Mohandas Karam Chand Gandhi, one of the noblest man on earth, was taken away from us by the violent act of a person, who by that insane act destroyed the greatest man India has ever produced. I say greatest and the reason will appear from what is inked here-in-below.

Man is composed of many virtues. Gandhiji is no exception. To write of such a genius is an uphill task. One can write a great deal about his valuable contribution to make India free. But I am trying to touch a different aspect of this 'Great Soul'. He is a World Citizenry and occupies a unique place. He is not having a peer. He walks in a circle where none durst walk because he is not of an age but for all time to come. In fact I feel diffident rather shy to pen on Gandhiji but my desire to work on the subject forced me to fulfil my passion. I have chosen the subject for that is the greatest claim to fame.

It is not because India won her freedom struggle under his leadership, it is not because he was in the forefront of the struggle for attainment of independence not only in India but also in other country like South Africa, it is because of his real love for his brethren which entitled him to be called as Mahatma.

It is said that when Gandhiji was a school going student he opposed his mother who was orthodox and had instructed him not to touch his family servant who was a sweeper. He did not find any difference between him and the family servant and opposed his mother. The condition of such people was very bad; they could not even walk on the street with upper class people. It appears that it is this instinct which he thought should be observed by everybody in India.

Gandhiji felt strongly that they could not enter the temples which were thrown open to other class of people but not to them. Gandhiji had a great fight on such issues, thus, he became the greatest champion of the greatest number of down - trodden people in the whole world. In one of the occasions he described such treatment as equivalent to a colour bar.

In South Africa there was a class of labourers which was called as indentured. They had gone there to serve their masters and almost became their slaves. Gandhiji went on fighting for the indentured labourers so much so that the whole system was abolished. Like Abraham Lincoln, Gandhiji abolished a kind of slavery. Gandhiji worked for the dignity of man.

In Johannesburg, plague descended and people began to die. Gandhiji rushed to help these people. With the help of mud therapy he saved number of people. During Zulu war, and also 1st World War Gandhiji started a Medical corps and joined in the work of helping the wounded soldiers. This was one more aspect of humanism.

Gandhiji was working for emancipation of the untouchables. One Bhulabhai wrote a letter to Gandhiji expressing his desire to come with his family and live in the Ashram. Gandhiji was a very practical man. He knew that there would be opposition so he wrote that he would welcome them but said that there would be opposition. Gandhiji made it clear that he was prepared to face the opposition. He said if he and his family can face, they may come.

Bhulabhai, his wife Dhanibhai and Laxmi, their daughter came to the Ashram. The first revolt came from Kasturba. She told Bapu clearly that she would not wash utensils of that family. Gandhiji said Coolly that she need not wash their utensils. He will wash them himself.

Kasturba said, 'If you are to wash, then I will wash.' The second threat came from the Ashramites and the land lord, who was living in the half building. There was a well which was used by the land lord family and also by the Ashramites. The land lord and other Ashramites said, 'This family will not use the well. Gandhiji politely said that now they are also Ashramite and they be allowed to use the well.' Gandhiji had a great fight on this issue. He won that fight and ever since then Ashram is a place where untouchability is a thing unknown.

The land lord was worried. Somebody suggested the land lord to stop supply of food grain to Ashram and the Ashram would be closed automatically. He adopted the same method. When the food grain remained only for two days, Gandhiji started praying for solution. Next day one rich man came to Gandhiji and offered some help. Gandhiji agreed to accept the help. Next day that rich man came and handed-over a bag containing Rs. 13000/-. The problem was solved.

Gandhiji passionately loved his country men particularly the poor, the needy and the down trodden. This attitude of him is called humanism of Mahatma Gandhi. If you ask why Gandhiji is called Mahatma, I would say, if there is any reason which entitled Mohandas Karam Chand Gandhi to be called as Mahatma Gandhi I would say that because of humanism he is titled Mahatma Gandhi. It is said that Rabindranath Tagore was the first person to call Gandhiji as Mahatma Gandhi.

Avni Nagaria-writer is a Class XII student at Mody School, Lakshmangarh, Sikar, Rajasthan