“Dear Bapu,
You inspire me. The first time that I held you and was aware of your greatness was when I was ten years old. That day when dishonesty I had stolen a note of ten from my mother ‘s purse. With the ten rupees in my hand, I wanted to buy the whole universe but I was not a professional thief and was caught by my father. That evening when I was expecting to get a good beating, he shared a story instead of the story of a little boy who stole from his father but later wrote him a letter confessing his mistake. That day since the boy decided to be honest. He pointed at the picture on the note as I saw you I was amazed, you were now the most precious thing to me. That was your first lesson to me, to be honest.
Well as I grew up I realized that one cannot always be honest sometimes a little dishonesty is needed but for a good cause. However there is one person we cannot be dishonest with and that is our self. We always need to be honest to one self.
The second lesson was when I was in teenage, in school I read your stories about discrimination that you faced in South Africa. I realized that people do not treat you the same everywhere we are different but the world is moving towards equality. Gender equality and Anti Racism have become huge words but was that what you really taught? Your years of struggle have made me understand only one simple thing that we as people are not equal, we are different, we have a variety of difference and instead of putting the tag of equality and killing the spirit of diversity we must learn and acknowledge our difference without much hatred in our mind.
In my college days your non violence, I learned the final lesson you taught me courage. The methods to fight a war can be very different but there is one thing that is common we need courage. I know non violence cannot be a solution to all the problem there are sometimes when you need to use other methods that is why the whole concept of democracy, army and many other things come into view.
Bapu you inspire me in more than one way you taught me a way of life but at the same time you made me realize that end of the day I have to live it my way. Like you even I will be faced with hurdles but I myself have to choose an option. Sometimes my near and dear one can put me in a conflicting state but I must not compromise with my principles, I know it is hard to follow your each and every teaching in a world like ours but the hardship was faced by you in your days too. I will try and follow this three principle , your honesty, courage and mainly your strong will. Even in my darkest day I will not loose hope and get through it using you as my inspiration.”
