Shri Mani Shankar, Shri Pawan Kumar Ji, Vivekji and my dear friends.

I am really very-very happy to welcome Shri Mani-Shankar Ji who is like younger brother to me and a very close friend of Rajiv Ji. We are doing something which should be termed as historic work in the present here. I am very happy that he is here in this holy place today. When I joined Harijan Sewa Sangh 32 years back, I know Gandhiji use to live here and it is a holy place. I remember one Sikh gentleman who was then 19 used to come daily to this campus and the moment he entered the campus he would take the dust and put it on his forehead. We used to watch him and ask Sardar Ji what you are doing so he said “You don’t know sister, you haven’t seen anything because you were not here when Mahatma Gandhiji used to live here. He used to walk here bare foot so Gandhiji lives here and this soil has felt his presence and I know that this is that noble place” I thanked Sardarji and I said that I never knew this and this was the place of unofficial capital of freedom movement, whenever he used to come to Delhi and Sardar Patel, Maulana Azad used to come here to take his advice and I knew that Badshah Khan lived here and for many times for long period. Whenever I used to meet in those old days they used to say that Gandhi Ashram is a very holy place and one man told me that you do not know this is really when I came here I found that this is one of the holiest places and so try to preserve and try to make it a centre for all spiritual activities and all the peace activists should come and receive the vibrations that Mahatma ji has given us.

When Netaji Subhash Chandra Ji was ill, Gandhiji said, “…now I am making you a prisoner to come here and take rest and get well”, so he also came here and stayed here for a long time. This place was visited by all the leaders of the freedom movement. I am really very happy to welcome Mani Shankar Ji to this place where he spends ages to Harijan Sevak Sangh, which was founded by Mahatma Ji.

This is the time we feel that something should be done to make this holy place available to peace activists spiritual seekers and social activists who want to bring social change in society by non violent means. How can we do that when my younger brother is here I am sure he will be able to make this and it is my another brother Vivek Sharma who has taken to his heart to make this Gandhi Ashram with such interest. A place which would be visited by various peace activists who have been pressing me to do something so that they could stay here and work for peace. Now I would not take much of your time but I would like to say that abroad Gandhiji is more remembered by his friends then his friends in India and when they come to know that I came from such a place where Gandhiji lived I can’t explain the way they treat me - with great respect.

We are small people we belong to great country blessed by great saints. Before I conclude I want to appreciate Shri Mani Ji for his historic work at connecting Iran, Pakistan and India which may be a permanent link which is needed today to bring all these countries that have been together for centuries. With his work and his initiatives I am sure that Gandhiji could very loved to see this great work being accomplished by Shri Aiyar a true Gandhian whom I welcome to this place blessed by Gandhiji.