Gandhi's inspiring short stories selected from the book Everyone's Gandhi
Kusum Tai Pandey
This episode occurred during Gandhi's visit to Anand Niketan Hostel in Sevagram Ashram.
In those days Shri Pandey was in charge of the hostel. Once, when Gandhiji was on a visit, his gaze was immediately directed towards Pandeyji's clothes.
He felt very odd when he noticed his shirt buttons which were open to quite an extent. He at once commented "Pandey, you have wasted so much cloth for nothing."
"How is that?" Pandey asked Gandhi.
To this Bapu replied, "You see, it is usually the case that people wear clothes to cover their bodies but here I can clearly see half of your body. Either you wear just a Dhoti like I do or at least take the trouble of buttoning up your shirt properly."
The next morning saw Pandeyji in a coarse loin cloth.