Introduction: Long before he became the Mahatma, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was a curious and diligent child growing up in Porbandar, India.
The Passion for Books: Young Mohandas had a deep love for reading and learning. His family encouraged his passion and even gave him a separate room in their house for his growing collection of books.
The Borrowed Book: One day, while visiting a friend’s house, Mohandas saw a captivating book on the shelf. His friend mentioned that he had borrowed the book from a local library.
A Borrowed Treasure: Mohandas was excited and asked his friend if he could borrow the book next. His friend agreed, and Mohandas couldn’t wait to delve into the story.
The Pages of Knowledge: As Mohandas read the borrowed book, he was drawn into a world of knowledge and adventure. He was so engrossed in the story that he lost track of time.
The Overdue Book: Weeks passed, and Mohandas still had the borrowed book. He realized that he had kept it much longer than he should have. He knew he had to return it.
The Honest Return: Despite the temptation to keep the book, Mohandas returned it to the library. He confessed to the librarian that he had borrowed it for far too long and was willing to face the consequences.
The Librarian’s Lesson: The librarian, appreciating Mohandas’s honesty, forgave him and allowed him to continue borrowing books. This incident left a profound impact on young Mohandas.
Inspiration to the World: The experience taught Mohandas the value of truth and honesty, which would become the cornerstones of his philosophy as Mahatma Gandhi. His commitment to these principles would go on to inspire movements for justice and nonviolence worldwide.
Conclusion: The story of young Mohandas and the borrowed book underscores how honesty and truthfulness were integral to his character from an early age. It was these values that shaped him into the Mahatma who would lead a nation to freedom and inspire the world with his commitment to nonviolence and social justice.