The Mani Bhavan files: Gandhi's famous guests

What is it about a little two-storeyed building in the bylanes of Gamdevi that made US President Barack Obama eke out 45 minutes from a tight schedule, and Apache Indian to dance on the terrace to pay his respects to the 'Mahatma'. Here's leafing through Mani Bhavan's visitors' book to dig up its hallowed history

On a sunny Tuesday afternoon at Mani Bhavan, it looks like it's business as usual. The regular throng of foreigners and wide-eyed students pass by exhibits related to Mahatma Gandhi, stopping at corners where something peculiar catches individual fancy, as tea is served in little cups. The buzz at this unassuming historical edifice on a road once lined by Laburnum trees that gave it its name, is now familiar to neighbours.


Meghshyam T Ajgaonkar, Executive Secretary leafs through the visitor's
book at Mani Bhavan. PICS/ Satyajit Desai

That's until you ask to see the visitors' book. Out comes a laminated copy of Barack and Michelle Obama's signatures, and out goes the pretense of it being a normal day. The high of having hosted the US President and the First Lady at the historical location is still fresh in the minds of administrators, who are nevertheless no strangers to having royalty drop by.

This is after all one of the important Gandhi memorial's in the country. "Lots of people visit us, both locals and foreigners," says Meghshyam T Ajgaonkar, Executive Secretary,u00a0 as he nonchalantly throws a glance at a stack of pictures of Indian National Congress president Sonia Gandhi's four visits to Mani Bhavan.

She's not the only one. The carefully-preserved volumes of visitors' books are a crash course in the historical significance of this two-storeyed structure. Leaf through the pages Ajgaonkar willingly lets you, and you find notes left by everyone from ghazal singer Jagjit Singh to ex-president APJ Abdul Kalam.

Far from an exhaustive record, some illustrious names never made it to the book. "We may have been busy doing our own thing, and someone famous drops by. We don't even realise it until later," laughs Ajgaonkar, recounting how a few years ago, a former Australian Vice President walked in as early as 9 am when the hallway was still being swept. "He jumped, and went back to his car. Two minutes later, his bodyguard walked into the office and appraised us about his visit. That's when we rushed to present him with a copy of a book from the library here!"

And it's not just politicians who've made their way here. Ajgaonkar recalls a visit by reggae star Apache Indian, nine years ago. "His real name is Steven Kapoor. He entered with an entourage of 20 people at 6 pm when we were just about to close. We didn't know who he was. He left, and he returned the next day; this time, alone.

He said he wanted to pay his respects to the Mahatma, requested permission to go to the terrace, and once there, sang and danced for a few minutes before leaving."

Legions of Indian cricket lovers will be happy to know that Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting, and ex-South African fielding whiz Jonty Rhodes have also made an appearance. And if cricket has arrived, can Bollywood be far behind? "Priety Zinta and Amisha Patel have been here. Often, we are informed later by tourist guides that someone famous had dropped in. We are usually too busy with our work to recognise them!"

The Obamas, naturally, do not belong to that category, and Ajgaonkar says that while it usually takes about 20 minutes to tour the museum, Obama spent a good 45 minutes here. "He was well aware of all the events surrounding the Indian freedom struggle, and Gandhi's involvement. He was very moved. We presented him
with three books and a documentary film."

At: 19, Laburnum Road, Gamdevi. Call: 23805864

Planning to visit?
>Visiting hours: from 9.30 am to 6 pm, all 7 days.
> Gandhiji postage stamps, photographs, literature, memorabilia is on sale.

4 reasons for you to drop in at Mani Bhavan
>This is where the Father of the Nation stayed from 1917-1934. It was the headquarters of the Indian National Congress during this period.
>While here, he launched the Satyagraha (1919) and the Civil Disobedience movement (1932).
>It was converted into a memorial to MK Gandhi in 1955.
>It houses a library of 50,000 books related to the freedom struggle, about and by Gandhi. A room on the second floor, where Gandhi stayed, has been preserved. This is where you find rare pictures of him at landmark events during his early years.

APJ Abdul Kalam
Former President of India

Historical and inspiring centre. Please propagate from this centre how the young can learn nobility of leadership and integrity of character.

Rahul Gandhi
Politician

It is a great pleasure to return here. A very well kept museum.

Barack Obama
American President

I am filled with hope and inspiration as I have the privilege to view this testament to Gandhi's life. He is a hero not just to India, but to the world.

Jagjit Singh
Ghazal singer

A great environment. Full of memories of the freedom struggle. A milestone.

Jonty Rhodes
South African cricketer

Wonderful to see such an amazing record of such an inspirational man!

Martin Luther King
African American Civil Rights activist

To have the opportunity of sleeping in the house where Gandhiji slept is an experience that I will never forget.