Mahatma Gandhi also known as Father of The Nation in India spent 17 years from 1917 to 1934 at Mani Bhavan, a two-story building in a quiet neighborhood in Mumbai. Those 17 years were the significant years of his leadership in the independence movement for India. Mani Bhavan is owned by his friend and served as a headquarter for his activities and hosted political meetings. In 1955, Mani Bhavan was acquired by The National Gandhi Memorial Trust to keep it as a memorial to Gandhi. Mahatma Gandhi had health issues during his time in Mumbai and it is said that he started taking goat’s milk there which was suggested by his wife, Kasturba as he had stopped taking cow’s milk. Mani Bhavan is also known for the place where Gandhi first learned carding and the room where he used is kept as it was with the Charkha (Hindi word for spinning wheel).

When I came to Mumbai, India, I was excited to know that I would be able to trace some of the footsteps of Mahatma Gandhi during our stay here. He is someone whom I have respected and admired as a symbol of peace and humanity. I have wanted to visit Mani Bhavan for quite some time since I read some good reviews about the museum. I had visited Aga Khan Palace in Pune, a city two-hour drive inland from Mumbai, where Mahatma Gandhi stayed during the house arrest and I loved seeing the residence where he spent some time in his late years.

When my friends came to visit Mumbai, I took advantage of the opportunity and brought them to Mani Bhavan. It seems to be a popular spot for Japanese tourists as I often find some information about Mani Bhavan in Japanese tour guides for Mumbai. We got very excited to find the beautiful brown building tucked in from the main road that stood gracefully. The museum only asked for donation and we picked up a sheet of information about Mani Bhavan translated into Japanese.

マニバヴァンとは、ムンバイ南部に在するインド建国と独立運動の父マハトマ・ガンディーが独立活動の本拠地として使った建物を改造して作ったガンディー博物館です。1917年から1934年に至17年間、マハトマ・ガンディーはムンバイのマニバヴァンで独立運動を指導しました。その間、体調を崩し、牛のミルクを飲まなくなったガンディーに、ガンディーの妻カトゥルバが羊のミルクを飲むことを勧め、ガンディーが羊のミルクを飲み始めたのもこのマニバヴァンであると言われています。また、ガンディーが梳綿（そめん）またはカーディングといって、採取した繊維を櫛で均して、繊維方向が揃った綿の固まりの状態にする作業を習ったのも、このマニ・バヴァンであるそうです。

Mani Bhavan Gandhi Memorial Museum

This room in the photos above can be viewed by visitors through the glass door. It is a beautiful airy room. It looks simple, yet the design looks chic and relaxing. When US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama visited Mumbai in 2010 (Photo below by Pete Souza – via), they had a tour of Mani Bhavan. You can read in more details about their tour at Mani Bhavan in this article on The Economic Times of India and this article on DNA India.

“Obamas tour Gandhi’s room at the Mani Bhavan Gandhi Museum”
by The White House from Washington, DC. Official White House

I would like to leave you with some inspiring quotes that Mahatma Gandhi had left in the world that resonate with me today.

Quotes By Mahatma Gandhi

MOTIVATION

“Man often becomes what he believes himself to be. If I keep on saying to myself that I cannot do a certain thing, it is possible that I may end by really becoming incapable of doing it. On the contrary, if I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it even if I may not have it at the beginning.”

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”

“Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment, full effort is full victory.”

“Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.”

“The future depends on what you do today.”

“It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.”

LOVE

“Where there is love there is life.”

“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”

“You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.”

Having heard the depressing news these days can make you feel down, but the last quote about humanity by Mahatma Gandhi gave me a sliver of hope today for the better and friendlier future. I would like to keep all of his words close to my heart.

最後に、マハトマ・ガンディーが残した多くの名言、格言の中で、今の私の心に響くものいくつかを私なりに訳してこちらに載せたいと思います。

「人間は、自分が信じている人間像になることが多い。もし私は自分にはあることができないと言い続けたとしたら、本当にそれができない人間になってしまう可能性がある。それとは反対に、私には出来るという信念さえあれば、最初はそれを実現する能力が無かったとしても、それを可能にする能力を手に入れるだろう。」

「明日死ぬかのように生きなさい。永遠に生きるかのように学びなさい。」

「満足は、功績に属すのではなく、努力に属し、最大限の努力こそ完全な勝利である。」

「間違えを犯す自由が含まれていない自由など、手に入れる価値は無い。」

「あなたの将来は、今日何をするかに掛かっているのです。」

「健康こそが真の富であり、富は金や銀には備わってはいないのです。」

「愛があるところには人生がある。」

「弱い者は、相手を許すことができない。許すということは、真の強さがあるからだ。」

「人類に信頼を失ってはならない。人類とは海のようである。海の数粒が汚れていたとしても、海が汚れる訳ではない。」

最近の暗いニュースを聞いていると、気分が落ち込むことがありますが、上に一番最後に載せたマハトマ・ガンディーの言葉に、明るい将来への希望が差し、心が励まされました。彼の言葉に励まされた人々は、世界中多く居ることと思います。私も、彼の平和への信念と励ましの言葉を、心に留めておきたいと思います。

Mani Bhavan Gandhi Sangrahalaya

WEBSITE
19 Laburnum Road, Gamdevi,
Mumbai – 400 007 INDIA.

TEL: +91 22 2380 5864
FAX: +91 20 2380 6239
EMAIL : info@gandhi-manibhavan.org

HOURS
9.30 a.m. – 6.00 p.m. on all days

Library Hours
The Library is open on all weekdays, from 9.30 am to 6.00 pm.
It is closed on 2nd & 4th Saturdays and public holidays.

source Mani Bhavan Gandhi Sangrahalaya, National Gandhi Museum, Gandhi on Wikipedia, Mani Bhavan on Wikipedia