Gandhi Jayanti Special
“ Sherdil Gandhi” and Lahore’s Lalchand Falak by Akhilesh Jha On 9 November 1921, when Mahatma Gandhi arrived at Lahore’s Mian Mir Railway Station, it felt as if the whole of Punjab had gathered there to welcome him. The entire city was fragrantly decorated with marigold flowers. At every step, people stood with garlands in hand to honor Gandhi. Those who could not garland him threw flowers over his vehicle. With great difficulty, he first reached the house of Lala Lajpat Rai, at whose invitation Gandhi had come to Lahore. That evening was the first convocation ceremony of ‘National College, Lahore’, held at Bradlaugh Hall. The college had been founded only a few months earlier, in May 1921. In the afternoon, after addressing a women’s gathering, Gandhi’s entourage moved towards Bradlaugh Hall around 2:30 pm. Along with him were an American journalist, Mrs. Anderson, Mr. Azad Subhani, and several other local leaders of Punjab. It seemed as though the entire city of Lahore w...