“Little Birds: A Flock of Poems with Messages of Gandhi” is a new children’s book written by Director of the Gandhi Memorial Center in Washington, DC, Srimati Karuna.

Just as children around the world are introduced to morals and ideals through stories of animals, this flock of poems brings messages from Mahatma Gandhi through stories told by and about birds, according to the author, Karuna.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869, in the seaside town of Porbandhar, Gujarat, in the western part of India. As a young boy, little “Moniya,” as he was known to his parents, was not always fond of school, but he grew to love learning through self-study, reading and experience. From a young age, he felt that books were his constant companions. Later in life, he traveled to England and South Africa and made a big impression on the hearts and minds of those whom he met.

“When he returned to India in 1915 to help with the call for freedom, he emphasized the ideals of truth, service and love through his efforts. He developed communities called ashrams where others joined him in the pursuit of these ideals,” added Karuna. “There were also times, in isolation and separation from his community, when he would write letters to those living in the ashram and to countless others around the world, all of whom he called friends. These friends were from all walks of life, all ages and backgrounds.”

Many know Gandhiji as the “Mahatma,” which means Great Soul. Yet, he often signed his letters with “Bapu’s Blessings,” she explained. Many people lovingly referred to Mahatma Gandhi as “Bapu,” meaning Father. In one of his letters to the children of his ashram, he addressed them as “little birds” in the greeting. This letter was written on his day of silence. His habit of observing silence each Monday gave him valuable time for writing and reflection.

According to Karuna, this book breathes through the wings of birds in rhyming verse, with poems inspired by beloved folk tales and stories gathered from the Jataka tales, the Panchatantra, the Upanishads, the Bible, the Qur’an, Attar’s Conference of the Birds, Aesop’s Fables and more.

The artwork within these pages has been offered by a variety of artists to share the visual imagery expressed by the poems. Each unique style presents a loving contribution. The book is available on Amazon.

Gandhiji’s Letter to the Children:

Little birds,

Ordinary birds cannot fly without wings. With wings, of course, all can fly. But you, without wings, will learn how to fly, then all your troubles will indeed be at an end. And I will teach you that.

See, I have no wings, yet I come flying to you every day in thought. Look, here is Vimala, here is Hari and here, Dharmakumar. And you also can come flying to me in thought.

There is no need of a teacher for those who know how to think. The teacher may guide us, but he cannot give us the power of thinking. That is latent in us. Those who are wise get wise thoughts.

Tell me who, amongst you, are not praying properly in Prabhubhai’s evening prayer.

Send me a letter signed by all, and those who do not know how to sign may make a cross.

Bapu’s Blessings

The illustrations are offered by artists from India, Sri Lanka, and the United States. The beautiful cover art by Masood Hussain depicts Gandhiji reading letters as birds flutter into an open window. The inside images that illustrate the poems are the creations of Sushila Bloom, Shanthi Chandrashekar, Aditi Dalela, Cordelia Dreisonstok, Supriya Dutt, Masood Hussain, Jacki Rockwell and Thushara Wijetilaka.

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