Some days back I had been to "Maharshi Smarak". It is just around the corner of my college, a small but very proud building in stone. Old pitched roof on steel trusses and stone piers holding it up. The surrounding garden wipes all other bustle of life away… It is a place to remember him, the man who walked on this land with a vision of thousand years.
He believed and lived by principles way ahead of his time. And by his grace today I exist here. It is monument to Maharshi Karve the founder of an institution that has spread to educate thousands of girl students into brighter lives.
That day I just walked out of my schedule and decided to go there. Not many people visit the place usually. It is always secluded and silent. Cool stone texture touched my feet and I was home…for blessed once with this century’s old man I was home.
There is a small figurine of his. And next to him is the memorial of his wife, Baya Karve. She had insisted to have a tulsee (sacred Hindu plant) planted over her memorial. And there it stands reminding us the story of humble soul mates that changed the world.
They brought light to ignored corners of the world. They gave the best to the world that denounced and outcast them.
The Karve institute started with a small hostel school for girls. My grandma is student of Balikashram, the ancient hostel school of the Karve’s.
I feel a double stranded bond with this institute, as today I stand in front of the same man, part of his family widening everyday.
I am part of the generations that will always be thankful to him.
We thank him for the courage and honesty he lived by. We thank him for the compassion and strength of heart he possessed. We thank him for inspiring us and giving us the right nourishment and safety in our blooming years…. I love this old man who lives in us.
I left a pair of roses out of my bunch at the memorial...hope he knew what i wanted to say to him..... Give us your light so we can light up the dark.