A Gandhian in more ways than one, Shah at 88 still remains a devout ‘walker’ despite govt offers.
“My journey with Mahatma Gandhi begun when I was 18, in 1941. I was part of the Quit India Movement. On October 8, 1942, when most of the prominent leaders like Bapu, Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Vallabhai Patel were taken into custody, I was with Bapu in Bombay,” recalls Shantibhai Sakalchand Shah, dressed in a white khadi kurta-pyjama, whose voice filled with patriotic fervour that even age cannot wither.
Even today octogenarian Shah travels on foot. But he is quick to add: “I have been given a free pass to travel in government buses and the facility to travel first class anywhere in the country by rail, along with a companion.”
Born on April 22, 1922 in Kheda district, Shah belonged to a staunch Jain family. “Before I left home to join the freedom struggle, my mother gave me her blessings and advised me to either live or die for the country. I never got married. I embraced independence. She was my only beloved,” said a proud Shantibhai.
Ravishankar Maharaj who had also given up his home for the sake of serving the country had stayed at Shah’s home for 10 years and had introduced Bapu to the 18-year-old Shah. He was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment in 1942 for advising people openly in the market place not to obey British orders and explaining them their rights to self expression.
Shah had also told them that they were free to think for themselves and need not be afraid of the Britishers. In other words the countrymen were free to live a life of independence.
Fondly known as ‘dada’, Shah shared an anecdote from his many chequered experiences in jail. “On the third day of our jail sentence my friend, Kandhubhai, was shot dead in front of my eyes. There was a lot of commotion while we awaited our turn; nevertheless none of us were afraid.”
Despite this gruesome experience he was never a pessimist and always thought of striving hard towards independence. “I never thought of escaping from the jail,” said a proud Shah, whose life-long goal has been to serve the laggard and be with them. “People do not think about others today and are always self-centred, ambitious and bigoted,” Shah lamented. “My message to the youth of today is to love the country and love mankind.”
“According to me, everybody, right from farmers to doctors and lawyers should be paid equal salary,” said this veteran whose fight for justice and equality is on.
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