On October 2 we celebrate the birth anniversary of the Mahatma. He inspired millions during his lifetime; he continues to inspire millions around the world through his ideas, his achievements and his writings. His observations, based as they are on the inner convictions of a morally courageous man, have the ability to change lives.
He Believed in the Dignity of Labour
ONCE Lala Lajpat Rai and Mahatma Gandhi were staying at the house of an ardent nationalist, Shiv Prasad Gupta.
On their first day there, Lala Lajpat Rai put on new clothes after his bath and left the ones he had taken off, in the bathroom.
The next day he found the clothes washed and neatly folded, on his bed. He was delighted. He had been travelling a lot and he had many more soiled clothes with him. He asked his host if he could put the whole lot for washing. His host said he certainly could. So Lala Lajpat Rai got all his clothes washed.
When the time came for them to leave, the Lala said he would like to tip the servant who had washed his clothes. His host said it was not necessary but Rai insisted. Shiv Prasad went in search of the man but to his consternation found that the clothes had not been washed by any of his servants.
“It was the other man in the room with Lalaji who washed them,” a servant said, finally.
“I saw him hanging out the clothes to dry.”