Mani ratnam

The ratnam (gem) in Gamdevi's belly is 97-year-old Mani Bhavan. In this series, Sunday MiD DAY meets the guardians manning some of Mumbai's most endearing landmarks

The ratnam (gem) in Gamdevi's belly is 97-year-old Mani Bhavan. In this series, Sunday MiD DAY meets the guardians manning some of Mumbai's most endearing landmarks

TWO sets of Gandhiji's famous monkeys embellish Meghshyam Ajgaonkar's desk. White in colour, they are the symbolic bearers of the Mahatma's famous charge: hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil. Ajgaonkar is the executive secretary of Mani Bhavan. This is where Mahatma Gandhi stayed and worked between 1917 and 1934 whenever he visited Mumbai.

It was here that he polished and worked upon his ideals of truth and non-violence. And it was from here that he launched his satyagraha. January 30, his 61st death anniversary, kindled the usual rush of tourists to this monument. So we made a trip too.

Ajgaonkar has been working at Mani Bhavan for 35 years. During this time, (he'd started as an office assistant), Ajgaonkar has met Mani Bhavan's many distinguished visitors. From former President Abdul J Kalam, late Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Vadehra to Rahul Gandhi. "It's all a part of my job," he says, humbly.

He even saw Apache Indian (a.k.a Steven Kapur, the reggae artiste) sing a tribute of peace on the terrace.

"He came with an entourage of 25 bodyguards. He was so inspired that he came back the next day with just one bodyguard. He went to the terrace and paid tribute to the Mahatma in his own special way by singing a song for peace."

Ajgaonkar saw Munnabhai director Raju Hirani visit frequently when he was doing research for Lage Raho Munnabhai. He recounts how surprised Hirani was to see the number of youngsters who came to Mani Bhavan.

Ajgaonkar's association with the freedom struggle goes back to when he was young, when he had just finished his matriculation. It was in 1967 that he first attended a meeting at Shivaji Park. Freedom fighters and members of the Sarvodaya Movement Jayprakash Narayan and Ram Manohar Lohia appealed to crowds to help the drought-affected people in Bihar.

Ajgaonkar volunteered and became a Sarvodaya worker. The Sarvodaya Movement had its operational offices in Mani Bhavan then. In 1970, he worked to help people during the Bhiwandi Hindu-Muslim riots.

It was just a year later that he was called by Vithalbhai Zaveri, then the chief trustee of Mani Bhavan Gandhi Sangrahalaya, to work for Mani Bhavan. Alongside, he finished his graduation from Keerti College. He did this by attending evening classes and working as an office assistant at Mani Bhavan during the day. In 1992, he became executive secretary at Mani Bhavan.

Internet savvy, Ajgaonkar spends his free time browsing international newspapers and keeping abreast of news.
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Not much of a TV or movie follower, the last few films he watched are Lage Raho Munnabhai and Gandhi, My Father. The portrayal of Gandhi in both films impressed him.

Politics has taken its toll on tourist in-flow. He says, "Until 1990, before Russia's disintegration, we had five-six buses of Russian tourists visiting us daily. Today, tourists of all ages come from all around the world. They are so curious about Gandhiji and Kasturba's lifestyle that they ask questions that are difficult for us to answer.

Like, for instance, 'How many bangles did Kasturba wear on each hand?'"

Sunil Lokhande, who is seated at a reception desk near the main entrance, receives tourists. He smiles at us warmly as we leave. "Punya bhoomi mein aaye ho (You have come on holy land)".

The break up
> Mani Bhavan sees the biggest rush on October 2 and January 30, when people pay homage to the Mahatma with prayer meetings and bhajans.
> Mani Bhavan is run by a governing body consisting of several honorary members and over a dozen full-time employees. Financially it receives support from the Central and State government and independent individuals.
> Mani Bhavan is open all days of the week from 9.30 am to 6 pm.
> It has a library of more than 50,000 books. These are books read by Gandhiji, books on Gandhiji and other allied subjects.
> A picture gallery and auditorium display photos, films and recordings of Gandhiji's speeches.
> Replicas of his belongings and models of his birth place, Sabarmati Ashram, Sevagram Kutir, Phoenix Ashram and his prison cell are there.

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