Ahmedabad, January 17: The Gujarat Vidyapith (GV) will stage a play on Mahadev Desai, Mahatma Gandhi’s secretary and close associate, on January 21 at the Hirak Mahotsav Hall. The very well acknowledged play, Mahadevbhai, will be enacted by a Mumbai-based drama company, Working Title.

Mahadev Desai was Mahatma Gandhi’s secretary from 1917-1942. During this period, he maintained a daily diary. In the diary, he jotted down the innumerable letters to and by Gandhi, as well as conversations, lectures and discourses. All this made him a key witness to Gandhi.

Mahadevbhai, a one-person play, is based on this diary. Ir attempts to remind people of the Independence struggle. The GV authorities have decided to hold a performance of the play, rated very high, with a view to inculcating the values held by Mahatmaji’s secretary in GV students. Jaimini Pathak has performed the role of Mahadev Desai in the play.

Says GV registrar Khimani: ‘‘Mahadev Desai has been one of the most important characters of the freedom struggle. However, he has not been given enough attention. Therefore, we have named many of our institutions after him.’’

Interestingly, GV is also planning to hold a performance of the play every year on the birth anniversary of Mahadev Desai on January 1. ‘‘This way the students can have the benefit of viewing the play every year,’’ Khimani added.

The Sabarmati Ashram Preservation and Memorial Trust has also organised a show of the play at the Gandhi Ashram on January 20.