As I was viewing a travel documentary on Gujarat on TravelXP TV Channel this afternoon, it was interesting to hear that the famous Sabarmathi Aashraam was founded by Mahaathmaa Gandheejee with his twenty disciples at his Phoenix Aashram. I have mentioned briefly about my visit to Phoenix Aashram in a few previous posts.
In the late 1980s or so when I was travelling to South Africa from Vellore, my hometown in India, after terminal holidays, when I disembarked at Johannesburg International Airport on route the domestic airport near the town where I resided, my unaccompanied luggage didn't arrive. I was given transit accommodation at a hotel inside the airport and was asked to wait until my luggage arrived and then take the domestic flight.
As I was waiting for my luggage, I happened to meet a South African Indian gentleman by name Bakul Patel. He said that his house was just in Suburban Johannesburg; he said that he would be glad to take me to his house; he said that I can stay as long as I wished and that I can leave for my town after claiming my missed luggage. He was very kind. He was one among the many very wealthy South Africans of Gujaraathi origin. During my 3 days stay, he took me to his parent's house and siblings' houses. It was nice to know that they followed our culture and traditions remarkably.
During my stay there, Bakul's father took me to the Phoenix Aashram. It was a very memorable visit.
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