Raj Ghat to Gandhi
Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Thu 11 Apr 2019 22:17
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Raj Ghat
  We pulled up to the gates of Raj Ghat and saw information
boards each side of the sign.
To the left: Mahatma Gandhi (1869
– 1948). Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, popularly known as Mahatma (Great Soul)
Gandhi, was born at Portbander, Gujarat on the 2nd of October 1869 and martyred
in Delhi on the 30th of January 1948. After initial education he studied
bar-at-law in England. He went to South Africa in 1893 and spent more than 20
years fighting for the rights of Indians against unjust laws through
“Satyagrapha” – a methodology he successfully continued upon returning to India
in 1915, till attainment of freedom on the 15th of August 1947. He united the
people for freedom struggle and is called Father of the Nation. He lived
modestly in a self-sufficient residential community and wore the traditional
Indian dhoti and shawl, woven with khadi, a yarn hand-spun on a charkha. His
Samadhi at Raj Ghat symbolises Truth, Non-Violence, Sarvdharma, Gram Swaraj,
Trusteeship and Swadeshi, which are the building blocks of a new social order
free from all kinds of exploitation, discrimination and
domination.
To the right: Raj Gat: Gandhi
Samadhi. Raj Ghat is the name of a ghat of Old Delhi (Shahjahanabad),
on the banks of river Yamuna. It was here that Mahatma Gandhi was cremated on
the 31st of January 1948, a day after his martyrdom. A memorial was built here
to pay homage to Father of the Nation. A stone footpath from the main gate leads
to the enclosure that houses the memorial, which is a black marble platform left
open to the sky. On one side in the centre an eternal flame burns perpetually
and on the other side the last utterances of Gandhiji. “Hey Ram” meaning ‘O God
‘ is inscribed. The memorial reflects the simplicity of Father of the
Nation, Mahatma Gandhi’s life. A spinning Programme and Sarva-Dharma-Prathana is
held every Friday at the Samadhi premises.
 Looking from the
entrance gate.
 In the centre a water gulley with
fountains.
 At intervals Gandhi’s quotes in Hindi and English.
          Some of the quotes we
read.
  The
extensive lily pond to the left.
 The
groundsmen clearly on a break leaving their trusty steed in
the shade.
 At
the end of the water feature we could choose the lower path, shoes off and to pass the Raj Ghat, or the upper path
to look down and see the whole area – we chose the upper
path.
 The ghat is located in the banks of River Yamuna (which of its
own accord moved back a kilometre from the
site).
 It is
a black marble platform that is built at the spot of
the cremation of Mahatma Gandhi. There is an eternal flame beside the
platform.
  Looking beyond to the far
entrance......
 .....well kept
grounds........
 ......and flower
beds.
   At
the far side we passed planting that included a tree planted by the President
of Spain (other labelled
trees have been planted by notables like Queen Elizabeth II, USA President
Eisenhower, Ho Chi Minh and
others).
    Lovely borders as we headed to the far entrance
gate.
ALL IN ALL A FITTING MEMORIAL BEAUTIFULLY LAID OUT AND CLEARLY WELL RESPECTED |