GANDHIJI'S UNHEARD SPEECH

When the bell rang for lunch, Jatin saw Clara sitting by herself near the canteen.

- Kumud Kumar

She was scribbling something in her notebook.

“Hey, Clara, what are you doing sitting here all by yourself?” Jatin asked.

“Jatin, do you know that Gandhi Jayanti is on 2nd October? I’m preparing a speech on Gandhiji for that,” Clara said, acting as if she was doing something exceptional.

“Clara, you’re always preparing speeches on Gandhiji. Every year, lakhs of people give long speeches on Gandhi Jayanti—but how many of them actually adopt Gandhiji’s ideas?”

“You're right. Very few.”

“Okay Clara, tell me—have you heard Gandhi’s wonderful speech given in Benaras on 6th February 1916, which created a stir in the entire gathering?”

“No, I haven’t. What did he say in that speech?”

“Clara, what can I say about that speech? Very few people even know about that bold speech. Come, let me tell you something about it in simple language. I’ll read some parts to you.”

“Wait, wait Jatin! Tell us too! We want to listen to Gandhiji’s speech, too,” Brian called out.

Jatin saw that Fahad, Trisha, Tina, Deep and others were following Brian. They had all heard that Jatin was going to recite a famous speech of Gandhi, and wanted to hear Bapu’s words themselves.

“Yes, come! Everyone must hear that courageous speech of Gandhiji. Its importance is as relevant today as it was back then," Jatin said.

Then Tina, who was the shortest of the lot, said, "Brian, let me sit in the front! All of you stand in front of me like dinosaurs, and I can't see a thing! How will I be able to listen to Gandhi's speech attentively?"

Everyone laughed at what Tina said, and Brian, smiling, moved and let her come in the front.