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Hedgewar Bhavan – was searched by the government during
the emergency, the cupboard belonging to Nathabhai had books
like Angrezi Pathmala (English Series of Lessons) and Fatafat
Angrezi Bolana Seekho (Learn English the Quickest Way).

Once many years ago, perhaps during the communal riots
of 1969, I got an opportunity to go with Nathabhai to the
residence of Udayan Cheenubhai. The late Monaben, wife of
Udayanbhai used to talk to Nathabhai in English. She asked
her questions in English. I noticed in surprise that he replied to
every question in Gujarati, and he did not commit mistake
anywhere. This was no mean accomplishment. Nathabhai
always tried to read the newspaper Organiser.

In the political domain, the formation of the Jana Sangh
was a new effort in Gujarat. These were the days when the name
of the party had to be made popular. The duo of Vasantbhai
Gajendragadkar and Nathabhai undertook extremely hard work
in order to expand the scope of the Jana Sangh. Bhaikaka of the
Swantra Party used to cut jokes at the Jana Sangh leaders when
he said, “You cannot win elections by drawing lamps on the
walls.” At that time, the election symbol of the Jana Sangh was
Deepak (lamp).

The mantra of the expansion of Jana Sangh was “a worker’s
one leg in rail and another in jail”. It meant extensive travel as
well as struggling for people’s rights and well-being. With this
mantra close to his heart, Nathabhai kept the lamp of the Jana
Sangh lighted in Gujarat.

Looking at the glorious state of affairs of the Bharatiya
Janata Party today, it is hardly imaginable the hard work that
the volunteers of the Jana Sangh have undertaken in order to
provide solid roots to this massive banyan tree.

In the initial period of the Jana Sangh, Nathabhai used to
play his role in different capacities. When a meeting of the Jana
Sangh was to be conducted in any part of Ahmedabad, he would
set out to write the information on the walls himself. On the
day of the meeting, he would set out with a tiny mike
(microphone) in his hand riding a bicycle or tricycle in order to
let people know of the meeting. And when it was the time for