Gandhiji's German Connection

It all happened when I was roaming around in the Inorbit mall in Vashi sometime in September… I am not really a fanatic shopper though I do like shopping for myself once in a while… The reason I went all the way to Vashi from Pune – a distance of over 100 kms – was because I had heard a lot about this mall… In fact my sister-in-law Pallu (who is a “reluctant compulsive shopper”) told me that it’s like a “Dubai mall” (If you have seen some of those malls in Dubai, you would know what I mean)… I had to go and check it out for myself!

I am sure you are already wondering about the connection between a mall and Gandhiji… Germany and Gandhiji... please have patience…

I know you are also thinking… isn’t it a bit late considering Gandhiji’s birthday was around 15 days back and this is more appropriate a time to write about Diwali… True. Agree. The reality is that this posting would have come out irrespective of the timing… after all, Gandhi is a man of “all times”…

The India today is definitely not the India as thought of by Gandhiji. There are too many stinking rich people around… Too many for the comfort for Mr. Gandhi, I would say, especially considering the fact that way too many poor remain… There are too many other things but I will not get into the details (and make this a serious blog, which is not the intention) but I am sure Gandhiji must have turned, rolled and spun in his grave (in a proverbial sense!) over last 60 years since his death… But this one must have woken him up…

Coming back to the “roaming around in the mall”, I noticed Gandhiji’s portrait in the window of a Mont Blanc outlet. It aroused my curiosity. While Mont Blanc is a status symbol, article of show-off, luxury, for the rich people of the world, Mr Gandhi is a symbol of austerity, stands for the poor and naked of this world. They are poles apart. What on earth Gandhiji’s portrait doing at a Mont Blanc showroom? (Btw, Mont Blanc ha German roots)

I walked closer. It was a well “decorated” window with Gandhiji’s portrait, some charkhas, trademark round glasses and so on… in the center was a white-cream pen… and there was a small plaque. I read the plaque and lost my consciousness. Some passer-bys revived me (don’t remember if they sprinkled water or slapped). I read the plaque again. It essentially said that there are two types of limited edition pens. For one type they would donate Rs 10,000 for charity for each pen bought. For the second type they would donate Rs 50,000 per pen!!

What’s the price of each pen? I did not have the heart to ask. I checked over the internet later. It seems the price is some Rs 11 Lakhs (for one pen, in case you are wondering!) and Tushar Gandhi (great grandson) helped launch and supports the initiative. Well!

I have done and seen many senseless things in my life but this one takes the cake… While I was driving back, I saw Gandhiji walking dazed somewhere out there... I dont think it was due to “chemical locha” in my mind... Thanks to Mont Blanc, Gandhiji walked out of his grave!