Mahatma Gandhi & My Grandfather
Young Journalist Tells How Grandfather Witnessed Gandhi Assassination
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Play CBS Video Video Reviving Indian Values Shri Dharam Jit Jigyasu told Muni Jaitly in 2002 that Indians must revive ancient values. He uses Mahatma Gandhi as an example.
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Video Jigyasu On Concentration Shri Dharam Jit Jigyasu, referring to a recent stroke he suffered, told Muni Jaitly in July of 2002, "We must rise above small things."
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Video Definition Of Discipline Shri Dharam Jit Jigyasu learned to follow rules from his father, a strict disciplinarian, at a very young age. He explains the term discipline in relation to the universe.
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The principles of truth and nonviolence became stronger in Shri Dharam Jit Jigyasu after he met Mahatma Gandhi as a student. (CBS)
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Nathuram Godse shot Gandhi three times. Pitaji heard Gandhi utter the words, "Hai ram [Oh God]… Hai ram… Hai Ram" as he hit the ground. (CBS)
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Pitaji, like other freedom fighters, would visit Mahatma Gandhi whenever possible. Gandhi and Pitaji exchanged several hand-written letters. (CBS)
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I made a documentary about Mahatma Gandhi's life entitled "Only One: The Mahatma" in 2000 while I was a senior in high school. (CBS)
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I interviewed my grandfather about Mahatma Gandhi's assassination in 2000 at his home in Queens, New York. I was 16 at the time. (CBS)
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I first heard the story in ninth grade.
I was moved. At the time, I was embarrassed of my Indian culture.
Being Indian in a predominantly white, rich suburb of Connecticut was difficult because there were very few of us. I was one of only a handful of Indians in a large public high school and felt left out.
But after hearing my grandfather's story and learning from him, I became determined. Determined to live my life proud of who I was and where I had come from.
I started regularly interviewing Pitaji in 2000, hoping to one day spread his message; just like he spent most of his life as a priest spreading the message of Mahatma Gandhi and the Holy Vedas scriptures.
After selling his businesses, Pitaji moved to the United States with his nine children in the 1970's.
He became a priest and founded the New York chapter of Arya Samaj. Arya Samaj is a Hindu reform movement, founded by Swami Dayananda Saraswati, promoting the physical, spiritual, and social well-being for all humanity.
Pitaji performed thousands of weddings in the United States as an Arya Samaji. He wrote books, lectured, and preached on the subject of Gandhian philosophy. Many will never forget his thunderous voice; Pitaji would oftentimes refuse microphone.
A true Gandhian by word and deed, Pitaji practiced the discipline he preached up until the day he passed on May 30, 2006.
I visited Pitaji less than one week before his passing. He lay on his deathbed in a peaceful and tranquil state. Four strokes had finally muted voice, but had not dissolved his determination.
Pitaji one by one lifted his left arm and leg. My grandfather, near death, was still performing yoga as best he could.
Now that Pitaji has passed on, I'm beginning to think more and more about his life and the impact, however small, he made on this world. What shall be my impact?
If Pitaji were alive today, I think he would be happy that I shared our story.
By Muni S. Jaitly
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