Reserved for special occasions?

Shaheedon ki chitaon par lagenge har baras mele, watan par marne walon ka yahee baki nisha hoga (Martyrs, those who sacrificed their lives for the nation, will be remembered once a year).

Every year, on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, a host of cultural events are organised, speeches given about his greatness and his statues are garlanded at various places across the country.

Delhi too holds importance in the Mahatma Gandhi chapter as he was assassinated here.

The City has preserved his ideologies, literature and memorabilia and memories at places like Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti; National Gandhi Museum and Rajghat.

Each year on 2 October, political leaders, Gandhiwadis, his followers and the common people gather here to pay their tributes to Father of the Nation.

However, are these places visited by people on the other days of the year as well or even by tourists?

Veda Vyas, an officer at Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti, says about 2000 to 2500 people, including domestic and international tourists, visit the place every week. “Gandhi Smriti is a place where Mahatma Gandhi spent his last 144 days before he was assassinated. Visitors make it a point to come here. The number is higher during winter,” he shares with Metrolife.

Rajghat,  the place where Mahatma Gandhi was cremated and today is a memorial to Bapu, is also on the must visit list of those who come to Delhi for the first time.

Besides prayer sessions on the Mahatma’s birth and death anniversaries, a commemorative ceremony is held every Friday at the memorial, situated amidst lush, landscaped gardens.

On a daily basis, Rajghat attracts hundreds of visitors, including international political leaders.

Sudhir Sobti, manager with Delhi Tourism says, “Generally, Rajghat is visited by one and all. A customised trip is planned for Gandhi Smriti and other places but Rajghat is on everybody’s agenda.”

Those desirous of details on Bapu head for the National Archives of India, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, and the Parliament’s Library, which has some great primary and secondary literature on Gandhiji.

Sarath Pillai, a junior research scholar in the History Department of Delhi University, says, “National Archives of India and Gandhi Bhavan have written material that Gandhiji left.

It is usually accessed by scholars. Most of the primary literature of Gandhiji is in Gujarati and English. It is not even easy to understood by everybody easily. Those studying Mahatma Gandhi visit these libraries.”

It is a pity that it has taken the nation and its people a little over half a century to bypass the man who was instrumental in getting them the freedom and independence they enjoy today.