Here Comes Gandhi Baba

"Bapu, where are you going so early in the morning?" Gandhi Baba's revolutionary companions in Sky Park asked. He smiled.

- Inderjeet Kaushik

"I've been missing my country. I'm going to India to see how our country after 77 years of its independence," saying this, Baba picked up his stick and walked ahead.

"Okay, you go first, then we'll all go and see our beloved country," the revolutionaries said.

In a short while, Baba reached India. At first, he couldn't believe his eyes. The rapid progress of India was visible everywhere.

Huge vehicles, skyscrapers, and large crowds stunned Baba. As he saw 'India' and 'Bharat' in shop names, and the Indian flag around every corner, he was sure he was on Indian soil.

When Gandhi Baba looked around, he saw a school named 'Mahatma Gandhi School'.

Walking forward, he noticed garbage scattered around. Nearby, a board read 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.'

"Why is there so much litter here?" he asked a man standing nearby.

"The sweeper didn't come today," the man said and walked away.

Since Gandhi Baba loved cleanliness, he picked up a broom and started cleaning. When others saw him cleaning alone, they joined in. Soon, the whole area looked neat and clean.

Baba then entered a school and went towards a classroom.

"Children, do you recognise him?" the teacher asked, pointing to a picture on the wall.

Most children remained silent.

"Sir, last year on October 2, the movie 'Gandhi' was shown on TV. Ben Kingsley looked like this," a boy at the back answered.

"No Sir, I saw him cleaning outside. He seems to be our new sweeper," another student said.