Ghasera village in Mewat, where Gandhi came to stop the migration of Muslims.
The country got independence, but the country was divided into two parts. The fire of partition was fierce in both these parts. Many people from India were going to their ‘own country’ Pakistan. They were worried that if they stayed in India, they would be subjected to violence and all their belongings would be looted. Haryana and Rajasthan’s Mewat also had a similar climate. The Meo community settled in these two states were also ready to go to Pakistan. Hundreds of people left their homes and headed for Pakistan.
Meanwhile this news reached Mahatma Gandhi. At that time he was staying at Birla House in Delhi. Hearing the news of such a large number of Muslims leaving India, he could not contain himself and reached Mewat. That date was December 19, 1947. It was extremely cold and the fog was such that the roads were not visible until 10 am. However, Mahatma Gandhi arrived at Ghasera village in Mewat wearing a thin dhoti and convened a panchayat of Muslims with the help of Chaudhary Yasin Khan, a veteran Mewat leader.
40 thousand people reached the panchayat
More than 40 thousand people reached this panchayat. While starting the panchayat, Mahatma Gandhi asked the people why they wanted to go to Pakistan. After this he listened to people’s arguments for half an hour and then said in an orderly tone that no one needed to go to Pakistan. He assured the Mayo Muslims that India belonged to the Muslims as much as to the Hindus. He assured that there will be no violence here. On this assurance of Gandhi, Muslims took an oath to never leave India.
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Mahatma Gandhi stayed for 4 hours
Along with this, the people who left for Pakistan from Mewat were called back by sending men. In this meeting, Gandhiji said that he did not want the partition of India and Pakistan under any circumstances, but because of some fanatics. Mahatma Gandhi stayed in Ghaseda village for about 4 hours. In the meantime he had a Vaishnav meal at the house of Chaudhry Yasin Khan. Later in the evening he left for Delhi promising the people there to keep coming.
Khasera has been declared as Gandhigram.
As he was assassinated a few days later, this became Mahatma Gandhi’s first and last visit to Mewat. Today a school has been built on the spot where Gandhiji met with the Meo Muslims. After independence, this Ghaseda village was declared as Gandhigram. Although many governments have come and gone since then, the condition of Ghaseda village has not changed till today. Even today the people of this village are thirsty for basic facilities.
