‘Gandhi is not dead; he is still alive in the heart of some common man’

--Simple man, different deed

BHUBANESWAR: Today’s young generation is hardly aware of the contributions of Mahatma Gandhi for the nation, particularly his pioneering leadership for attainment of the country’s independence. At many places, the statues of the father of the nation remained unattended and uncared for.

However, it is the matter of satisfaction that a youth in the city each day has vowed to visit the statue of Mahatma Gandhi. Everyday in the morning, he garlands it and offers pray there, which is really a different deed by a simple man. He is Mayadhar Mahapatra (25) from Languliabeda village under Tulasipal panchayat of Angul district and staying at Jaydev Vihar in the city.

If you visit Mahatma Gandhi Park at Jaydev Vihar, you can find a youth offering prayer and garlands the statue, while entering into the park in between 6.30 am and 7.30 am in the morning everyday. His chanting of ‘Raghupati raghaba…’ by bending knee in front of the statue will give you unique experience in the self-centric world. He never wants any return out of that work, but he gets pleasure from his work, he says.

Mayadhar, a security guard in a private security agency SIS in the city, narrating his experience said, “From his school days, he has been doing such works.” One day he was listening to the headmaster of his school on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti and also the retirement day of his teacher, where he had told him to be a good human being like Gandhi. He also told the father of the nation had given us freedom, but what the people of the country have given him, he reminded. “Those words had touched my heart and from that day a special place for Gandhi had been emerged within me. Wherever I see a Gandhi statue, a special feeling comes into my mind which always shows me a new way for helping the needy people,” he added.

An employee of MG Park Suresh Behera says, Mayadhar is a very good man coming to the park everyday and worships Gandhi, which is a unique aspect among the youth. “Where the people have no time to worship God, he is a man coming everyday to offer prayer in front of the statue, which is really an ideal work by any person,” Behera said.

Mayadhar says, “We should help others at the time of need and remember the persons who help us. We should rectify our behaviour if it hurts others without any reason. Instead of hatred, disseminate love and affection, which is an eternal aspect, among us as far as possible.”

While returning from the park, sun was rising. The rays of rising sun were falling on smiling Gandhi statue and the flowers decorated by the youth were welcoming the sun for a good start of the morning. Mayadhar left the park in time by his cycle, someone was telling behind him-“Gandhi is not dead; he is still alive within the heart of the persons like this.”