GANDHIJI’S SENSE OF HUMOUR

Gandhiji was ones asked that what was the compelling force which sustained his unceasing quest for truth amidst humiliation he had to suffer at the hands of white rulers both in South Africa and India. He replied with a toothless smile, “ Next to my faith in God, it was only my sense of humour but for which I might have committed suicide.” Gandhiji used to digest the hardships of life with his continuous humour. His capacity to laugh at himself was as intense as his compassion for others. He could bring his blood pressure down by a roar of laughter.

Here are some interesting instances depicting Gandhiji’s remarkable sense of humour.


Return in the same coin
Gandhiji used to slap the child whom he loved. One day Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan said to Bapu, “Bapu, you slap the one you love, but you have never slapped me. This means that you do not love me.”

Bapu looked at the huge body of Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan, smiled and said, “I do love you, but I do not slap you for this reason that if you return in the same coin I will be crushed.”


A model by mistake
Once an artist made a sketch of Gandhiji and sent it to him to get his autograph. Returning that sketch Gandhiji wrote to the artist, “who is such an ugly man, whom you have made a model by mistake and sent this picture.”


Where are your trousers?
When Gandhiji went to London to attend the Round Table Conference, a journalist known for his wit asked him, “Where are your trousers Mr. Gandhi?” Gandhiji who had wrapped his body in a single shawl even in the London’s proverbial chill replied, “Yours is plus four, mine is minus four.”
With the same shawl over his shoulders he went to Buckingham Palace to take tea with King George V., a card came to Gandhiji with the following words inscribed in it. “Has Gandhi worn enough to see the King of England?” Wrote Gandhiji on the same card, “The King of England has enough on to see both of us.”


It costs enormously to keep Gandhi poor
A doctor friend came to Sabarmati Ashram when Gandhiji fell seriously ill. Bapu said , “How much fees will you give me if I allow you to examine me?” Gandhiji was a fabulous fund-raiser. For every signature he charged fees, for every autograph he filled his tin-box. This is how he ran his ashrams. Some times there was a windfall when a rich Seth or a mill owner called on him. “It costs enormously to keep Gandhi poor’, quipped the Nightingale of India, Sarojni Naidu.


Marriage warnings
Gandhiji was married to Kasturba at an age when neither understood the meaning of marriage. On Hindu marriage, he writes in his autobiography: The parents of the bride and the bridegroom often bring themselves to ruin over it. They waste their substances and time. Women whether they have a voice or no, sing themselves hoarse, even get ill and disturb the peace of their neighbours. It was only through these preparations that we got the warning of the coming event. I do not think it meant anything more to me than the prospect of good clothes to wear, drum beating, marriage processions, rich dinners and a strange girl to play with. The two children were married for 62 years.


Viceroy for a day
Asked by a foreigner as to what he would do if he were to be made the Viceroy of India for a day. Gandhi replied: ‘I shall clean the Augean stables of the scavengers near the Viceroy’s House.”

“If the viceroyalty is extended in your favour for another day, then what will you do?” he asked again. “I will do the same the next day,” was Gandhiji’s brief reply. If Gandhi were alive today he would have found a stable solution for our polluted cities and other environmental ills. Gandhiji wanted a sweeper girl to become the first President of India.

I would not mind if that was the only thing men killed
Louis Fisher, Gandhiji’s biographer spent a week with him. During the course of lunch, Gandhiji suggested that his guest may add plenty of salt and lemon in the vegetables. “Do you want to kill my taste, Mr. Gandhi?” he asked. “No, enrich the taste”, replied Bapu. Fischer resumed, “You are so non-violent, you wouldn’t kill even taste.” At which Mahatma replied, “If that was the only thing men killed, I would not mind.”

G. B. Shaw described Gandhiji as the only man in the east with a sense of humour.