While the world would pay tributes to Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi on his death anniversary on January 30, V Anil Kumar, an employee of the Kozhikode Medical College, has chosen his own unique way to remember the Father of the Nation. In a fitting tribute, he has made an illustration of the face of Gandhiji using 25 paise coins, which are hardly minted these days.
It was in 1948, Mahatma was killed by Nathuram Godse and Anil has used the same number of coins in his work of art. But was it easy for him to do this? Anil said it took almost one year to complete it as he had to collect the coins.
“I went about meeting several people, both in my place of residence at Eranhikkal, in Kozhikode and places like Koyilandy, to collect the coins. As people usually offer coins in temples, I collected several 25 paise coins by contacting the temple authorities as well,” he said. But the decision to make such a tribute was well received by people in his town and they came forward with coins to finish the work.
Though it was intended to be released on the birth anniversary of Mahatma, the coins still fell short in numbers. Finally, when he completed the work after taking time off the work and during holidays, he decided to make it a fitting tribute on the death anniversary of Gandhiji, he added.
Anil wants the work to be displayed at some public place, which would help people remember Mahatma every time they see it.
But why 25 paise coins? “People hardly keep 25 paise coins. The coins have been phased out and for many, they are just a memory. Collecting coins itself was a challenge, so I decided to use these coins,” he added.
Anil is popular for other reasons also, as he acts as a good Samaritan for those who lose important documents as election ID card or ration card during their visit to the Kozhikode Medical College. If these documents were found on the premises of the Medical College, Anil spends money from his own pocket to make sure that they are sent to the owners and they receive their documents in a few days.
“I once faced a lot of problems when I lost my election ID card. In order to ensure that people never face such problems, I send any such documents found in the hospital, to the owners immediately,” he said.
Like Mahatma, he believes that serving people is serving God and the happiness on the faces of people makes his day.