Kerala freedom fighter Raghavji's ideals endure, but his home lies neglected

In Shoranur, a town in Kerala's Palakkad district, stands a house that once served as a living example of Mahatma Gandhi's principles. It was the home of N.P. Raghava Pothuval, known widely as Raghavji, a freedom fighter who walked alongside Gandhi during the historic Dandi March of 1930. Today, the house and the adjacent office, where he once promoted self-reliance, remain largely abandoned.

Raghavji was among the 78 followers who joined Gandhi to protest the British salt law. Born in 1906, he studied in local schools before joining Rabindranath Tagore's Visva-Bharati. In 1927, he moved to the Sabarmati Ashram and chose to remain there until India gained independence.

After Gandhi's arrest at Karadi, Raghavji and others continued the protest. He was later taken into custody at Dharasana and imprisoned at Mambalam Jail in Chennai, where among his fellow prisoners was Subhas Chandra Bose, his niece N.P. Sarala recalls.

Following independence, Raghavji focused on Gandhi's vision of self-sufficient villages. He converted his 3.5-acre ancestral property on the banks of the Bharathapuzha at Paruthipra into an ashram-like centre. A handloom unit there trained people in spinning and other village crafts. The centre also encouraged sesame cultivation, gingelly oil production, honey farming, and soap making. Raghavji continued this work until his death in December 1992.

The words 'Swayam Prakashitha Giri Sadanam', meaning 'a dwelling that shines by itself', are still painted on the walls of his home. They reflect the self-reliant life he sought to build. His efforts earned national recognition, with former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi inviting him to Dandi to be felicitated.

Raghavji also preserved letters written by Gandhi and other memorabilia. Many have been lost over the years. 'He had very few possessions. Some gifts and an old wristwatch were among the things he kept. He was deeply saddened by the loss of many of the letters and other memorabilia,' Sarala said.

Social activist Prasad K. Shoranur believes that the neglect of Raghavji's home reflects a broader fading of Gandhian legacy. He founded the Gandhi Seva Vedi in 2014, on the 22nd anniversary of Raghavji's death, to keep his memory alive. Raghavji had donated his house and office to the Sarvodaya Sangham to promote Gandhian ideals. But the premises, once a hub of Gandhian activity, now see little upkeep and few visitors.

Prasad has documented Raghavji's life on a blog and has demanded that a major road leading to Raghavji's ancestral area in Shoranur municipality be named after him.

For those who remember Raghavji, preserving his memory also means preserving the values he lived by: self-reliance, service, and simple living.