Now, scholars who wish to undertake a research into the life and works of Mahatma Gandhi can walk into the Gandhi Bhavan library in the city located at Venkataratnapuram behind the Kakinada Municipal Corporation office, where all the 100 books penned by Gandhiji are available for reference. After a year-long hard work, the management of the Gandhi Bhavan with the help of a few Gandhians collected all the English translations of the works penned by the Mahatma. the library also put on display rare photographs of the father of the nation in the Gandhi museum located on the verdant premises of the Gandhi Bhavan.
“Marking the birth centenary of Mahatma Gandhi in 1969, the Union government published all the works of Mahatma Gandhi. After that, most of the books were not available in the market and that is why it took a very long time for us to collect his works for our library,” says Dantu Surya Rao, president of Gandhi Bhavan.
He says Vadrevu Sundara Rao, a Gandhian and lecturer from the government college, Tanuku, has taken the initiative to collect the books and visited all the Gadhi ashrams and many Gandhians all over the city for the cause.
“The collection of 67 books was completed six months ago and purchased them by paying Rs. 200 each an honorary payment to the Gandhians. But, we could not find the remaining 23 works. At last, we have found that the e-books are available on the internet and taken the initiative of publishing them as printed books by spending Rs. 1,000 on each book,” Mr. Surya Rao says.
The Kakinada Gandhi Bhavan was established in the pre-independence era and to mark the Gandhi’s visit to Venkataratnpuram on May 3, 1929. A trust was formed by the local Gandhians, who purchased the 7,500 square yards site owned by the Rajahs of Pithapuram. “In fact, Pithapuram Rajah never sold his land to anyone, but donated it. However, the Gandhi Bhavan trust was keen on purchasing it, just because the Rajah supported the Justice Party, which was in favour of the British then,” recalls Mr. Surya Rao. Along with the library, a couple of conference halls, Gandhi museum, tailoring centre and a school for the physically challenged children were being run on the premises of the Gandhi Bhavan.
“The books will be handed over to the library by Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Mandali Budha Prasad at a programme to be conducted at Gandhi Bhavan on July 9,” he said.
