Unearthed: Rare 1944 Photo Album of Mahatma Gandhi and Sumati Morarjee in Juhu
Siby Kollappallil Joseph
Recently, I received a message from a person who is deeply interested in finding historical facts and collecting valuable antiques from different parts of the country about a new addition to his collection.
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It was a photo album that was published in 1944 while Gandhi stayed at Juhu Beach after his incarceration at the Aga Khan’s palace in Pune from 9 August 1942 to 6 May 1944. He shared the cover page and one photo from the album.
It appeared to me like a book, and I asked him to share the details. He informed me that it was just an album consisting of 7 photos. On the back cover of the album, it is written, “This Album is the work of the well-known Photo Artists Mr. Datta Khopker & Mr. Nadir Engineer.
After release, Gandhiji stayed at Juhu. The Artists have seized the opportunity.” It was printed and published for the Lok Prakashan Limited by Indravadan Balvantray Thakor at Praja Bandhu Press, Revdi Bazar, Ahmedabad.
It was priced at Rs. 3. Though it was only three rupees in those days, the person who purchased it had to undergo a long negotiation to buy it through a very old source selling antiques.
The photo shared increased my curiosity because it was a photo of Gandhi sitting surrounded by people, and a lot of mangoes were kept near him.
I was familiar with this photo because I happened to read an article about R.K. Narayan’s novel, “Waiting for the Mahatma,” in which the author links the photo with an incident narrated in the book when Gandhi was taken to the richest man in a town.
Gandhi calls the children in the audience and distributes the fruits to them. I requested the person to share the rest of the photos.
What struck me was the presence of a young lady in the majority of the photos. I was eager to know the details of the person who was with Gandhi.
it was Sumati Morarjee, a close associate of Gandhi who was involved in the underground movement for independence and took care of Gandhi during his visits. Gandhi used to stay in her Palm Bungalow house in Juhu during a couple of visits to Bombay.
She was born on 13 March 1909 to Mathuradas Gokuldas and his wife Premabai, an affluent merchant family in Bombay. At the time of her birth, her parents named her Jamuna.
At the tender age of thirteen, Jamuna was married to Shanti Kumar Morarjee, the only son of Narottam Morarjee, a prominent industrialist.
After marriage, she was given a new name, Sumati, meaning a woman with superior wisdom. Shanti Kumar nominated his wife to Scindia Steam Navigation, and she became an integral part of the company’s management at the age of 20.
The association between Shanti Kumar and his wife Sumati is evident from a letter Gandhi wrote on May 13, 1928.
“Chi. Shantikumar,
Even if you don’t ask for my blessings, you have them. May you live long and render much useful service. What present did Sumati give you on your birthday? Does she spin daily? Is she a habitual wearer of khadi? Does she constantly think of the poor? If she gives you such presents on every birthday, both of you will reap the reward of goodness, and the poor will prosper. I will use your cheque in accordance with your wishes.
Blessings from Bapu.”
Gandhi’s life was a source of inspiration for people from different walks, even the most affluent ones. As Gandhi’s Secretary Mahadev Desai and wife Kasturba died in Aga Khan Palace, Gandhi’s stay at Juhu was a very sad period in his life.
As on earlier occasions, Sumati was with Mahatma at the moment of grief. The photos depict the close association between the two.
Sumati not only contributed to the freedom struggle but also in the field of business.
Sumati was popularly known as the mother of Indian shipping because she set a precedent as the first woman in the world to head a pioneer organization of shipowners – Indian National Shipowners Association (INSA).
Sumati Morarji was also elected as Vice-President of the World Shipping Federation, London in 1970.
The Government of India officially honoured her contribution by conferring the Padma Vibhushan on her. She passed away on 27 June 1998 due to cardiac arrest.
About the Author
Dr. Siby K. Joseph is a Gandhian Scholar and Director, Sri Jamnalal Bajaj Memorial Library and Research Centre for Gandhian Studies,Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan, Sevagram,Wardha- 442102, Maharashtra (INDIA)
Email: directorjbmlrc@gmail.com
