11.10.07 bulletin latest Oct.07.p65 - City Montessori School

CMS BULLETIN - THE TURNING POINT OCTOBER 2007 (2)
(Continued from page 1)
amount was used by enthusiastic Jagdish
to build a hall in his college which was later
known as “Social Service Hall”. At that time,
Jagdish was a student of Class X.
16. Jagdish took admission in Mathura, the
land of legendary Lord Krishna for his
Class XI (Higher Secondary) studies
In Mathura, Jagdish took admission in Class
XI in “Champa Agarwal College”. He lived
in a rented room with other students who
were praying, cooking and eating together.
In that college he launched a movement ‘Be
A Good Student’. It was basically an attempt
for starting a symbolic reform in educational
system.
17. Money for woollen clothes donated to
sweeper for his daughters' marriage
He received some money from his father to
buy woollen clothes for the winter. However,
Jagdish spent a major amount of this money
in charity. He gave this money to a poor
sweeper for the marriage of his two
daughters. With the remaining money
Jagdish got himself ordinary coarse clothes
of thick gunny bag -'TAAT' for their cheap
price. That very year Jagdish was honoured
with the title of “Best Student” of the college.
18. Revolutionary Raja Mahendra Pratap
inspired Jagdish to work for a World
Government
Raja Mahendra Pratap motivated Jagdish to
serve the entire humanity. When Jagdish
called on Raja Mahendra Pratap in his Prem
Mahavidyalaya College, Vrindavan, the later
presented a copy of his 4 page Hindi
monthly publication titled 'Sansar Sangh'
(World Union) which he himself published
and printed. Raja Mahendra Pratap had
founded an institution, Prem Mahavidyalaya
in Vrindavan. The monthly magazine inspired
Jagdish to form a “World Union” and
systematically strive for “World Unity”.
19. Jagdish came to Lucknow as a student
but decided to stay on and make it a centre
of World Unity Education
Jagdish Gandhi took admission in Lucknow
University for B.Com studies in July 1955.
He took shelter in a small temple on the bank
of Gomti River, as he had no money to stay
in a hostel or a rented accommodation. He
started teaching children in exchange of one
or two chapatis (Indian bread) and thereafter
decided to own a little money by way of
tuitions. Not only did he teach the prescribed
subjects but also preached the value of
World Unity, Brotherhood and Oneness of
Mankind to his pupils.
20. Got into students' politics and was
elected Union President
He became very popular with students and
was elected Vice-President of Lucknow
University Students Union in 1957 when he
was in M.Com first year. In 1958, while he
was in M.Com Part II Jagdish Gandhi won
the Students’ Union election for President
with a thumping majority. He contested both
elections through his personal contacts and
immense goodwill without spending a single
penny.
21. Marriage with Bharti
During this time, Jagdish came in contact
with a young girl, Bharti, at a spiritual
gathering (Satsang). Bharti was then
studying for a degree in Master of Education
(M.Ed) at Lucknow University. They met
again at a religious congregation organised
in honour of Jagatguru Sankaracharya
Nardanand Saraswati’s visit to Lucknow.
Both got attracted to each other’s spiritual
leanings. Jagdish Gandhi presented three
books written by Mahatma Gandhi and Sant
Vinoba Bhave to Bharti. These books were
(1) 'Sewa ki Pagdandi' (The Path of Service)
(2) 'Stree Shakti' (Women Power) and (3)
'Geeta Pravachan' (Preaching of the Geeta).
Both held similar views on spirituality and
both aspired to serve society by imparting
meaningful education to children. Soon,
Jagdish and Bharti got married and tied the
knot on 15 January 1959.
22. Marriage attended by Governor V.V. Giri
The dowryless, simple marriage ceremony
was attended by His Excellency V.V. Giri, the
then Governor of Uttar Pradesh who later
became the President of India. The marriage
was also attended by the then Chief Minister
of the State, Dr Sampurnanand, members of
state cabinet, university professors,
educationists and a large number of
students.
23. No marriage feast, but sugar candy
distributed to invitees
The marriage was solemnized with the
recitation of Vedic Hymns (Mantras) by a
friend and Sanskrit teacher by taking seven
rounds of the sacred fire by the couple. The
guests were offered crushed candy (Mishri)
powder in place of feast, which the young
couple could not afford. Jagdish and Bharti
addressed the gathering taking a vow that
they would serve society by imparting
meaningful education to children.
24. 'World marries India'
Governor V.V. Giri, attended the marriage and
gave his blessings to the couple with the
words “Jagdish (World) weds Bharti (India).
May God bless the couple!,” he said. The
gathering clapped in appreciation of the
comparison.
25. The couple dedicated themselves to
make education a medium for social
transformation
Jagdish and Bharti Gandhi laid the
foundation of City Montessori School on
1st July 1959 in their hired house at 12,
Station Road, Lucknow. This house on a rent
of Rs. 64/- per month was allotted to Jagdish
Gandhi by the then District Magistrate of
Lucknow, Mr K.C. Mittal, IAS. He was the
same District Magistrate who allowed
Jagdish with his 50 members to clean the
city of Aligarh and thereafter awarded a cash
prize of Rs. 4,600/- to the social service group
for cleaning Aligarh city. For 15 days no
student came to take admission. On 16th July,
Bharti Gandhi requested her neighbour,
Jasoda Devi Agarwal, wife of Sohan Lal
Agarwal, to be good enough to send their
children to her school. Jasoda Devi Agarwal,
was impressed by the Gandhi couple’s
dedication towards children’s education and
sent five children of their joint family with
an advance monthly fees of Rs. 25/-. Jasoda
Devi’s husband Sohan Lal Agarwal was
requested to inaugurate the school. At the
time of inauguration of the school there were
only 5 children apart from Mr and Mrs Sohan
Lal Agarwal and Mr and Mrs Gandhi. Sohan
Lal Agarwal was a great philanthropist. He
inaugurated the school and gave Rs. 1000/-
as donation. The school purchased
furniture, toys, books and other items with
this money.
26. Jagdish Gandhi elected MLA in 1969
Jagdish Gandhi was elected as a Member of
Uttar Pradesh State Legislative Assembly
as an independent candidate from Aligarh
district from (1969 to 1974). Only 11
independent members from the state were
elected for the State Assembly.
27. Elected President of U.P. Progressive
Independent Legislators Party
Jagdish Gandhi formed a Uttar Pradesh
Progressive Independent Legislators Party
and was unanimously elected its President.
The same year in 1969, President of India,
Shri Zakir Hussain, died and hence election
process for a new President was started.
Jagdish Gandhi put up a proposal to his
party to support the candidature of V.V. Giri,
the then Vice President of India, for
Presidentship, provided he agreed to
contest the election as a non-party
(independent) candidate.
28. Jagdish Gandhi wanted President of a
democratic country as a non-party person
Jagdish was of the opinion that since the
President is the representative of the whole
country and protector of the constitution,
he should not represent any political party.
He strongly felt that the candidate should
be a non-party person of integrity and
character and should normally be elected
unopposed and should be an independent
candidate. He put his proposal before his
party (Legislator’s group) and suggested
that V. V. Giri resign from Congress Party
and then contest for the highest office of
the country as a non party independent
candidate and that he should not seek
approval of Congress Party for his
candidature. This proposal was accepted by
his party unanimously and it was decided
that V.V. Giri should be apprised of the
decision and advised to resign from
Congress Party to seek election as an
independent candidate and Jagdish Gandhi
be sent to New Delhi for advising him
accordingly.
29. Close friendship with Governor V.V.
Giri
Jagdish Gandhi knew V.V. Giri very well, ever
since he was President of Lucknow
University Students Union and V.V. Giri was
the Governor of Uttar Pradesh. When
Jagdish Gandhi got elected as President of
Lucknow University Students Union, he
requested the then Prime Minister of India,
Jawahar Lal Nehru, to inaugurate his
Students Union. He agreed and came to
Lucknow to inaugurate the students union.
Failure is the only opportunity to begin again, more intelligently.
V.V. Giri, also attended the inaugural
ceremony and he had also attended Jagdish
Gandhi’s wedding. Later, when V.V. Giri was
appointed as Vice-President of India, Jagdish
often met him in New Delhi.
30. Morarjee Desai once stayed with Jagdish
at the latter’s residence in Lucknow
Jagdish Gandhi went to Delhi to meet V.V.
Giri in connection with the presidential
election. But before meeting V.V. Giri he
decided to meet Morarji Desai, the then
member of the working committee of All India
Congress Committee on 12th May 1969, to
find out whether Congress Party would give
a party ticket to V.V. Giri to contest the election
for the President’s post or it had made up its
mind to give the ticket to someone else.
Therefore, Jagdish Gandhi first met Morarji
Desai as he knew him well. Morarji Desai
was constrained to resign as Finance
Minister of the country under Kamraj Plan.
Morarji Desai was President of All India
Prohibition Committee and Jagdish Gandhi
was the President of the U.P. State
Prohibition Committee. As President of the
State Prohibition Committee, he invited
Morarji Desai to Lucknow to inaugurate the
State Prohibition Conference. Morarji Desai
accepted the invitation and stayed with the
Gandhis at their residence at 12, Station
Road, Lucknow and had meals with them,
cooked by Bharti Gandhi.
31. Jagdish Gandhi disappointed with
Morarji Desai’s reply
At Delhi, when asked about the Congress
Party candidate to be fielded for President’s
election, Morarji Desai quipped “It will be
decided in Congress Working Committee
Meeting to be held at Hyderabad on 27 May
1969.” Jagdish Gandhi asked him whether
they would consider the candidature of V.V.
Giri, Vice President, for the post of President.
To this, Morarji Desai replied that he was
too old to be the President of India. It was
clear to Jagdish that the capitalist lobby of
Congress Party headed by Morarji Desai
would oppose V.V. Giri, who was supposed
to belong to the socialist lobby.
32. Congress Working Committee divided
into two camps
At that time Congress Working Committee
was divided in two camps. One camp had
leanings towards the capitalist lobby and
the other towards the socialist lobby. There
were seven members of Congress Working
Committee, out of which four members were
considered as the members of the capitalist
lobby and the other three belonging to the
socialist lobby. Morarji Desai was
considered the leader of the capitalist lobby
and Indira Gandhi as leader of the socialist
lobby. Jagdish Gandhi got an impression that
V.V. Giri would not be given ticket to contest
for Presidentship.
33. Jagdish Gandhi's advice to V.V. Giri
After meeting Morarji Desai, Jagdish Gandhi
went to President’s house to meet V.V.Giri
who was then the Acting President, apart
from being the Vice-President of India.
Jagdish Gandhi advised him to resign from
Congress Party and contest for President’s
election, as an independent candidate, as
the President of the country was the
representative of the entire country and
should not belong to any particular political
party. The President is a protector of the
Constitution and its sentinel. Hence, he
should be an independent candidate.
34. V.V. Giri unwilling to resign from
Congress Party
V. V. Giri told Jagdish that he was nearly 75
years old. He had been in Congress Party
right from childhood for nearly 60 years and
Congress was in his blood. ‘I will not resign
from Congress Party’, he declared. Jagdish
Gandhi told Giri that he doubted if he would
get the party ticket for contesting the
President’s election. Therefore, he should
resign from the Congress Party and decide
to contest President’s election as an
independent candidate before his
candidature was rejected by the majority of
members of the Congress Working
Committee.
35. V.V. Giri confident of getting Congress
Party ticket
V.V. Giri told Jagdish that there were two Vs
in his name. First V stood for victory in
getting Congress ticket for Presidentship
and second V stood for victory in election
for the post of the President of India. Yet
Jagdish persisted in his plea to contest as
an independent candidate.
36. Jagdish Gandhi’s views published
But V.V. Giri did not agree and Jagdish
returned to Aligarh disappointed. His friend
— Henry Ford
Madan Lal Hitaishi, Editor of Dainik Prakash,
a daily newspaper published from Aligarh
published full details of the conversation
between Jagdish Gandhi and V.V. Giri in his
daily ‘Dainik Prakash’ of 15 May, 1969 issue.
37. Turn of Events — a call from
Rashtrapati Bhavan
After 15 days on 27th May 1969 at 5.00 pm
in the evening Jagdish got a phone call from
Jagannath Sahai, Additional Private
Secretary to the President of India, that there
was disquieting news from Hyderabad that
V.V. Giri had not been given the Congress
ticket. "It is sad news and Shri V.V. Giri is
very much perturbed", he said. "He has asked
you to come to Delhi by the earliest available
flight and meet him immediately", he pleaded.
But there was no flight available for Delhi
that day. Jagdish told him that he would
travel by night train and reach Delhi by 7.00
am next morning. Jagdish Gandhi reached
New Delhi station on 28th May 1969 at 7.00
am. Shankar Giri and Bhaskar Giri, two sons
of VV Giri, were there at the station to escort
him to President’s House.
38. Ultimately Mr. Gandhi convinced
V.V. Giri to contest as an independent
candidate and resign from the Congress
Party
After much persuasion, consultations and
discussions with the family members of V. V.
Giri including his wife, Saraswati Giri, sons
Shankar Giri and Bhaskar Giri, daughter in
law Mohini Giri, wife of Bhaskar Giri, Jagdish
Gandhi, got him to resign from the Congress
Party and contest as an independent
candidate for the post of President against
the official Congress candidate. Only a few
days before the election, Indira Gandhi also
declared that as per her conscience she
would support V.V. Giri and advised other
members of her group accordingly.
39. V.V. Giri elected President of India
Shri V.V. Giri an independent candidate was
elected as President of India, defeating the
official Congress candidate. Jagdish Gandhi
was very happy that his mission was
accomplished as the country got an
Independent President, who was not a
nominee of any Political Party.
40. Jagdish visits London in 1972, to study
the democratic system of governance of
England and parliamentary procedures of
the British Parliament
A.G. Kher, Speaker of U.P. Assembly and
Narain Dutt Tewari, the Chief Minister of
U.P., selected Jagdish Gandhi to visit
London in 1972 to study the democratic
system of governance of England and
parliamentary procedures of the British
Parliament on behalf of the U.P. Government.
41. 'India International Club' founded and
2nd International Youth Conference
organised in London
Jagdish Gandhi founded the 'India
International Club.' Under the auspices of
this club a 3-day long 2nd International
Youth Conference was organized in Victoria
Hall, Middlesex (London). This conference
was held on 17, 18 and 19 December 1974.
With the help of the ruling Labour Party, the
conference deliberated upon the topic
“World Peace through Education.” Prior to
it, Mr Gandhi had organized the first
International Youth Conference at K.D. Singh
Babu Stadium in Lucknow in 1973 along with
14 th All India Children & Youth Festival which
he had been organizing every year, for the
past 14 years. In the conference held in
London representatives of 47 countries
participated. These participants included
statesmen, diplomats, members of high
commissions, members of embassies and
students and teachers of various universities
of England.
42. Jagdish embraced Baha’i Faith with a
vow to serve humanity
When the adherents of Baha’i Faith
expressed their views (in the London Youth
Conference), Mr. Gandhi was deeply
impressed with their spiritual philosophy. It
was maintained by the Founder of Baha’i
Faith, Lord Baha‘u’llah, that the “Earth is
but one country and the mankind its
citizens”. Baha’i Faith believes that God is
One, Religion is One and Mankind is One.
Baha’i Faith believes that the entire humanity
must be united. Gandhi was already a
promoter of “World Unity” and for this
reason he accepted the Baha’i Faith in
London. From then on, Jagdish has been
striving to make children of his school a Gift
of God to Mankind and a Pride of the Human
Race and a potential Light of the World.
(Continued on page 3)