Mahathma Gandhiji

Gandhi had great concern for public funds and their utilisation. Once, accompanied by Acharya Kripalani and Acharya Bhansali, Gandhi went to visit the well known temple at Pune on the Parvati hill. When they returned from their visit to the temple, Gandhi requested Kripalani to hire a horse-driven cart and fix up the fare. In the meantime a young college girl came to Gandhi and asked for his autograph.

Gandhi insisted that she must make a modest contribution towards his public work. The college girl paid Rs.10/-, and Gandhi returned her gesture by giving her his autograph. Gandhi handed over the ten rupee note to Acharya Kripalani with instructions to pay the cart-fare from this amount.

When the cart reached the residence of Gandhi’s host, all three got down from the cart. Immediately after getting down, Gandhi asked Acharya Kripalani as to how much was, paid for the cart-fare. Kripalani’s reply was “Rs. 5/-” Gandhi then asked him to return Rs. 5/-, since he had given him Rs. lO/- Kripalani helplessly looked at Acharya Bhansali, who told him that the cartman had run away with Rs. lO/-, without returning Rs. 5/-. On entering the house of their host, where the three leaders were expected to dine, Gandhi told the lady of the house that food should be prepared only for two persons. He told her: “Since Acharya Kripalani had lost Rs. 5/- from the contribution of Rs. lO/- made by a young girl towards our public work, Acharya Kripalani will not be given food to-night.” Gandhi was worried over the loss of a paltry amount of Rs.5/-. It strikes a sharp contrast with the present times, when we witness several multi-crore scams involving serious corruption.