Mirabehn: Encyclopedia II - Mirabehn - Life after Gandhi's death

Mirabehn - Life after Gandhi's death

On 30 January 1948 came the news of Bapu's assassination. It was simply stunning. Mirabehn stood silent and still. A ­vast emotion held her in a trance. In the early part of the night people came from Hrishikesh to take her to Delhi.

Mirabehn stayed where she was and worked until 27 January 1959 before leaving for England. And in the interim period, Mirabehn founded Gopal Ashram in Bhilangana in 1952. From 1954 to 1957 she kept herself busy with experiments in breeding cows. Though she was intensely active during these years, she did not feel comfortable in an India without Gandhi, rapidly transforming after independence on its own terms.

After leaving India she went to England and lived there for some time, but she felt completely out of tune with an England which was not familiar to her. So, in search of a better and peaceful place, she went to Vienna, Austria and settled there. In 1969, on the occasion of the Gandhi Centenary Celebrations, she was invited by Lord Louis Mountbatten to visit England and narrate her experiences and recollections of Mahatma Gandhi. The Albert Hall was full with nearly seven thousand people. The Prince of Wales, the Prime Minister and many other dignitaries were present. The talk that Mirabehn gave to the gathering was almost beyond the highest expectation of Lord Louis Mountbatten.

In 1981 the Government of India honoured Mirabehn with the Padma Vibhushan for her meritorious service to India and mankind. She died on July 20th, 1982 at the age of 90.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Life after Gandhi's death", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki