Thaindian News

New Delhi, Jan 29 (IANS) Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy and values may not have found much resonance in modern India, but 62 years after his death the bookstore at his memorial in Rajghat records NRIs and youth as top buyers of books on the Father of the Nation.
“Most books on Gandhiji are bought by NRIs followed by youngsters and then foreigners,” says Swati Bhardwaj, who for the last 15 years is managing the bookstore outside Gandhiji’s memorial, the place where he was cremated after his assassination Jan 30, 1948.

“A few years ago, there was a time when we felt that youngsters’ interests towards Gandhiji was declining. But in the past one year, we have seen a shift and it seems now they are turning back. Their interest seems to be increasing now,” Bhardwaj told IANS.

Asked if movies like “Lage Raho Munnabhai”, that highlighted the Gandhian form of protest, played a role in attracting youngsters, she said: “Definitely, the movie that highlighted Gandhiji’s views about non-violence has attracted youngsters. They feel that they should know more about him.”

Asked about some of the popular books which she has been selling, Bhardwaj replied: “Books by Gandhiji’s grandsons are quite popular. Tushar Gandhi’s ‘Let us kill Gandhi’ and ‘Mohandas’ by Rajmohan Gandhi are very popular.”

“In the past few months, Jaswant Singh’s book on (Pakistan founder Muhammed Ali) Jinnah has also sold a lot of copies,” she added.

“Every month we sell around 2,000-3,000 books on Gandhiji life, thoughts, views, teachings, quotes, pictorials, autobiography and others,” Bhardwaj said.