Gandhi has turned me into a wimp!!!

This isnt one of the most impressive cities ive visited over the last few weeks, although it does seem that as I move further North, the cleaner the cities tend to be. (Is this because all the rivers run Southwards??? )
A modern day metropolis in the state of Gujarat, Ahmedabad just gets on with its day to day routine like every other city in this part of the world. There isn’t a great deal to see or do here and while im always waxing lyrical about saving money and having budget days, I found this city to be ….. well….. rather boring!
That was of course until I found the Mahatma Gandhi ashram and museum!
Located approximately 5km to the west of the centre is Sabarmati Ashram. This was the home and headquarters of MG for 15 years between 1915-30 and it was from here that Gandhi plotted and planned for Independence from the British Empire and ultimately began his famous “Salt March” in protest of the Salt Taxes implemented by the ruling British Government of the time.
The Ashram is very small in size and simple in both design and construction. The rules were also very strict and anyone who came to stay here had to abide by them or leave.
Obvious rules such as Non Violence, Physical Labour and Non Theft were also accompanied by other rules that were slightly more obscure or mundane.
Gandhi implemented rules that took away all forms of pleasure such as Chastity and what was termed “Control of the Palette” or in other words, the non-enjoyment of food. In Gandhi’s own words “ Food is to be consumed like medicine, eating only sufficient amounts to sustain the body and keep it fit”. All forms of spices and condiments were banned as was meat, alcohol and tobacco. I cant imagine this one was particularly easy to follow considering that India is well renowned for it spicy food and condiments!
He also believed that it was un-necessary to have any material possessions beyond what was required to go about his daily routine and that striving to obtain more than what was absolutely necessary was in itself theft.
The main mantra of Gandhi’s life was love and respect for others and the world around him. The museum captures this mantra well and you are given a comprehensive tour through Gandhi’s life starting from his youth and his studies in England, through to his untimely demise by assassination in 1948.
What grabs you most of all is the love that Gandhi had for everyone and everything around him. I had to laugh when I read about Gandhi being remonstrated by his wife Ba on several occasions, yet it seems that Gandhi and Ba had a wonderful fulfilling relationship, Gandhi even admitting on several occasions that he had much to learn from his wife and that he could never win an argument with her!
Walking through the final part of the museum, you find yourself curiously touched by his death, especially when you wonder how a person like this could meet such a sad and terrible end.
Even Gandhi himself, said somewhat ironically, that if someone chose to shoot him, he hoped that he would have time to call out to God and that he would not feel any hatred or ill feeling towards the person who had done this to him ……. I think even today, we still have a lot to learn from this selfless and committed individual.

The problem is that this museum and Ol’ MG himself has quite a profound affect on you and you feel yourself drawn to all the poor, unfortunate creatures that roam this vast land.
Instead of wanting to buy a spiked, iron mace and club everybody over the head who comes begging, you actually find yourself overwhelmed by these strange sensations ….. I think you call them pity, sadness and the overwhelming desire to be charitable, all I can say is that I hope to God that it wears off soon as I have a reputation to uphold.
Nevertheless, the begging in these parts seems to be more indirect and has made way for the “coin collectors” and the unrelenting sob stories.
I can tell you one thing! Anyone who wants to be an aspiring sales rep need not bother with expensive sales courses and training colleges. Just spend a month in India and after that you will be able to sell a complete collection of South American Tarantulas to an Arachnophobe!
Im becoming a bit of an expert myself and ive even considered writing the mother of all sales training manuals …… but then again, im not as much of an expert as one young lad of around 13 who I met yesterday. If I owned a huge sales emporium I would hire him instantly…. Here is how the conversation went …… I’ll call him SG for short (Sales Guru)……..

SG: Hello
NC: Err….Hello….
SG: Where are you from?
NC: Uzbekistan
SG: Where?
NC: You know, in China
SG: Ohh I like China
NC: Really? Never been there myself
SG: You are very funny (That caught me off guard straight away)
NC: Well im not American, so yes I suppose I have the ability to be funny!
SG: Are you Australian
NC: Ok, now look there is no need for insults…. im English
SG: Ahh I like England
NC: Ohh really, I don’t.
SG: You have English coin, I collect coin.
NC: Do you, good for you, No, I changed them all at the airport.
SG: Ohh you have pound, it is my friends birthday tomorrow and I want to give him.
NC: Give him a pound?
SG: Yes, he collects too
NC: No, sorry, no pound.
SG: Please give pound, he needs to go to UK for operation and needs pound
NC: I don’t have any pounds
SG: Ok then …. 10 rupees….

And do you know what, I gave it to him, not because I felt sorry for him, but because I was just so impressed with his negotiating skills, this little guy is a genius!
Ohh…and just to let you know, it wont be happening again………..

Maybe the fact of simply moving northwards into what is effectively more Muslim dominated neighbourhoods curtails the begging somewhat as Islam is well known for its charity to the poor. Ahmedabad is Mosque City, having many old and somewhat unique Mosques within its boundries. This city lies within an earthquake zone and many Mosques have been designed with “Shaking Minarets” that should in effect withstand earth tremors and shakes.
While this hasn’t been entirely successful, many minarets still stand today and are a testament to their designers, in having withstood 3 major quakes over the last 500 years. The biggest and most important Mosque is the Jama Masjid that has unfortunately lost its minarets due to quake damage. Visitors are welcome as long as you cover up and of course remove your footwear.
Right, well ive got to get to work on volume 1 of my sales manual, no point me hanging around here, i,ll catch you all later.

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