reason than to keep everyone walking together. We passed the exhibits – various
pictures, paintings, letters and articles of Gandhi.
‘And when Mr. Gandhi left in 1930 for the Dandi March, he vowed never to
return to the ashram until India won its independence,’ the guide said in a
practiced voice. ‘And he didn’t after that day.’
‘Did he come back after India became free?’ Ananya’s mother wanted to know.
‘Alas,’ the guide sighed, ‘he couldn’t. He was shot dead within six months of
independence.’
My mother, not to be left behind in asking of questions, turned to the guide.
‘Why is it called Dandi March? Because he carried a stick?’
The guide laughed. Like all his mannerisms, his laugh was dramatic, too. ‘How
little we know about the greatest man in India. No madam, Dandi is the name of a
place, five hundred kilometers away from here.’
The guide took us to an exhibit of the map and pointed to the coastal town.
Ananya’s mother turned to her father and spoke in Tamil. ‘Something
something illa knowledge Punjabi people something.’
‘Seri, seri,’ Ananya’s father said in a cursory manner, engrossed in the map.
Ananya’s mother continued. ‘Intellectually, culturally zero. Something something
crass uneducated something.’
I don’t know if Ananya’s mother realised her use of the few English words, or
maybe she planted them intentionally. She had made her comeback. My mother
heard her and looked at me. The guide looked worried as his tip was in danger.
‘So, you see, Gandhiji strongly believed that all Indians are one. Anyway, let us
now see Gandhiji’s personal belongings. This way, please.’ The guide said,
breaking the Antarctic glances between the two mothers.
We sat down for lunch under a tree in the ashram complex, looking like we
were on death row. Everyone ate in silence as Ananya dropped the news. ‘We like
each other.’
Everyone looked at each other in confusion. Most people did not like each
other in this group.
‘Krish and I, we like each other,’ Ananya smiled.
‘I told you. I smelled something fishy......’ My mother tore her chapatti.
nora
(Nora)
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