Ghandi and Lincoln

How very appropriate the Ghandi ashram bookstore would have a tome paying tribute to what many consider the greatest American president to live, and a reasonable analogue to the peaceful teachings of Ghandi during revolutionary times. There was this weird vibe at the ashram regarding Ghandi's visage. He was everywhere of course, in stone, bronze, marble, and canvas. It was as if he were the Virgin Mary, without all the prostrations. People clamored to have their photo taken next to the various busts and paintings of Ghandi. A guide working there repeatedly approached us beckoning for Ambi and I to have our picture taken in front of these objects. We politely refused again and again. Forget the whole "stalking the foreigner" thing, it was just a bit unnerving.

Somehow, I'm not sure Ghandi would approve of the near deification he now recieves. Everything I've ever read or seen shows him to have been a very honest and humble man. The amount of material at the ashram is mind numbing. Everything from letters he sent to the British goverment, to a notice in a UK daily regarding his jurist degree completion, to pictures from all points of Ghandi's life. It was a bit haphazardly arranged, which seems to be the norm here. To Amber, the ashram reminded her of the Lincoln museum in Springfield, Illinois. It's the city most identified with Honest Abe as Ahmedebad is as the birthplace of Ghandi. A bigger city could probably provide a better exhibition, but being so intertwined historically, it's hard to argue against them as hosts. We did enjoy our time spent there and recommend it to anyone traveling to India.