Learning a little more about Gandhi, the man, at Kirti Mandir

Kirti-Mandir 
Each place, from the room where Gandhi was born, the study room and the family's kitchen is observed by visitors with interest | Janak Patel

It is almost evening in Kirti Mandir in Porbandar, the birth place of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. The courtyard of the complex, considered a temple by many, is clean. To call it a perfect example of 'Swachh Bharat Misson' won't be an understatement.

Nineteen-year-old Sagar Parmar sweeps the floor one more time. Soon, Satish Harkhani mops the floor. Four persons, including these two, repeat this exercise at least four to five times a day.

“There is a vast difference between sweeping here and sweeping the streets. The streets are so dirty. Here we get so much respect,” says Parmar. “There is no untouchability,” quips Harkhani.


In fact, they also have a job to hoist the tri-colour in the morning and bring it down before the sunset, every day. Though they feel privileged to work at the Gandhi's birth place, the duo has a complaint. “Please come and see the old Harijanwaas where we stay. The neighbourhood is not clean near our homes,” they say in unison. We are talking about cleanliness campaign everywhere, but it is unfortunate that our neighbourhoods are not clean, they lament.


They did not lie. The old Harijanwaas, where more than 300 families stay, is a picture of neglect. Garbage lays strewn on either sides of the roads. There are also pigs on the roads who make unused toilet blocks their home.

“What do I say about the locality. The civic body sends safai workers once a fortnight and we get water once in four days. Other days we have to fetch water from the pumps in nearby areas,” says Avji Rathod.



People like Parmar and Harkhani's dedication goes a long way in keeping Kirti Mandir clean, which also leaves a lasting impression on the visitors. Kirti Mandir gets about 1,500 visitors a day, says Harshad Purohit, manager. Based on his experience of the place, looked after by the Archaeological Survey of India, Purohit says many people revere Gandhi like god.


There are people who have visited the place more than once. Thirty-three-year-old Ajay Prakash, collector of Gir Somnath district of Gujarat, is an example. “This is my fifth visit to Kirti Mandir and I feel like coming here again and again,” he tells THE WEEK. This time around, he had come to show the place to his relatives. Gandhi's teaching that India belongs to everyone and is for all communities has had a lasting impression on this bureaucrat's psyche.

Equality of all religions is what Gandhi preached, and the new structure of Kirti Mandir has an amalgamation of styles from Hindu, Muslim, Buddhism and Parsi religions.


Pooja Samani, 27, a clerk at Kirti Mandir, says every time you read Gandhi, you get to know and learn something new. “There are many visitors who consider Mahatma as the almighty, and actually if we follow the path of truth and non-violence shown by him then we do not need to follow anything else,” Samani, who doubles as a guide, says.


Kirti Mandir is like a second home sixty-five-year-old Chhabildas Garg of Chandigarh. For his group, visiting Porbandar was a must as they had come till Dwarka, about 100 kilometers from here. “It is unfortunate that we are not following the paths shown by Gandhiji,” he says. “Today there is no peace and there is corruption everywhere. Politicians are out to loot the country,” asserts Garg.


Each place, from the room where Gandhi was born, the study room and the family's kitchen is observed by visitors with interest. They are free to take photographs or make videos, unlike Kasturba Gandhi's residence which is nearby, and a internal road behind the Kirti Mandir leads to her residence. This place, however, does not have as many footfalls as compared to Kirti Mandir. When asked why photography is not allowed, a caretaker says, “This falls under the Gujarat government and the rules are different.”


Two years ago, Kirti Mandir added an attraction in the form of a souvenir shop. Gandhi t-shirts, charkha, key chains and much more is up for the grabs. Purohit, however, says they do not have several items as the supply has been stopped due to GST issues. The store has annual sales of around Rs 50 lakh.


On the beach, facing the Arabian Sea, is the light and sound show on Gandhi at the Gandhi Memorial. The show that operates on weekends is an added attraction to visitors.