Meet the man who played key role in getting Raj Ghat cleaned up

Bhopal: As we remember Mahatma Gandhi on his birth anniversary, we need to know about one person who was instrumental in getting the Gandhi Samadhi at Raj Ghat cleaned up. S N Chowksey, a retired government employee, has played an active part in getting the Gandhi Samadhi cleaned at Raj Ghat after he filed a petition in the Delhi High Court highlighting the want of upkeep and cleanliness in February 2016.

Though Chouksey is still not satisfied by the renovation and cleaning, his efforts to initiate the revamp and clean-up of the Gandhi Samadhi have paid off.

“I paid a visit to Raj Ghat in 2014 and was shocked to see the state that it was lying in. Gandhiji fought to instill cleanliness, but his resting place was itself in a pathetic state. It is an international site as Gandhi was a global leader. Dignitaries from all over the world come to pay their respects to Gandhiji, yet it was lying in such a disgraceful state," Chouksey told TOI.

“I took pictures of the place and then visited the place again in 2015 and took more photos. I filed a petition in the Delhi High Court in 2016, attaching the photographs and highlighting the failure of the Rajhghat Samadhi Committee in maintaining the Samadhi,” Chouksey said.

The court took cognizance of the petition and ordered the departments of the ministry of urban development and the Rajghat Samadhi Committee to carry out the maintenance. The whole area was spruced up, toilets were cleaned, a new water tap with several outlets was built and the pond for lotuses was also cleaned. Lotuses have been now planted in the water.

“The work finished by August 2019 and I paid the Samadhi another visit to see if they had done everything I had pointed out in the petition. Though most of the things like footpath was re-built, the marble framing of the Samadhi was cleaned properly, and clean taps for drinking water were installed at the samadhi, but there are still some things that need to be taken care of. I have filed another petition for it,” added Chouksey.