A PLAY telling the untold story of a figure who inspired Mahatma Gandhi is coming to Oxford.

‘Yugpurush – Mahatma’s Mahatma’ has been performed more than 1,000 times across the world and will be staged in Oxford for one night only on January 24.

It tells the story of Shrimad Rajchandra, the spiritual guide to Gandhi, who shaped his ideals of non-violence and compassion for others.

Yugpurush is being performed in the 70th anniversary of the Indian independence leader’s assassination in 1948.

Money raised from the production will be used to fund the construction of a hospital in a rural part of Gujarat, India.

Komal Mehta, of the Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur UK, which is helping to organise the tour, said the friendship between the two men ‘changed the course of India’s history.’

She added: “Shrimad Rajchandra’s influence on Mahatma Gandhi led to the development of his ideology of non-violence as a political movement, and nurtured his values of truth and compassion.

“A lot of people know how Gandhi’s struggled for the independence of India but hardly anyone has heard this story.

“Mr Rajchandra was a very quiet person but Gandhi considered him ‘the best Indian of his times.’

“We want as many people as possible to see his story.”

Gandhi’s actions and teaching on non-violence inspired leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela and shaped the history of entire nations.

He met Mr Rajchandra for the first time in Mumbai, India when he returned from England where he had been working as a barrister in 1891, aged 22.

Despite being only two years older, the ‘enlightening wisdom’ of his friend left a deep-rooted impression on Gandhi, who proclaimed him his spiritual mentor.

Mr Rajchandra adherence to the principles of truth, non-violence and compassion became the guiding tenets of India’s freedom movement half a century years later.

The play has now been performed in 310 cities across India, the United States, Canada, the Middle East, Africa, the Far East and Australia.

India’s High Commission is supporting the tour which marks the end of the UK-India year of culture.

Ms Mehta said the performance has received standing ovations and has ‘won the hearts of audiences’ across the world.

She added: “A lot of people have come away with an overwhelming sense of inspiration and purpose.

“We hope it will inspire people to think about their own lives and the values that have shaped the person they are.

Tickets for the production on January 24 at Oxford Town Hall are available now at yugpurush.com