Mahatma Gandhi The Beloved Patient

Dr. Dinshah K. Mehta first met Mahatma Gandhi in January 1932, when the letter called him to Mani Bhavan, Bombay. Dr. Mehta become Gandhiji's personal Nature cure is physician and a close confidant. Dr. Dinshah treated Mahatma Gandhi till the end of Gandhiji's life in 1948. The father of the Nation wrote, in the Harijan Magazine on 25th march, 1946. "The still small voice within me whispers: why bother about what others say. I have given you a colleague like Dr. Dinshah who understands you and whom you understand."

Glimpses of Mahatma Gandhi in his Multifarious activities are brought out in this book entitled, "Mahatma Gandhi: the Beloved Patient" by Dr. Dinshah Mehta. Dr. Mehta came into close contact with Mahatma Gandhi since with Mahatma Gandhi since Bapu was equally interested in Nature Cure of which Dr. Mehta was a pioneer in our country.

The intimacy between Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Mehta developed to such an extent that Gandhiji entrusted to him the vital task of bringing about an understanding between Pakistan and India after Partition

Apart from playing a pivotal role at the time of the visit of the Cabinet Mission under the leadership of Lord Pethick Lawrence, Dr. Mehta tried his best to bring closer the view of the Congress as represented by Gandhiji and Sir Stafford Cripps a Member of the Cabinet Mission, and a champion of India's freedom from colonial rule.

Many other interesting anecdotes about Gandhiji fund of humour are brought out in this book once, some officials visited Gandhiji to fill up a form. Dr. Mehta and many other Congress leaders were present. After taking down details about Gandhiji religion, status, etc. when the official came to the question of 'Occupation', the leaders assembled there wondered what reply Gandhiji would give. Some suggested 'Social Service', 'Politician' etc. Gandhiji paused for a moment and said., "Wait, you put down as my 'Occupation', "once a lawyer, now an outlaw"

Dr. Mehta started his Nature Cure Clinic and Sanatorium in Poona in the year 1929 with a galvanized tub and a cold water tap. Soon, he built it up to a full-fledged and fully equipped institution. Later, in June 1944, Mahatma Gandhi made his home in this Institution and stayed there whenever he was in Pooja here, the Father of the nation founded the All-India Nature Cure Trust the deed of which Gandhiji ever signed. He become its Founder-Trustee and Chairman for life. Creating a Nature Cure University is one of the objects of this Trust. Dr. Mehta is the present Chairman of the Trust the Poona Institution has been handed over by the Trust to the Government of India for establishing there the National Institute of Naturopathy as a living memorial to Mahatma Gandhi.

Lokanayak Jayaprakash Narayan undertook a 21-day fast in 1952 under the supervision of Dr. Mehta. He stayed for the months at the Poona, inner transformation came in his life decision it was for me to do my fast at the clinic and Dr. Mehta's physical and spiritual ministration made a profound impression of my life.

we have been a most unusual combination between two remarkable individuals a doctor and a patient. The patient was none other than activities would be fascinating, but this is particularly so when the doctor concerned was Dr. Dinshah K. Mehta, now known as Rev. Dada ji. Dr. Mehta was not only the pioneer of modern Naturopathy in India, but also a person of deep spiritual stature who has for many decades worked through the society of Servants of God for Spiritual regeneration of the individual and the nation.

Dr. Mehta's record of his long and intimate association with Mahatma Gandhi throws a great deal of light upon the tumultuous events of the 30s and 40s when our freedom movement reached its triumphant but tragic conclusion. We get glimpses into the mind of Gandhi ji and his views on may significant issues. Beginning with his first meeting with Gandhi ji 1932, the story continues right upto his assassination biographical as well as historical viewpoints and it is but appropriate that the Bharatiya Vidya Bhava, the institution founded by Dr. K. M Munshi for the regeneration of Indian culture should have brought out this book.

I must mention that this publication would not have been possible had it not been for the devotion and dedication of the late Dr. Sundri P. Vaswani. An outstanding management consultant in her own right, Dr. Vaswani served dada ji and the society with total commitment until her untimely death a few years ago. During this period she brought out many publications of Dada ji including the laws of health also published by the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. This book, in all fairness, should be dedicated to her memory.