The 20th day was a rest day for everyone. Never the less the padyatris woke up early and invested their time and energy in finishing up personal chores in the spirit of self reliance inspired by Gandhiji. Some started to wash their clothes, others went to the market and few even got their hair shaved. The team also went to visit Shri Neelkanth Bhagwan near the school premises. After lunch, people from the locals communities came to meet the padyatris and hear about their experiences and motivate them for the onward journey.
In the evening a Sanskar Sandhya program was organized to commemorate Bapu's practice of silence. An informal meeting took place in the school garden where the favorite hymns and tunes of Mahatma Gandhi were sung and their importance enumerated. A discussion on Gandhiji's autobiography and key concepts from the same was also held, with special focus on concept of silence and fasting. It was observed that earlier, when someone kept a silent fast, he kept a paper-pen and answered by writing. Today in the technological age, people write and communicate through WhatsApp or Messenger.
Gandhiji categorically refuted such literal notions of silence, saying that in the Srimad Bhagavad Gita ‘Chittavrittinirodh’ is actually a state of silence. He said silence did not just mean the non movement of the tongue but referred to the stagnation of the mind. So when Gandhiji kept a vow of silence, he kept completely silent, avoiding reading and writing, even answering in gestures.
Satya, along with non-violence, was the third weapon of the Mahatma’s fasting. Fasting has been glorified in the Indian Sanatan tradition. Even today, during ekadashi has the glory of compulsory fasting twice a month, a tradition in many families. Today's modern science has proved that if the digestive organs get rest every fortnight, then there is no possibility of cancer for life. The same thing has been presented in the scriptures in a simple manner by associating it with the fast of Ekadashi. Freedom is also the glory of fasting.
Mahatma Gandhi carried out many fasting led movements. These non-violent fasting based movements attracted the attention of the whole world and exposed to them the oppressive rule of the British. As a result the British had to leave India. After a whole day of discussion and reflection, everyone went to pray and in the evening enjoyed some melodious music before calling it a day.
End of Day 31st March 2021