WARDHA

Mashrumama, a 60-year-old Rabari man, sat on his cot in the middle of a cotton field in Vidarbha. As night fell, the flowers of the nearby trees cast a warm glow over his temporary village, or dera.

Mashrumama was the eldest of five Rabari families who had arrived in the area a few days earlier as part of their annual migration through the region. The Rabaris were a semi-nomadic community originally from Kachchh in Gujarat, but many had made Vidarbha their home for generations, raising large herds of goats, sheep, and camels.

As the women of the dera prepared a feast of rice kheer, jaggery with ghee, chapati, lentil dal, and buttermilk, Mashrumama shared stories of his nomadic life with a young visitor. He spoke of the mutually beneficial relationship between the Rabaris and local farmers, who allowed the herds to graze on their land in exchange for the fertility brought by the animal droppings. Mashrumama also expressed concerns about the changing climate and ecology, which were making it harder for his animals.

Mashrumama was proud of his Rabari ethnicity and traditions. He shared the many names the Rabaris used for stars and constellations, such as calling the polestar 'parodiya' and the seven-star constellation 'haran' (deer). Mashrumama recounted a story about the Rabaris' reigning Devi, Sati Ma, and a long-ago conflict over a beautiful Rabari princess – a tale passed down through generations, much like the nomadic lifestyle Mashrumama and his people had been living for centuries.

Humesh Patil was a simple farmer in the village of Pandharkawada, Wardha district, pleased with his humble existence tending to his 17 acres of land. But the future had other ideas when the government proposed the massive Samruddhi Mahamarg Scheme, which would require a piece of his property.

Humesh was initially cautious, like many farmers his yields had declined over the years, so he supplemented his income by running a small dairy business. However, the sum offered for his 2.5 acres appeared like an opportunity to change his life. After considerable thought, Humesh agreed to give up his land. With the money in hand, he could focus on his main passion, developing his dairy. First, he purchased a dozen cows and built them a real home, complete with gotha (cowshed) and quarters for the laborers he hired to care for them.

Humesh did not end there. He invested in sophisticated equipment to improve the efficiency of his milk production. With 350 litres gathered daily, he was able to sell some directly to buyers while supplying the remainder to local dairies. The huge demand for "Goras Pak" biscuits, prepared with his cow's milk, was an added advantage.

Humesh didn't spend it all, he saved a portion of his earnings in the bank and invested some in mutual funds for the future. He had a long-term goal in mind, to begin manufacturing and selling condensed milk as well. Humesh's monthly profits now considerably exceed his previous earnings as a farmer. He credited his success to the Samruddhi Mahamarg Scheme with his achievement, admitting that the payment helped him to pursue his actual calling. Humesh's journey from a struggling farmer to a prosperous milk businessman shows determination, ambition, and the power of reinvention. His cows may not be able to speak, but if they could, they surely would be mooing his praises.

Sindhutai was born into poverty in a small village. When she was just a child, her own family abandoned her. Alone and scared, she found help from kind strangers who took her in as a young bride, hoping to give her a better life. But Sindhutai's future quickly became difficult. Her husband left her, leaving Sindhutai to care for herself and their growing family of children. With no one to turn to, the young mother resorted to begging on the streets.

Despite her own struggles, Sindhutai began taking in orphaned children, caring for them as her own. Over time, she rescued and raised over 1,400 children, providing them with shelter, education, and job training. The children affectionately called her "Mai" or mother.

Sindhutai's selfless work did not go unnoticed. She was honored with over 750 awards and accolades, including the prestigious Padma Shri in 2021. But Sindhutai's greatest joy came from seeing her children grow into successful, independent adults. She had 236 sons-in-law and 49 daughters-in-law. Even in her later years, Sindhutai continued advocating for orphans and the marginalized. She used her award money to build shelters and schools. Her inspiring story was made into an acclaimed movie in 2010-Mee Sindhutai Sapkal. Sindhutai passed away in 2022 at age 73, but her legacy lives on through the thousands of people she helped.

Leaving the comforts of Sabarmati, the 67-year-old Mahatma Gandhi set out to create his residence in the modest village of Segaon, which he would soon rename Sevagram - the "village of service".

Gandhi had first visited Wardha years ago, at the invitation of his student, businessman Jamnalal Bajaj. With the fire of liberation burning stronger than ever, the Mahatma said he would not return to Sabarmati until India gained independence. So, he happily made the 8 km journey from Wardha to his new home, enjoying the simple pleasure of walking.

In a letter to his friend Amrit Kaur, Gandhi described his new modest home. It had a small hut for himself and his wife Kasturba, another for guests, a common kitchen, and a courtyard where daily poojas would take place. This was to be the center of the independence struggle, a place where Gandhi could experiment with truth and nonviolence. Soon, the quiet village of Sevagram was filled with India's most famous leaders, including Nehru, Patel, Azad, and Bose. Gandhi welcomed them all and also cared for a leprosy patient who had come to the ashram. For the Mahatma, service was not just an ideal, but a way of life.

The villagers petitioned to rename Segaon as Sevagram, making the ashram a reflection of Gandhi's thoughts. From this humble house, the Mahatma would lead the fight for freedom, creating resolutions that would shake the foundations of British rule. Even the American journalist Louis Fischer, who visited Sevagram in 1942, was impressed by Gandhi's simple lifestyle and profound ideas. When Gandhi finally left Sevagram, it was to go on a final peace mission that would lead to his demise. But the ideas he had lived by at Sevagram - simplicity, service, and nonviolence - would continue to inspire generations of Indians in their pursuit of self-rule. In this modest village, the Mahatma had found the perfect setting for his vision of a liberated, self-sufficient India.