Suresh Kumar Hajju has loved to play the role of Mahatma Gandhi so much that he has made it a routine job for himself. Grade three employee in the state electricity board by profession, Hajju has been playing the role of Mahatma Gandhi since his student life and has got his hair shaved off for 103 times so far. On Tuesday when India celebrated Gandhi Jayanti Hajju once again got his hair shaved to feature in the state function to mark the birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation.
“The first time I played Gandhi was in 1990 when a school approached me to play the role of Bapu. The role was offered to me because no one wanted to chop off their hair just for the sake of a play. I accepted the role happily. After all, playing the role of such a great person was nothing less than winning a jackpot for me,” said the 58-year-old Hajju.
This time Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was seen chatting with Hajju before his play. Hajju has been playing the character of Mahatma Gandhi every year on October 02 and on January 30 in front of Gandhi’s statue in Gandhi Maidan in Patna since 1990. However, he has never worn a bald cap for playing the role of Mahatma Gandhi.
“I shave my head on October 2 and January 30 as on these two dates I am supposed to stage a play in front of the Gandhi statue at Gandhi Maidan. For today’s play, I have shaved my head for the 103rd time. I also play the role of Gandhi throughout the year in school and other institutions’ programmes,”
Hajju’s wife shares her birthday with Mahatma Gandhi and is not happy with Hajju’s getting bald every time he has to play the role of Gandhi on stage.
“Like every time, today also she acted as if I had attended her funeral procession but I told her that I don’t mind chopping off my hair for playing a great person,” said Hajju.
Recalling the programme held in 1992 in Gandhi Maidan, Hajju shares his memory and called it the most memorable ever.
“I played the role of Gandhi in front of Nitish Kumar, Lalu Prasad and others. The RJD chief was so impressed that he hugged me saying I made Gandhiji come alive. After the funeral procession scene, people were left teary eyed. After staging the act at Gandhi Maidan in 1992, I had declared that I would be playing the role every year on October 2 and January 30 and I have kept my promise,” said Hajju.
