore brothers and sisters! Bapu was right. Till every one of them had a kurta to wear how could he wear one himself? After all, the whole nation was Bapu’s family, and he was the head of that family. He was their friend, their companion. What use would one kurta be to him?







Ramki
02/02/2010