Nandi Hills,
28-4-'27
MY DEAR SHANKARAN,
Your letter is a tonic for me. You are realizing all my expectations.
I am delighted that the kitchen is in a perfect state now. Who is
your right-hand man? How is Giriraj doing? Are you keeping perfect
health? Your kitchen must become a treasure store of health of mind,
body and spirit. There must be all about it and for all times a sweetness,
restfulness and peacefulness which should be capable of being detected
by any passerby. Everything in its place, everything clean, no foreign
smells of a multiplicity of condiments, only the natural smell of
simple edibles and workers working harmoniously, contentedly and smilingly
in their own persons showing perfect health. Do you know that the
Rishis of old were poets, philosophers, cooks, scavengers all rolled
into one? Nalaraja was a wise ruler, an ideal husband, and a finished
cook. Every occupation may become disgraced by bad associations and
every occupation can become a stepping-stone to salvation when it
is undertaken by a wise man.
Yours,
BAPU
From a photostat: S.N. 14120