Kodaikanal Gandhi Prize 2022, Honourable Mention - Adrija

The Kodaikanal Gandhi Prize 2022

Honourable Mention

ADRIJA 

‘A sunny July day, ice-cream and hanging out with best friends, can’t think of anything better than this.’ Arhaan said while he chomped his ice-cream.

‘Well, there are lots of things better than this’ replied Mia with her arms crossed.

‘Like?’ asked Arhaan.

‘Like travelling or playing video games. I’d rather sit at home, grab a packet of chips and watch a movie. Now see I’m getting tanned in this July heat.’ said Mia with a repulsive look on her face and showing her tanned foot.

Arhaan shrugged his shoulders and turned to look at Sayad. ‘Why do you always have your face buried in a book, It’s annoying. It’s like I’m talking to myself.’ Said Arhaan with irritation.

‘Well, you have Mia to talk to. I’m busy reading this book. It’s called “The Story of My Experiments with Truth” by Gandhiji.’ Replied Sayad calmly.

‘Gandhiji, you mean Mahatma Gandhi. The father of our nation. Erm.. Teacher told us a couple things about him a few days ago. He did numerous things for the freedom of our country, right?’ said Mia with excitement.

‘Yes, but he sure believed in non-violence and honesty. Should you need more info ask me.’ Said Sayad and buried his face back into his book.

Arhaan seemed a little disinterested in this topic but he wondered that at least talking about something was better that nothing at all so he said ‘You know, Gandhiji started his Satyagraha back in South Africa and came to India on 9 th January, 1915 and later that day declared as NRI day.’ Mia listened to him keenly.

‘It’s not very common that I see you telling us such things.’ Sayad told Arhaan while raising his eyebrows.

‘Do not underestimate the power of a common 13-year-old boy. Haha… actually it’s not like that my elder brother Armaan told me this the other day.’ Boasted Arhaan.

‘Hey, tell me more about him. Would ya?’ said Mia with a wide grin.

‘Someone is interested. Huh? you know when Gandhiji arrived in India. He was extremely upset after seeing that his fellow Indians were exploited and treated badly by the Britishers. So, he decided to spread his idea of Satyagraha here in India also. He first visited Champaran in 1917 and started his Satyagraha movement.’

‘Wonder what happened in Champaran back then. Eh?’ said Mia.

‘You don’t even know that. Huh? Let me tell. Back in that time the britishers forced the Indian peasants to grow Indigo crops and not any other crops. Also, they didn’t pay enough for what they produced.’ said Arhaan proudly.

‘Terrible’ commented Mia.

‘He believed in uniting the people of the country. He wanted abolition of untouchabilty and wished hindus and muslims to live together in harmony’ added Sayad.

‘He was successful, wasn’t he?’ asked Mia eagerly.

‘What makes you think that?’ asked Sayad.

‘Well, you are a Muslim. I’m a Christian and Arhaan here is a Hindu and we are best friends so that settles that.’ Said Mia.

‘Guys, I need to throw my ice cream stick. Wait for me.’ Arhaan said while tossing the stick on the roadside.

‘Shouldn’t you be throwing it in the dustbin. Gandhi ji believed in a clean and green India’ said Mia.

Arhaan shrugged his shoulders, picked the stick up and shoved it in his pocket.

‘Back then communalism and casteism was a major issue and they seem to exist even now. Wonder what Gandhi ji would do if he were alive now’ expressed Arhaan. He got a bit interested after he seemed to have a bit of knowledge about this topic all thanks to his big brother.

‘When did he die again?’ asked Mia.

‘Gandhi ji was born back on 2 nd Oct 1869 and died on 30 th January 1948. Good thing he got to see was the free India. By the way Arhaan I was wondering the same. Now, you see Casteism is a major problem. One of the reasons for it is Majoritarianism. In other words, the minorities feel alienated and demand for a separate country. Disunity again which Gandhiji despised.’ said Sayad.

‘He must have suffered a lot throughout his life trying to make the country united, don’t you think?’said Mia.

‘Yes. Did you know that Gandhiji only ate fruits and nuts on daily basis. He rarely ate anything else.’ Said Sayad.

‘Interesting. Even sissy who is on a diet wouldn’t do it.’ Said Mia.

‘You know the caste system was originally created in the division of labour in ancient times. Later, people got classified at birth and that’s where the inhuman practice of untouchabilty began. It was then believed that hardest physical labour work should be done by the low-class people or Dalits.

Despite the fact that stuff like liberalisation is taking place, casteism still seems to exist. Government has banned untouchabilty but somewhere it still exists like yesterday I saw my neighbour refusing the garbage collector a glass of water because he was doing the so called “Low-classed work”. I can’t express how much I hate this. I was almost going to argue with that lady over this but Waleed my big bro stopped me from doing so because he didn’t want them to think any bad of us. That lady and their family already has trust issues with us because we are muslims and they are the so called ‘High- classed hindus’ better known as Brahmans.’ Complained Sayad.

‘Calm down Sayad. It’s alright. Here, let’s go to Mia’s house, Aunty will serve us watermelon.’ Said Arhaan.

Mia’s house was decorated with flowers, a lot of flowers. There were flowers all over. It wasn’t the first time they visited her house. So they were not surprised at the sight of so many flowers. Though the first time they visited they were stunned and Arhaan addressed Mia as the ‘weird flower girl’ for having so many flowers at home but Mia told that her mother was obsessed with flowers and that her late Grandmother or her mother’s mother wanted flowers all over the house. There were also many photos of Lord Jesus Christ as they were Christians and they also had a big cross sign at the entrance. As expected Mia’s mother served the three of them with watermelon.

‘Communalism and casteism can also take aggressive forms leading to riots or even a civil war whichhappened in Sri Lanka due to majoritarianism. If Gandhiji were here chances of communal riots would reduce because people worship Gandhiji and he believed in Non-violence and honesty. This could’ve bought a big change in this unfair society. Even now people could be influenced to do the right thing if they are taught about the believes of Mahatma Gandhi. But lo! None of this is real although society is slowly changing and I wish in a few decades time we shall have a judgemental free society.’ Explained Sayad.

‘You are way too mature for a 14-year-old’ Arhaan said ‘Do you wanna become a politician some day?’

‘No, I haven’t thought of anything yet.’ Replied Sayad.

‘Me neither’ said Arhaan and Mia together. Then they both turned to look at each other and the three of them had a good laugh.

‘I wonder what Gandhiji wanted to become when he was young.’ said Mia.

‘You are so inquisitive today, Mia. He must have wanted to become a freedom fighter or something

like that, I guess.’ said Arhaan.

‘Can’t help it’ replied Mia.

‘Personally, I feel that Satyagraha was a very useful strategy. Gandhiji believed that with violence we can’t hope to achieve freedom. Honesty was the right path and persuading the britishers to see the truth was the correct way. This thing also implies in the present scenario. If people could just see the harsh reality. If they could just realise how terrible communalism and casteism is, It could’ve brought a big change in the mentality of the society and hopefully lead to a better society. Advancement is one thing everyone seeks for but I don’t think advancement could ever come to a judgemental society. People would spend a lot of their time and energy badmouthing others. A conservative society is fatal and certainly need to come to an end. People are so oblivious of the fact that Dr. BR Ambedkar and many other such leaders tried so hard for a society where caste systems don’t exist. I wish people change, I wish the society changes.’ Explained Sayad.

‘Holy cricket. Who’d say you are a 14-year-old kid. This is way too serious. What do you say Mia?’ said Arhaan.

‘Where did you learn all of this. Never realised you were so witty. huh.’ Said Mia.

‘Guess reading books helped me somehow. You should red some too. Like “project 1065” is

wonderful. It’s all about a boy named Michael who joined the Hitler youth as a spy. It’s a

masterpiece. I loved it. You should try reading this book too, it teaches you a lot of things.’ said

Sayad while showing his ‘The Story of My Experiments with Truth’ book.

‘Guys, I’m late. Guess I should go now or mommy will be pissed off really bad. Bye’ said Arhaan and stood up to leave.

‘Yes, we should be leaving now. Bye Mia and thanks for the delicious watermelon.’ Said Sayad.

‘Ok guys then let’s call it a day. I learned a lot of things today. Thanks Sayad. I’ll jot them down in my journal as soon as possible. Bye.’ Said Mia.

‘Don’t forget to bring me a packet of chips tomorrow, Mia or I’ll be mad at you. Gotcha?’ said

Arhaan and the three of them had a good laugh and later told all of this to their parents.

ADRIJA

DPS, HISAR