Breaking the Sugar Habit: A Story About Mahatma Gandhi

Breaking the Sugar Habit: A Story About Mahatma Gandhi

In the 1930’s there was a young boy who was obsessed with eating sugar.  His mother was concerned, knowing that sugar is a ‘bad’ habit and not good for the health of her son. So she did her best to break him of the habit. She reasoned with him, she scolded him, but to no avail. Frustrated, she decided to take her son to see his idol, Mahatma Gandhi himself, hoping that her boy would listen to him. Making their way to Gandhi was no easy task.  They walked for miles under the scorching hot sun. Finally, upon reaching Gandhi’s ashram, they found Gandhi Ji himself standing there. The mother explained, “Bapu, my son eats too much sugar. It is not good for his health. Would you please advise him to stop eating it?” Gandhi listened to the woman carefully, thought for a while and replied, “Please come back after two weeks. I will talk to your son then.” The Mother took her boy by the hand, returned home and in two weeks, they once again walked miles in the scorching son, making their way back to Gandhi, at which time he looked directly at the boy and said, “You should stop eating sugar.  It is not good for your health.” The boy agreed.  He promised that he could end the sugar habit.  But the boy’s mother was puzzled.  After all, could he have not said that in the first place, saving them the arduous trip? So she asked Gandhi Ji, “Bapu, Why didn’t you just tell him that two weeks ago when I brought him here to see you?” Gandhi smiled and said, “I was not qualified to advise the boy at that time, as I too was eating lots of sugar.” First, You be The Change, You Want To See In This World ~ Mahatma Gandhi.