Gandhiji's Kurta

Children loved Gandhiji and visited him often. A little boy once had gone to meet him. There he saw Gandhiji was only wearing a dhoti with nothing on top. He thought that such a great man that Gandhiji was, yet he does not even wear a shirt, he wondered! 

His innocent mind was much perturbed by this and he finally asked Gandhiji that why he did not wear a shirt or kurta. 

 Gandhi gently said that he was very poor. Hence he could not afford a kurta.

The boy's heart was filled with pity. He said that his mother sewed well and made all his clothes. He shall ask her to make one for Gandhiji as well!

Gandhiji asked the boy that how many kurtas could the boy's mother make!

The boy innocently said that how many does Gandhiji wanted, one, two, three...the latter should tell him and he would bring them!

Gandhi thought for a moment and then he said that he was not alone. Hence it would not be right for him to be the only one to wear a kurta!

The boy persisted that how much Gandhiji wanted, the boy would ask his mother to make as many as the latter would want! 

To this Gandhiji said that he had a very large family of forty crore brothers and sisters(India's population at that time).

Gandhiji further said that till the time each one of them had a kurta, how can he wear one! He further asked the boy that could the boy's mother make kurtas for all of them!

At this question, the boy became very thoughtful. Forty crore brothers and sisters! 

After all, the whole nation was Gandhi's family, and he was the head of that family! He was their friend, their companion, their philosopher, and guide!

The boy understood this and could know that why Gandhiji was called a great human being. He was indeed the Father of the nation, who thought and cared for the entire nation!