Coined the Word Mahatma – Nautamlal Mehta

Who was the first to use the word “Mahatma” for Mohanlal Karamchand Gandhi?

The answer is Nautamlal Bhagawanji Mehta of Jetpur, Saurashtra, on January 21, 1915, at Kamribai School and not Rabindranath Tagore or anyone else.

Mahatma wrote in “Collected letters of Mahatma Gandhi,” volume #14, page 347, that “he was in Jetpur on 01/21/1915 and on the

In this letter, Mahatma Gandhiji writes to his friend that he was in Jetpur on January 21, 1915

the very same day, Nautamlal Bhagwanji Mehta gave the “Manpatra,” addressing Gandhiji as “Mahatma Gandhi.” You can see a copy of that citation here, and the same document is on display at the Rajghat Gandhi Museum in a 6’x3′ foot display in New Delhi – the world’s foremost authority on Gandhian matters.

No claimants of the world have any of the below listed 20plus relevant documents to Prove their Hearsay. However, Nautamlal Bhagawanjibhai Mehta was the first to coin the word “Mahatma” for Gandhiji. This authentic copy of the Manpatra Gandhiji received from My Grandfather’s Hand into Mahatma’s Hand. On January 21, 1915, from that day, Gandhiji became Mahatma.

You will find:
1, The actual photocopy of the real “Manpatra” citation with 44 citizens of Jetpur’s signatures on it.

2, We have photographic proof from that event

3, A similar “Manpatra” was given to the wife of Mahatma Gandhi, Shrimati Kasturba Gandhi, on the same day by the women of Jetpur. We have a copy of it here too.

4, Mahatma Gandhi himself wrote in the collected work of Mahatma Gandhi in volume 14, page #347, that “he was in Jetpur on January 21, 1915.”

5, Small notes from Nautamlal Bhagawanji Mehta’s two sons, Manilal and Moolshankar, stating that this information is confirmed.

Kasturba Gandhi was also given a Manpatra (citation) by the women of Jetpur. Here is the actual Citations copy.

This picture was taken when Mahatma Gandhi arrived in Jetpur on January 21, 1915. My grandfather used to say that Kamribai school had only 6 chairs and over 70-100 people. Some were very senior and were given chairs to sit in. Most of them had found a space to stand behind! This event of Khandani and sanskarik minds. No fight for ego or power!!!

This Note was written by Manilal to his younger brother Moolshanker(who was Hard of Hearing); most of the communication was in Notes. Here manilal says that “Kumar “Magazine wrongly published the info on who Coined the word “Mahatma” for Gandhiji. Manilal says, “It was drafted and read by His father, Nautamlal Bhagawanji Mehta.( this Note must be written around 1970)

This is My Uncle Moolshanker and 2nd son Of Nautmlal Mehta. Moolshanker spent his whole life following Mahatma and Mahatmas Lifestyle work for Downtrodden people.
In this Flyers, he says that although he went to jail four times, he never took a penny from the government. He had a degree in science from Ferguson college Pune but never exploited it for his gains.In this banner, he says he can prove that the “Mahatma world coined by his father, Nautamlal Mehta.T
Unfortunately, my Uncle died in 1993, but his Nephew Niranjan Mehta did his work with his inspiration, his will, and his guidance. I Niranjan Mehta proved from his blessing that Nautamlal Bhagawanji Mehta was the first to coin Mahatma” word. for Gandhiji.

This was Published by Rajghat Gandhi Museum, acknowledging with approval that Nautamlal Bhagawanji Mehta was the first to coin the word “Mahatma” for Gandhiji.

My wife, Veena, is In the center, and two very bright and well-trained Daughters in the USA. However, my daughter’s mindset and lifestyle are my inherited mindset to help and protect the oppressed with all possible services. All three are enjoying my work at Rajghat Gandhi Museum. New Delhi

Below is Hyperbole or Hearsay, started by American author Louise Fischer in 1951. No Indian so-called Scholars or historians NEVER used common logic to question him. I think because He was a White American historian.

1, Louis Fischer gave Tagore credit for calling Mahatma for the first time His BIG Hearsay or Big Hyperbole.
However, Rabindranath Tagore met Mahatma Gandhi for the first time on March 6, 1915, whereas, Nautamlal met Gandhiji on January 21, 1915. Louise Fisher offers NO proof, citation, or documents with dates. or Location of the event

Whole Hearsay started in this book by Louis Fischer in 1951. From 1951 to 1996, thousands of so-called scholars never questioned the so-called historical info on who coined the word”Mahatma” on Gandhiji.
Everyone accepted profoundly wrong info on the name Tagore, and no one had the guts to question white American authors. All took what Saheb ( Fischer) said and kept spreading bad info years after Years until 1996, I started y moment, and I got tremendous help from Rajghat Gandhi museum s, Dr. Varshaben Dass, and Dr. Anand’s support.

2, Some claim that Gandhiji was called “Mahatma” by the residents of Gurukul Kangadi in April 1915, and he, in turn, called the founder Munshiram a Mahatma (who later became Swami Shraddhananda). However, there is no proof of documents, and the date they are claiming is April 1915, whereas again, Nautamlal Mehta and the people of Jetpur signed the Mahatma “Manpatra” on January 21, 1915.

3, Another claim by a Gandhian historian says, “A private letter from friend Pranjivan Mehta to Gopal Krishna Gokhale in 1909 referred to Gandhi with the title “Great Mahatma” and thus remains the earliest written record available to use the title ” Great Mahatma” on Gandhiji. Pranjivan Mehta was Nautamlal Mehta’s brother-in-law, and Pranjivan Mehta never handed any citation to Mahatma. He used the term “Great Mahatma” in a letter to Gokhale, but Mahatma was in South Africa in 1909, nor did he know or receive any citations face to face. Additionally, we have yet to see the letter to Gokhale too.

Read more on the Wikipedia page.

Tagore’s name was a big hyperbole started by Louis Fischer, an American author, without any factual or physical proof. Nautamlal Bhagawanji Mehta was Nagarsheth of Jetpur (Nagarsheth is equivalent to the head of the town, like a modern-day Banker+ Mayor). Louis Fischer had no documents, no location of the event, and no date of events. And yet somehow, he made something out of nothing. All our Gandhian scholars blindly accepted what Louis Fischer said without doing their due diligence. My grandfather, father, and uncle started writing with an objection to Louis Fischer’s hearsay on Tagore, but they were helpless.

My uncle, Moolshankar, wrote postcards and/or letters to various publishing houses as early as 1951; it was worthless as no one cared about our information or truth. None dared to question a white journalist/author from America.

I think nature made me a tool to get justice for my grandfather. I had access to hundreds of family documents and photographs (aka proof), sharing information about the Indian Freedom Movement and our family’s connection to Gandhiji. Thanks to technology, I have better resources and time to share the truth, and that journey started in 1996.

My greatest strength were scholars from the Rajghat Gandhi Museum in New Delhi, Dr. Anand, Dr. Varsha Das, and six other scholars on their team, who acknowledged my family’s information (through a lot of vetting) and definitely gave me a significant boost!
https://www.wikiwand.com/en/National_Gandhi_Museum

6, The below Points to be noted:
Here are a few other hearsay claims without any proof or documentation.
( we Nautamlal Mehtas family all Live in the USA, and the Devchandbhai Parekhs family lives in Ahmedabad-Mumbai-In USA)
I’ve attached all the above documents and proof below.
Many years back. I Gave a copy; of Manpatra to Devchand bhai Parekh’s grandson as a gesture as Devchand bhai was a friend of my grandfather; on that Manpatra (copied), there are other 44 Jetpurs, citizens, signatures are there including Devchandbhai, Nautamlal, Nautamlals Brother chimanlal and so many others,our relatives.

Furthermore, until 1937 Devchandbhai was doing his legal practice with British admin. He only joined the independence moment once people started noticing that the British were definitely Leaving India. Including uchharang bhai Dhebar. He also joined the Gandhian moment in 1937.
Similar claims also occurred by Gondal Rashshala. In that case, Mahatma visited Gondal on January 26, 1915, so it was automatic. Hearsay because Mahatma visited Jetpur on January 21, 1915.

Next, they just ran to Sabarmati Gandhi Asharam and some local news Papers and claimed that ” Devchandbhai Parekh first coined the word Mahatma for Gandhiji. None of the so-called Curator of Ashram or Newspapers editors had any Logical common sense to ask them where the original copy is. They don’t have. We also asked where the original or even copy of Kasturba Gandhi is. They don’t have it. None of any claimants have any documents of the original.

I also Have 2 emails from Kaka Saheb Kalekars, a Granddaughter from Ahmedabad, and Kishorilal Mashruwals grand sons asking me to GIVE THEM, not an ANNOTATED copy of mahatmas manpatra. I politely declined to avoid more work later with many more claims.

Thus, the Devchanbhai family’s claims and several others’ attempts to challenge the validity of Nautamlal’s Kamdar first bestowing the title “Mahatma” onto Gandhiji are purely hearsay without any proof or documentation.
Therefore we stopped sharing, and if we share, it is ANNOTATED all Gandhian Documents.

Here are some more references I used. The main reason to put pictures copies is easier for my reader than give links.

This is our assumption as Gandhiji had four notes of Recommendation from India when He first went to England. One was written on Dr.P.J Mehta, # 2 Note was on Jam Ranji, and # 3 on Sargent Shukla and # 4 Dadabhai. Gandhiji used the Note written by Nautamlal s father Bhagawanji s Note on his close relative Dr. P.J.Mehta

Some more info is that Tagore never met Mahatma before January 21, 1915. there was NO possibility that Tagore ever coined the word”Mahatma” for Gandhiji. Only Nautamlal B Mehta has proven documentation that He was the first the coin the word”Mahatma “for Gandhiji on 01/21/1915 in Jetpur.

This is very important info on Gurudev’s

some more info