Bapu’s samadhi at Rajghat locked to public as VHP discussed Ram Mandir in Gandhi Smriti

Rajghat, a place where last rites of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, were performed, and a place where vising heads of states pay homage to the great advocate of Satya-Ahimsa, was closed for a meeting of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) between June 24 and 26.

Issuing a statement, noted Gandhian and chairperson of the Gandhi Peace Foundation, Kumar Prashant, said that the VHP had organised its meeting on the campus of Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti, which is just opposite the Rajghat, between June 24 and June 26, 2018.

“But, on whose direction the Samadhi of Bapu was closed is not known to any one,” claimed Prashant in his statement. Ramchnadra Rahi, chairperson of the Gandhi Smarak Nidhi, who has also signed the statement, told National Herald that the meeting of the VHP was called to discuss the Ram Mandir issue.

Ironically, it is VHP, whose parental organisation, RSS, had allegedly planned the killing of Gandhi. Nathuram Godse, an RSS member had killed Gandhi on January 30, 1947. A day after his assassination, Gandhi was cremated at Rajghat on January 31,1947. Later, a memorial dedicated to Bapu was constructed at the place.

A place of inspiration for millions who believe in the principles of Gandhi, the memorial was left under an open sky while an eternal flame burns at one end.

“Rajghat was kept locked for security purpose. We wonder why Gandhi Smriti, the place that was created to keep the memories of the Mahatma and his thoughts alive, was lent to a private organisation, that too to the VHP, which has nothing to do in the remotest sense with the thoughts and the ideology of Mahatma Gandhi,” said, Prashant in his letter that was released to the media on Tuesday evening.

In a veiled reference to the present dispensation, Prashant said, “Memorial of Bapu cannot even be categorised as just any public place to be used for the selfish motives of the governments or by the organisations shielded by the governments by locking it. History is a witness to many such authorities and the powerful people being thrown away in unknown but having the holy symbols of the society survived them for ages.”

Calling the closure of the Rajghat “an insult to the devout and the national feelings of the people,” Prashant sarcastically commented over the phone, “It seems that Defence Ministry has taken over the custody of the Rajghat.”

Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti, where VHP’s meeting was held, is an autonomous body dedicated to the promotion of Gandhian philosophy and comes under the Ministry of Culture. Director of the Samiti, Dipankar Shri Gyan, did not answer our call despite several attempts. It must be noted that Prime Minister Modi is the head of the organisation while Union Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma is the working chairman.

“The Constitution of Samiti says Gandhian scholars and intellectuals would be appointed as the working chairman, but this government has altered the tradition by appointing Shrma at the post of working chairman,” told Rahi.

While Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti comes under the Ministry of Culture, Rajghat, which is maintained and supervised by the Rajghat Samadhi Committee, comes under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. Constituted in 1951, the Committee is responsible for the “maintenance, preservation and administration” of Bapu’s Samadhi.

Many scholars, senior journalists expressed their anguish over the news of VHP holding meeting at Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti. Senior journalist and former editor of the reputed Hindi daily Jansatta, Om Thanvi, tweeted that a huge protest has been planned on June 29 at Rajghat.

“Bapu was killed at 5.17 PM in the evening on Friday. June 29 is also Friday. We will gather in large number at Rajghat and will hold prayers to rap on the closed minds,” said Rahi.

“Gandhi was a big obstacle in the way of VHP and likes of them. We will peacefully demonstrate, not to humiliate anyone but to register out strong dissent,” said Prashant, adding that protest will be held all over the country on June 29, against the arbitrary behaviour of the government.