Without ever meeting and seeing how can someone inspire you so much?
I don’t just revere Gandhiji but always receive great inspiration from him.

Yesterday was Gandhi Jayanti and I was trying to remember when did I first become aware of Gandhiji’s existence. I was surprised to remember that my relationship with Bapu started at the age of 5 when I stepped in to my school Balmohan Vidyamandir. And since that day in my heart,Bal Gangadhar Tilak & Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi  always lived and grew. Their half statues stood right there in the front lobby of our school entrance. And every day they witnessed us play, learn and grow with their loving, silent eyes.

Our school was established by Shikshanmaharshi Dadasaheb Rege who himself studied only upto 7th grade but had a vision of creating human beings like Mohandas Gandhi & Bal Gangadhar Tilak by giving right values through education. In fact the name of the school was kept “Balmohan Vidyamandir” by taking Bal for Tilakji’s name and Mohan from Gandhiji’s name. Dada used to tell us how he sees Gandhiji and Tilakji in us; how he wants us to be truthful and fearless in accepting and owning up responsibility & consequences of our actions just like Bapu did. I must have heard some of Gandhiji’s stories so many times that they are ingrained on my mind.
For 12 school years of my life; every day I saw Gandhiji’s statue and read & heard his stories and listened to Dada’s words about how I must become like him. And though I left the school after graduating my association with Gandhiji continued. Somewhere deep down in my heart I carried Dada’s vision with me.
Today while talking to my little babies at “Matru Mandir” I remember my own power over their tender minds. And I feel very happy that I was nurtured by a great soul like Dada who installed Gandhiji in my heart at such a tender age.
Now I know Gandhiji will walk along with my little ones and guide them just like he guided me.
My journey with Bapu still continues.