Leaving tomorrow early to visit with Narayanbhai Desai, who will be performing (in Hindi) his multi-day Gandhi Katha (the life of Mohandas Gandhi set to music) in New Haven Connecticut. His clarity and dedication to Gandhian principles is a great inspiration to me. Another friend, also a lifelong follower of Gandhi, sends me inspirational quotes every day. Here is the one from October 2 (Gandhi’s birthday), that I have posted over my desk:

“I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test.

Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man or woman you may have seen and ask yourself if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him or her. Will he or she gain anything by it? Will it restore him or her to a control over his or her own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to swaraj (freedom) for the hungry and spiritually starving millions?

Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away.”

Gandhi wrote this note just before his death in January 1948
Pyare Lal – Mahatma Gandhi: Last Phase, Vol. II, P. 65