Gandhi's Smriti

Went to the place where Mahatma Gandhi lived the last years of his life, and where he was assassinated. It had been turned into a museum/memorial.

It is interesting that of the three sites I visited today, this was the only one with western tourists (besides me, obviously). Tourists outnumbered Indians, actually. I don't know if this is indicative of the diminishised role that Gandhi plays in India's consciousness, or if he permeates so much that no one feels the need to visit.

At least in the way the museum presented it, Gandhi realized he had been targeted for assassination, and seemed to have accepted it. He consistently refused armed protection, and also refused to change his daily routine. He also made a number of quotes to the effect that he was frustrated with divisions in post-independence India, and would rather die than to see it continue. Talk about the biggest guilt trip, ever.

Just as a side note, they called Gandhi "Bapu," which means father. This is because he's regarded as the Father of the Nation. I just like the sound of the word. Bapu Bapu Bapu.