In Search of Bapu – 1

During my brief stint in Ahmedabad, I once was engulfed by a burning desire to visit the renowned Sabarmati Ashram, a  stone’s throw, well.. not actually, from where I stayed , along the S.G. Highway.

I set off this evening, at about 5 pm, from the hostel, trudging along the sidewalk to the main gate.  I caught a bus to Gota. While I savoured the blistering heat, my scalp was not very happy. The recently exposed surface was wilting under the enormity of the heat.  I boarded another “AMTS” to Vadaj. When I enquired, I was instructed to alight  at Vadaj and the Ashram was at a walking distance from the bus stop.  Here is where the fun began.  At all times, the question that I posed  was  “How do I get to Sabarmati Ashram?” or “How do I get to Bapu’s Ashram?” I was so confidently posing these questions, as pride swelled inside of me that  I noticed not something that I had missed.

I was directed to board a bus bound for ChandKheda, and having been convinced of the Amdavadi’s accuracy, followed them to the T.  I got off at a place called  “Matora stadium”, and enquired for further directions. Hmmm.  3 km further!!!!

The sun was about to kiss the horizon and  my feet had begun to complain.  As I walked towards a certain “tower”, I asked a little boy, “where is the Bapu’s ashram?”. His reply was immediate…. “just a little further along the lane”, he said, pointing to one  exactly opposite to where I was standing.  Finally!!! I thought. I was to revisit a bygone era.

– to be continued–