Narayan Bhai Desai is not dead. He has just gone away.
Narayan Bhai Desai is not dead. He has just gone away.
Tribute to Narayan Bhai Desai.
When I started researching on Mahatma Gandhi under chief guidance of Prof Bipan Chandra, he very initially asked me to read everything Mahadev Desai had written about Gandhi. He said the untimely death of Mahadev Bhai was a great loss to Gandhi studies as he was the most competent scholar to be able to theorize Gandhi's inner mind. He also said that Gandhi's philosophical and non political writings must not be used literally as Gandhi was a highly complex political strategic person. Take the help of Mahadev bhai to be able to go deeper in all Gandhiana.
When I read Mahadev Bhai 's diaries, i became a great fan of his personality,sincerity and his unmatched devotion to Gandhi. His words helped me immensely to sense the real essence of Gandhi. He is a must for any Gandhi scholar.
Then, after few meetings, Bipan told me that Mahadev Bhai's son is still here and is a very fine human being and great Gandhian activist. He has also written about his father and on Gandhi. His works on Gandhi is in Gujrati and you should try to understand Gujrati as it is very close to Hindi. I am not a great learner of languages , so could not be able to understand Gujrati language with required command. When almoat 4 years back, the english version of Narayan Bhai's four volume biography got published, Bipan gifted it to me. I read it. This is one of the best biographies on Gandhi written with Gandhian passion and full of insights. Bipan also asked me once to see in person Narayan Bhai.
My this wish got fulfilled when few years back Narayan Bhai conducted Gandhi Katha in Delhi at Birla House. There I got a chance to meet him for few minutes. Finally I asked him, 'sir , i wish to touch you.' He wholeheartedly laughed and said 'why'. I replied, ' because Mahadev Bhai and Gandhiji touched you. So i wish to touch them too by touching you.' His eyes brightened and he embraced me . I was in tears and his face was also full of emotions. He said, it is your duty to see me more. This was the only personal meeting I had with him.
Like Gandhi, i also feel that great souls never depart. These remain for ever. Narayan Bhai Desai is not dead. He has just gone away. He is within us as a fire in our hearts to make us more competent for the cause of humanity.
Alok Bajpai
