At
the age of thirty one, an age that was really too young for retirement, Ramjibhai
decided to stop working and came to Amreli with the intention of settling down to
a simple, traditional householder’s life. However, at that time Amreli and its
surrounding villages were in the grip of an epidemic of influenza. Many people
were dying of the disease. Death had taken such a heavy toll of people from the
area that the cremation ground was overflowing with bodies, leading to severe problems
in performing the last rites and cremating the bodies. Ramjibhai, with his compassionate
nature, could not stand to see this state of affairs. There was no end to his sorrow.
He could not bear to see people dropping like flies before his very eyes. To
simply be a silent witness to this situation, without doing anything was
totally against his nature.
Ramjibhai
said to his neighbour and friend, Tribhovandas Motichand Shah, “It is not right that we should just bear
mute witness to the fact that influenza is causing the death of so many of our
people. It is a blot on our humanity. We should do something about it.”
At
that time, two Ayurvedic doctors, Nrusinhprasad and Krishnaprasad, were famous throughout
the area, so Ramjibhai met with them to discuss the problem. As per their
advice, large quantities of medicines were prepared and arrangements were made
to send this to the houses of the sick persons. The two doctors made up large
quantities of potions containing special herbs like Kadu, Kariyatu, Garmalo, Ardusi, pepper, etc. Their families also supported and helped them
in this humane work. They would wash the bottles and caps and fill them up with
the medicine, so that it could be delivered to people who needed it. Amreli
Sevak Mandal also joined in, in this activity, with its students taking up the
responsibility of delivering the medicine to far flung villages.
Every
morning, Ramjibhai along with Dr. Tapidas, would set out in a horse drawn
carriage to deliver the medicine to nearby villages. Often he would spend the
whole day, without food or drink, in disease afflicted areas. After returning
he would have his dinner and then would plan his work for the following day
until late in the night. If the sick persons required milk he would see that it
was supplied to them. He used to give both the milk and medicine to the
patients free of cost.
Initially,
this kind of social service was difficult for Ramjibhai, but as time passed he
not only found it easier but actually started to find it interesting and began
to like the work. He put his heart into serving humanity and did so to the best
of his physical and financial capabilities, which gave him great joy and
extreme satisfaction, especially, the fact that he could physically help people
who needed his services.
Ramjibhai’s
humanitarian work left a deep impression on peoples’ minds. Ramjibhai helped
innumerable people in Amreli and its surrounding villages, in many ways. He
would give ploughs to farmers. If students needed fees or books, they could be
assured that they would get them from Ramjibhai. Ramjibhai would try his level
best to help any teacher or employee who was looking for a promotion, and was facing
a problem regarding this. He was always ready to help anybody to solve any kind
of problem. Ramjibhai never wanted any recognition for the work he did. He
himself never publicised his work and frowned upon others doing so. But the
impact of his silent service was so powerful that within no time Ramjibhai enthroned
himself in peoples’ hearts. Not only did all the villagers appreciate the
services rendered by Ramjibhai with all their hearts, but Sevak Mandal (a charitable organisation), organised a special
function and presented him with a gold coin for the work he was doing. At this
function, Ramjibhai announced a donation of Rs. 10,000 for poor students. In
addition he offered interest free financial aid to poor teachers for their
routine household needs. In those days, hardly anybody offered this kind of
help and seeing this Ramjibhai was the first to take a step in this direction.
At this function, the people of Amreli got a glimpse of the great love
Ramjibhai had for education. After this Ramjibhai donated generously to the Amreli
Kamani Forward High School, and set up a science college, giving a concrete form to his belief in education.
In
the book, “Vastrasvalumbanni Dishama
Majal Paheli,” (roughly translated as, “The First Step Towards Independence
in the Garment Industry,”) which he published in 1933, along with the lawyer,
Harilal Govindji, who was the then head of the committee for the redevelopment
of Kathiyavad villages, Ramjibhai wrote, “When
I retired and came back to the village I had no thoughts of going in for any
form of social service to the people or the nation. I just had the desire to
live the simple but cultured life of an ordinary householder. A cultured life
should reflect the acceptance of good qualities from the dominant strengths of
the age in one’s daily activities. However, during the years from 1920 – 1922,
a great movement of soul searching and nationalism arose. The atmosphere was so
charged that it could affect even the greatest of sages. In such a case how was
it possible for me, a simple, straightforward householder, to remain unaffected?”
For
many years he had had a great desire for products, especially khadi, from his homeland. These ideas took
root because of a particular incident.
One
day a person from Kathiyawad arrived in Calcutta. He wore a white cap on his
head and a short dhoti. His upper
body was mostly unclothed except for a long scarf thrown over his shoulder. He
was a thin person. When this person came to the door of the factory where
Ramjibhai manufactured aluminium vessels, there was great excitement amongst
the workers. A large, embroidered
mattress was spread out for him, and soft pillows were arranged on it. The
workers bustled about making preparations to welcome him. They requested him to
sit on the mattress, but would he sit on it? He stood there looking around him
and then spreading his shawl on the floor sat on it, saying, “I do not use any material except khadi.” This extraordinary person was none
other than Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. Witnessing this incident, a wave of
nationalism washed over Ramjibhai and he immediately sent a message to Jivanlal
saying, “We should start the production
of indigenous goods in Amreli. Some people are making home spun cotton, but
these activities should be channelized and carried out under proper guidance.
The time is right for this and we can take care of anything else that is needed.”
Jivanlal
liked Ramjibhai’s idea. He informed Gandhiji of his enthusiasm to start the
production of khadi in Amreli. He came to Amreli, along with Thakker Bapa and Shastriji,
who was the President of the “Servant’s of India Society.” They discussed the production of khadi and put
it into practice. Thakkar Bapa stayed in Amreli for eight months for this
reason. When he left, the hum of the spinning wheel could be heard in homes
throughout Amreli and the surrounding villages. The venture picked up so fast
that even a daily supply of 100 maunds
(1 maund is approximately 15 kgs.) of
cotton was not enough to supply the sixty or seventy khadi production centres.
Amreli became a main centre for the production of khadi. They then started to
estimate how this activity, began by Amreli Sevak Mandal, could be extended to
the whole of Kathiyawad, how helpful it would be to the villagers, how much
income it would generate for them and how much the villagers needed this
income. They also estimated the cost of such a venture. After gathering this
information Ramjibhai wrote to Jivanlal conveying all the facts. He added the
four lines, given below, as some information:
“It was due to the presence of Thakker Bapa,
that the production of khadi picked up so fast. During this time he experienced
Kathiyavad’s warm hospitality. Thakkar Bapa eats only jowar rotis with a little
ghee, but he realised that, “ Kathiyawadis always have more than enough food
for their guests, they feed them heartily, but the guests are able to digest it
all.””
Since
Amreli was the first place to start this kind of work, Jamnalal Bajaj and
people from other states, who were interested in the production of khadi, came
there. Every week a meeting was held in the office, during which any questions that
arose were discussed and solutions were found. Damodar Seth, who was considered
a parsimonious spender, invested Rs. 10,000, in the production of khadi in
Damnagar which was a great incentive to the industry there. The production of
khadi took root in Amreli and new centres flourished like branches and leaves
on a tree. But fine, flawless khadi that was pleasing to the eye could not be
produced. The result was that not much khadi was being bought and within a year
or so large stocks of khadi piled up, leading to the workers getting less work.
However
by a stroke of good luck, Shri Vithaldas Jerojani, who was a complete believer
in khadhi, came to Amreli. He clearly saw the state of the khadi industry and
found a practical solution to the problem. Shortly, a convention of the
Congress party was to be held in Amdavad (Ahmedawad) and he used the khadi,
which had piled up in Amreli, to make the canopy under which the delegates were
to sit. The immediate problem was solved. But seeing the life going out of the
khadi industry, Ramjibhai’s heart was filled with sorrow. He immediately wrote
to Jivanlal about the whole situation. On the basis of this letter, Jivanlal
gave Rs.1.5 lakhs to help the khadhi industry. Further, Manuben Gandhi’s
father, Shri Jaysukhlal Gandhi, came and stayed in Amreli. Gandhiji’s son,
Ramdas, also came there and so did Harakhchand, Jivanlalbhai’s brother.
Exactly
at this time, Gandhiji had set out on a tour of Saurashtra. After visiting
various places, he came to Amreli and stayed at Ramjibhai’s house. He studied
the khadi production in Amreli minutely, and was satisfied with the work that
was being carried out. Gandhiji also grew to respect and love Ramjibhai. A
khadi centre was being set up in Mumbai and he included Ramjibhai’s name for
this centre. In addition he praised Ramjibhai’s work in the production of
khadhi in the magazine “Navjeevan.”
Gandhiji
shifted his residence and entourage from Ramjibhai’s house to Gopaldas’s
village, Dhasa. From there he went to Chalana. Ramjibhai accompanied Gandhiji on these
travels. The Congress party’s convention was held in Ahemdavad, which Ramjibhai
also attended. Ramjibhai was now known as a staunch supporter of khadhi.
Gandhiji said to him, “A lot of good has
come from the fact that you have given the production of khadi the status of a
business. Seeing this has made me very happy. Khadi should be worn as a moral
duty, if you do this it will give me great pleasure.” That one sentence was
all it needed, and from that day onwards Ramjibhai wore only khadi for the rest
of his life. He encouraged the production of khadi in all of Amreli’s centres
that were involved in indigenous activities. Ramjibhai studied the financial
implications of khadhi in detail, and the more he studied the greater was his conviction
in the use of khadi. Slowly other indigenous products were produced along with khadi.
From these activities, the “Amreli
Svadeshi Vastu Bhandar,” was established, where people could buy everything
they needed from slates and slate pens at reasonable prices.
In
1922, a convention of the Congress party was organised in Kokonada. Both
Ramjibhi and Jivanlal attended this convention. There Ramjibhai put forward a
proposal to Jivanlal: “Now the production
of khadi and other indigenous products is my main or rather my only activity.
So it is only right that you discontinue my partnership in the aluminium
factory.” Perceiving the resolve in Ramjibhai’s voice, Jivalanlabhai,
albeit reluctantly, had to accede to Ramjibhai’s wishes and after some time he
settled the account.
These
activities involving khadi and other locally produced items continued
uninterrupted until 1925. In 1924 Gandhiji fell sick. At the same time new
changes were sweeping across the country, and due to this the production of
khadi slowed down. In 1925 Ramjibhai was afflicted by an illness. Up until then
he retained a passionate and intense interest in khadi. But after this his direct
involvement with the khadi industry came to a halt for some time.
No comments:
Post a Comment