Bound to history
Repair Shop fix Gandhi pal and grandad’s diary
AFTER her beloved grandfather passed away, Jasmine Asher found a diary he had written that kept his memory alive.
From 1936 to 1989, Shri Vallabhdas had kept journals that chronicled India’s fight for freedom with colleague Mahatma Gandhi, as well as family recollections.
Most of his work was lost after he died in February 1989, at the age of 98, but Jasmine, 54, salvaged one diary while clearing out his things.
She said: “He has recorded all the major events of our family – births, deaths. When he passed away, there were 103 diaries but unfortunately the rest were all disposed of.
“I was rummaging through some other old things and I found this diary. It is the only record I have of my grandfather’s writing.”
Jasmine, of Preston, Lancs, was worried about it getting damaged because it was not bound.
She appealed to BBC One’s The Repair Shop and features in the first episode of the Jay Blades-fronted series tonight. A “big fan”, she hoped
Brenton West and bookbinder Chris Shaw could restore the diary, as well as the aluminium slate he used to rest his notepads on.
Shri Vallabhdas was a freedom fighter and a member of Gandhi’s team. Gandhi led the campaign for India’s independence from British rule, which took place in 1947.
Jasmine added: “My grandfather was a very ardent follower of
Gandhi, and his ideologies about non-violence. He wrote down these
My grandfather was a hero to me so seeing the restored objects was emotional
historical events in his diaries.” The writing slate also holds evocative memories. “When I was growing up, we all lived together in Calcutta,” she recalled.
“He was the head of the family and we were very close. Everybody was a bit terrified of him but I never was, I loved him to bits and knew he was a real softie.
“I was his favourite grandchild, but he wouldn’t let any of us touch the slate, even me. So, I used to secretly use it to do my homework.” Jasmine was thrilled with the finished restoration. Brenton had cleaned the slate, returning it to its original light pink colour. And Chris bound the journal – and made a matching one so Jasmine could carry on the tradition. She has used them to write her own poetry, and said she will pass the items down to her grandson Rohan, four, when he is older. “My grandfather was a hero to me so seeing the restored objects was very emotional,” she added. “When he died, I couldn’t say goodbye because I was out of India. “When I held that slate I could finally accept he was gone, but he was still close to me. It was like I was holding my grandfather’s hand.” ■ The Repair Shop is on tonight at 8pm on BBC One.
JASMINE ASHER ON WHAT IT MEANT TO HAVE HIS DIARY AND SLATE MENDED