Anywhere in the world, knowledge, skill and organizational abilities gain importance only when they can be put to practical use in the most trying times. Art and literature have also to satisfy the same criterion. Art is to be experienced also in beauty, order, self-discipline and joyful vibrant 1ife. A Sanskrit poet, while describing literary art, has written that propriety has a higher value as compared to ornamental or flattery language. True poetry or art gain importance only when propriety, orderliness and dignity are maintained. These are the essential traits in the cultural life also. A person is recognized as a cultured individual when he has put together compatible things in such a way that their juxtaposition makes them more elegant. When this subtle sense finds expression in practical daily life of a person, we can call him a well-rounded cultural being.

An individual may belong to a higher or lower caste. But his culture, level of development is reflected in his behavior and interactions with others in daily life. His aesthetic sense, sophistication and elegance are experienced in his community life. These kind of superior qualities were clearly visible in two gigantic personalities -Rabindranath Tagore and Mahatma Gandhi.

Both of them were exemplars in their own way, may it be language, expression, behavior and mutual relationship in their day-to-day life. Their elegance and aesthetic sense were naturally expressed in selection of cloths, daily essential items, writing material, etc. The artistic sense was evident in social and community life also. Propriety, appropriateness was never ignored. Gandhiji was very conscious about it.

In his early life, Gandhiji was attired exquisitely in Saurashtra style from head to toe with dhoti, uparnu (shirt), khes, turban, etc. Once during his visit to Sindh, to Kriplani’s Ashram, Kasturba prepared his luggage, but forgot to pack his turban in haste. Gandhiji noticed this when he reached the Ashram. So his ashramites immediately went to market and bought a white cloth. Since it was a new bright white cloth, it did not match with the rest of his used white clothes. The different nuance of white color was pinching him. So he washed the new cloth several times until it matched with other clothes and he was satisfied. Then he used the new cloth as turban the next day! His individuality was evident in such small but subtle things.

Once volunteers of Seva Dal came to see Gandhiji in Sevagram. They staged a nice demonstration of physical training and asked for his blessings. Their leader requested Gandhiji to address the volunteers. All were sitting in rows. Gandhiji said, “if you want to listen to me, come nearer.” The volunteers got up and crowded around him in a disorderly fashion. Gandhiji remarked, “You all are trained Seva Dal volunteers. You demonstrated how to walk and run in file during the demonstration. It would have been better if you had displayed the same discipline while moving nearer to me. That would have pleased me. If you had got up in rows, had moved nearer and set in semicircle for front rows and had kept standing in the back rows, your training would have proved worth useful. Your training is not meant for demonstration only; it is meant to live a disciplined life.”

One time. Gandhiji was seriously ill. Doctors advised him to do some light reading for enjoyment. So he started with a satirical book Bhadrarn Bhadra by Ramanlal Neelkanth. After some time, Kakasaheb Kalelkar came around and saw this book in Gandhiji’s hands. With surprise, he remarked, “Bapu, if you can spare time to read such a book, why not read my book “Otrati Diwalo.” Gandhiji inquired, “What is it about?” Kakasaheb replied, “It contains observation of the earth, rain, wind, interrelationship between animal species and ecology of the earth.” Gandhiji read the book and was highly impressed. He said to Kakasaheb, “I have been insistent about publishing books through Navajivan. Their books ought to be simple and less expensive. But I am willing to make an exception for Otrari Diwalo. Quality paper, decent printing and beautiful pictures should decorate this book.” Kakasaheb added, “Then would you write a preface to this edition?” Gandhiji replied. “Of course. It is a piece of art and it must be duly appreciated.”

Gandhiji considered literature as a valuable media to serve the people. His conviction was that more you make your literature qualitative, cultured, arid powerful, better you empower the nation. He used to appeal to literary writers that your writings should be so simple that a common peasant can understand it. Let a common man, a farmer benefit from your literary skills. Let his cultural development be measure of your satisfaction, his character your strength and his intellectual progress your test of success. Indeed, Kathleen Raine confirms that the true function of art is to nourish the soul!

Nilam Parikh is the great granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi. A retired high school principal, she has authored few books and has been contributing articles on various subjects.