By Shobha Rao Smilemaker

Oct 2: We found ourselves at Porbandar - the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi. We had to park our car some distance away and walk through narrow streets. The quaint, one storied houses, the narrow streets, the early morning energy all added to still give the place some additional old world charm of those times.

Suddenly we found ourselves at the gates of an impressive entrance. We were at Kirti Mandir, the memorial complex in honour of the Father of our nation. On the left side of the annexe was the original house of the Gandhi family purchased by his grandfather in the seventeenth century.

I entered the house with a curiosity to check out the place where Mahatma Gandhiji had grown up just like any other ordinary child. Yet when I entered the actual room where Gandhiji was born, I was completely fascinated and struck in awe that such an ordinary looking child can grow up to lead such an extra-ordinary life and make such an amazing contribution to humanity!

The home itself where three generations of Gandhis lived together was very impressive with many rooms, wooden steps, decorative banisters, window meshes, and balconies overlooking the open courtyard. Imagine the greatness of Gandhiji, who himself signed the registration papers to donate his house as a public museum. As we walked inside room after room of this ancestral house, I tried to imagine what the four walls must have been witness to - the child Gandhiji playing here, sleeping here, studying here, eating here etc. That child could have just worked like anybody else to enhance his own family fortunes. That is what most of us do throughout our lives, isn't it...work for the wellbeing of our immediate families in our homes isn't It?

But the child that was born in this room at Porbandar was different. He grew up, he chose to work and one day when he was thrown out of a railway compartment in South Africa because of his skin colour, he did not hang his head in shame.

Instead he decided to return to India for the cause of freedom. His first challenge was not to ask the British Rulers to leave. His first challenge was to change the mindset of the whole Indian population who were subject to two centuries of British rule. He had to change the mindset of the common man that Indians were capable of ruling themselves. He strived ceaselessly across the country to interact with millions of Indians to contribute to the cause of Independence! I bowed my head in immense respect at what a major difference was made in this world because of the ordinary -looking child that was born in this very house!

We then went to the other side of the annexe to gaze in fascination at some of Gandhiji's items of personal use that was displayed at the museum. We got a glimpse of some of the influences in his life that made Gandhiji such an extra-ordinary person.

His tolerance towards all religions was symbolized by the combination of different styles of architecture used in the construction of Kirti Mandir. This was one visit that I would never forget for the rest of my life!

I remained silent as we walked out of this great place. We purchased some eatables and fruits from local vendors and I wondered whether they were aware of what a great source of inspiration their Porbandar could be.

All of us have the same extraordinary potential within ourselves like Gandhiji when we are just born in this world...yet why is it that many of us end up living so called ordinary lives? The difference is that most of us think like the rest and just choose to work for our own families, while people like Mahatma Gandhi adopt a different mindset and choose to work towards a contribution for humanity! Do visit the birthplace and childhood home of the Father of our Nation and be inspired with a smile.

Shobha Rao Smilemaker has a vision of living in a world where people use their ability to find and make smiles in any situation. She is a lawyer by qualification, a soft skills trainer by passion, a motivational speaker, a freelance journalist, a bestselling author, an avid traveler and founder of 'Smilemakers Trainings'. She can be contacted at www.shobhasmilemaker.com.