Saturday, missing Golf, on a hot summer's day is not a good day to visit monuments. I do not regret visiting Anand Bhavan, back in the cool climes of my bedroom yesterday afternoon. The two hours when I was not wiping the torrents of sweat that flowed over my body, I was spellbound by the magic this building wove around me - I had my hair standing hearing the history of Independence struggle unfold in all those empty walls of this magnificient white and blue home of Motilal Nehru. Though it is always referred in context with Jawahar Lal Nehru, actually Allhabad and Ananda Bhavan is all about Motilal Nehru.
The stories of his practice as a lawyer, the wealth he had amassed, his entry into, the freedom struggle, his support that infused life into Congress in his own quiet but firm manner, his large heartedness to give Congress its base to function, are all legendary in this city of Holy piligrimages. A visit to Anand Bhawan as a part of a pilgrimage is well deserved.
Anand Bhavan , the original was bought from the founder of Aligarh Muslim University.Indira Gandhi was born here. Jawahar Lal Nehru was born in Meerganj in a rented house when Motilal Nehru was a young aspiring lawyer.
In the 20 acres that surrounded the house , Motilal Nehru built a house of his own design suiting his requirements, next to the old one . This house has only 12 rooms as compared to the original which has 22 rooms. The new residence was also named Anand Bhavan while the old one was renamed Swaraj Bhavan and was donated to the Indian National Congress as their National Office. Most of the decisions leading towards our Independance was taken in this house. Rajiv Gandhi had introduced audio-visual S&L show in every room to transport us to the last century thus recreating history for us as we amble along from room to room.
The new Anand bhavan is a cheerful house painted in Bright colours of White and Blue where Indira Gandhi was married. She dedicated this piece of history to the Nation when she inherited it from her father. Such is the benevelonce of a great daughter of the Nation. She grew here with the Netas of the land discussing, arguing, contesting, agreeing for a unified cause. She got groomed in this ambience with nobleness to protect and develop this Nation. She had a a forerunner in her grand father to emulate in her largesse.
The Planetorium stands in one corner of the garden where JLN who was impressed by the shiny stars on those dark nights in the jail, brought into his home for continuity. Kamala Nehru hospital initiated by Mahatma Gandhi in her memory still functions in another corner of the plot.
A cartoon by Shankar caught my eye : There is Jawahar Lal Nehru holding the hand of Independent India personified as a young Girl running away from a mob of big fat humans trying to join them. He is saying" lets run ahead before they catch us." These fat hooligan looking beings are Communalism, casteism, religious fanatics, abject poverty and a few more unwanted elements.
It is sad that the two did not run fast enough !
The stories of his practice as a lawyer, the wealth he had amassed, his entry into, the freedom struggle, his support that infused life into Congress in his own quiet but firm manner, his large heartedness to give Congress its base to function, are all legendary in this city of Holy piligrimages. A visit to Anand Bhawan as a part of a pilgrimage is well deserved.
Anand Bhavan , the original was bought from the founder of Aligarh Muslim University.Indira Gandhi was born here. Jawahar Lal Nehru was born in Meerganj in a rented house when Motilal Nehru was a young aspiring lawyer.
In the 20 acres that surrounded the house , Motilal Nehru built a house of his own design suiting his requirements, next to the old one . This house has only 12 rooms as compared to the original which has 22 rooms. The new residence was also named Anand Bhavan while the old one was renamed Swaraj Bhavan and was donated to the Indian National Congress as their National Office. Most of the decisions leading towards our Independance was taken in this house. Rajiv Gandhi had introduced audio-visual S&L show in every room to transport us to the last century thus recreating history for us as we amble along from room to room.
The new Anand bhavan is a cheerful house painted in Bright colours of White and Blue where Indira Gandhi was married. She dedicated this piece of history to the Nation when she inherited it from her father. Such is the benevelonce of a great daughter of the Nation. She grew here with the Netas of the land discussing, arguing, contesting, agreeing for a unified cause. She got groomed in this ambience with nobleness to protect and develop this Nation. She had a a forerunner in her grand father to emulate in her largesse.
The Planetorium stands in one corner of the garden where JLN who was impressed by the shiny stars on those dark nights in the jail, brought into his home for continuity. Kamala Nehru hospital initiated by Mahatma Gandhi in her memory still functions in another corner of the plot.
A cartoon by Shankar caught my eye : There is Jawahar Lal Nehru holding the hand of Independent India personified as a young Girl running away from a mob of big fat humans trying to join them. He is saying" lets run ahead before they catch us." These fat hooligan looking beings are Communalism, casteism, religious fanatics, abject poverty and a few more unwanted elements.
It is sad that the two did not run fast enough !
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