Date: 3rd October,
2026
Venue: ‘Who Are
We’ Hall, 1st floor, Discovery of India Building, Nehru Centre
Time: 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Nehru Centre
Library conducted a special poetry evening event “Walking With The Mahatma,” on
3rd October 2026, at the Who Are We Hall, Nehru Centre. The event, held from
4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., brought together poets known for writing poetry in
several Indian languages to reflect upon the life, ideas and enduring influence
of Mahatma Gandhi.
Curated by Dr. Paramita Mukherjee Mullick,
the programme was arranged and conducted by Aarti Desai, Librarian &
Documentation Officer, Nehru Centre Library. The central idea of the evening
was to present poems on Mahatma Gandhi in different languages. Gandhi's
influence has crossed linguistic, geographical and social boundaries.
Therefore, the multilingual format of the event provided an opportunity to
explore how different communities and generations have understood and
remembered him.
The event commenced with a dhun of the
much-loved bhajan “Vaishnav Jan To Tene Kahiye,” setting a contemplative tone
for the evening.
Poetry in Many Voices
1) Ms. Dipika Jha
- Maithili
The first poem was presented by Ms. Dipika
Jha, who had written her poem Maithili. Her presentation brought the audience
into the multilingual spirit of the programme and reflected the reach of
Gandhi's ideas across India's diverse linguistic traditions.
It was noted during the programme that
Mahatma Gandhi knew several languages and was known for expressing his thoughts
in simple and concise language. His emphasis on communicating with people in
accessible ways was an important part of his connection with ordinary citizens.
2) Dr.
Harshad Solanki - Gujarati
Dr. Harshad Solanki presented his 1968
Gujarati poem “Gandhini Shodh Ma”, written during his years at New Era School.
The poem carried with it not only a
literary reflection on Gandhi but also a personal connection to a particular
time and place. The poem had remained forgotten for many years. Aarti Desai,
the Librarian of Nehru Centre Library, was instrumental in rediscovering this
long-lost poem with the help of Aban Lalkaka, a former classmate.
The rediscovery of the poem was
particularly meaningful in the context of Nehru Centre Library, which is housed
next to the Discovery of India Exhibition. The library and its surrounding
spaces continue to preserve and connect readers with India's intellectual,
literary and historical heritage.
3) Ms. Krishna
Singhdeo - Hindi
Ms. Krishna
Singhdeo presented a Hindi poem titled “क्या अभी भी जीवित है गांधी?” (“Is Gandhi Still
Alive?”).
The title itself posed a
thought-provoking question: beyond the historical figure and the dates
associated with his life, does Gandhi continue to live through the values,
questions and ideals that remain relevant to society?
4) Mr. Prasad
Salvi - Marathi
Mr. Prasad Salvi presented a Marathi poem
that explored the spiritual dimension of Mahatma Gandhi.
Gandhi's life was deeply intertwined with
questions of truth, non-violence, morality and spirituality. The Marathi
presentation brought these aspects of his personality to the forefront and
offered the audience an opportunity to reflect on Gandhi not merely as a
political leader but also as a thinker.
5) Mr. Bijoy
Idicheriah - Malayalam
Mr. Bijoy Idicheriah presented his poem in
Malayalam. Following the presentation, he translated the poem (titled "Fast" meant to denote Gandhiji's fast pace and the fasts/hunger strikes done by him during the course freedom struggle) into English,
enabling the audience to appreciate both the original linguistic expression and
its meaning.
The presentation demonstrated how poetry
can create a bridge between languages and allow an audience to encounter a
familiar historical figure through a different linguistic and cultural
perspective. The poem had received much accaim on his social media handles, highlighting how a poem about Mahatma Gandhi resonates with audiences even to this day.
6) Ms.
Priyadarshini Mishra - Odia
Priyadarshini Mishra presented her poem
“Sabarmatira Sant” in Odia and spoke about the significance of Gandhiji's three
monkeys. She recited the poem in Odia and also translated a few verses in
English to provide a taste of the poem to non-Odia speaking audiences.
The familiar image of the three monkeys
has become closely associated with Gandhi's message of “see no evil, hear no
evil and speak no evil.” Through the poem, this well-known symbol was brought
into the context of Gandhi's wider philosophy and values.
7) Ms. Joba Murmu
- Santhali
Joba Murmu, from Jharkhand, presented in
Santhali, the language of the tribal community
Her poem highlighted the continuing
relevance of Gandhian thought among tribal communities. It offered a
perspective on Gandhi's legacy from a cultural and linguistic tradition that is
often underrepresented in mainstream literary and historical discussions.
The inclusion of Santhali added an
important dimension to the evening, reinforcing the idea that Gandhi's legacy
has been interpreted and preserved across India's many communities.
8) Dr. Paramita
Mukherjee Mullick - English
Dr. Paramita Mukherjee Mullick, curator
of the poetry evening, presented a poem in English.
Her poem drew attention to Gandhi's deep
connection with Bombay (now Mumbai). Bombay played an important role in India's
freedom movement. The Non-Cooperation Movement gained significant momentum in
the city and the Quit India Movement was launched at Gowalia Tank Maidan in
Mumbai on 9 August 1942.
The poem brought the discussion
back to the city in which the poetry evening was being held, creating a
meaningful connection between Gandhi's history and Mumbai's own place in the
freedom movement.
Her poem drew attention to Gandhi's deep
connection with Bombay (now Mumbai). Bombay played an important role in India's
freedom movement. The Non-Cooperation Movement gained significant momentum in
the city and the Quit India Movement was launched at Gowalia Tank Maidan in
Mumbai on 9 August 1942.
The poem brought the discussion
back to the city in which the poetry evening was being held, creating a
meaningful connection between Gandhi's history and Mumbai's own place in the
freedom movement.
Eight Poets, Eight
Languages, One Unanswered Question
The evening brought together eight poets
and eight languages, each approaching Gandhi from a different literary,
cultural or philosophical perspective.
Yet, as reflected in the concluding
thought of the programme, even eight different voices could not provide a
single, definitive answer to the question: Who was Gandhi?
Like the eight forms of Ashta Lakshmi,
the eight poetic voices revealed different facets without attempting to reduce
Gandhi to one definition. Each language opened another window into his life and
legacy, demonstrating how a historical figure can acquire different meanings
across generations, communities and cultures.
Perhaps that was the most significant
message of “Walking With The Mahatma”: Gandhi cannot be understood through a
single voice alone. His legacy continues to invite questions, thoughts,
interpretations and conversations.
A Meaningful
Evening of Literature and Reflection
The event concluded with a vote of thanks
by the Librarian, Aarti Desai, who expressed appreciation to the curator,
participating poets, and the audience for making the evening meaningful. The audience responded warmly to the
multilingual presentation. The diversity of languages and perspectives made the
programme particularly engaging. It allowed members of the audience to
encounter Gandhi through poetry, memory and personal interpretation.
“Walking with the Mahatma” was more than
a poetry reading. It was an exploration of language, literature, history and
memory. The event demonstrated the ability of poetry to bring different
cultural voices into conversation.
For the Nehru Centre Library, the event
also reflected the library's role as a space not only for accessing books and
information, but also for encouraging literary appreciation and facilitating a
glimpse with India's rich linguistic heritage.
The evening left the audience with a
question rather than a simple answer - Who was Gandhi, and what does he mean to
us today?
Perhaps, as the poets demonstrated, every
person has a different answer, and the journey of understanding the Mahatma
continues.
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