Revival Of MAHATMA!!

On this very day 65 years ago Mahatma was assassinated. Today two things made headlines-Kamalhasan’s Viswaroopam was not allowed to release in Tamilnadu even after clearance from Madras High Court and Censor Board. Out of frustration,the most admired actor of India has announced in a press conference that he may have to leave the country to live in a secular state as was done earlier by a world renowned Indian Painter MF Hussain. Salman Rashide another great Indian born writer of Midnight Children was not permitted to enter Kolkata fearing violence.

Three days back another UP Minister declared in a public meeting that he would have led a demonstration to destroy the TAJ to show the world how pubic money should not be wasted and to demonstrate that he is a champion of the common tax payer. Ironically, it is a state where big monuments and public parks are constructed for a living person only recently and this champion was not known to have protested but want to rewrite history of 500 years. Fortunately, he did not ask to remove in text books Shahjahan’s name for the sin he committed. I would not be surprised if immediately a committee will be constituted to consider the demand. I wish the above is an overstatement. But I am not feeling that way because cartoons of 1950 by great cartoonist Sankar were removed from NCERT text books because our parliamentarians felt that they were showing Nehru and Ambedkar in poor light. The great leaders themselves never felt that way in their times and in fact one story says Nehru was even joking with Sankar when the next cartoon on him would appear.

Recently I was talking to a group of young people who have completed their engineering and some of them are even working. In between  the discussion I asked them to tell about Mahatma. Some were able to recollect the date and year of birth, death, Independence day etc. Fortunately all were able to tell that under his leadership India attained Independence. One intelligent guy declared that bandhs, disruptions, damage to public property during protests which are taking place today had roots in freedom struggle. Immediately my blood boiled. But then I thought who is to be  blamed  for this. The parents are never allowing them to read anything else other than EAMCET, IIT, CAT etc coaching material. For them Mahatma and freedom struggle are considered distractions, hamper their success and obstacles for the student’s growth. Even during the British Regime history of the nation as well as the Great Britain and their colonies from the known periods of origin and besides Basic Geography were taught in schools and colleges in India.

Albert Einstein a great scientist of all times had predicted that world would not believe that a man like Mahatma  lived on this earth, walked and talked with fellow human beings. But even that great scientist did not predict that he will be considered irrelevant in his own country by future generations so early after his demise.

I am writing so early because 65 years is too little considering the recorded civilization of more than 5000 years in India.

These young people are taking democracy and liberty enjoyed in India for granted as if nothing can disturb it. British Empire which lasted for 200 years covering half of the world collapsed in a span of 30 years. Moghul Empire also lasted for 200 years before its collapse. Even a Mighty USSR which was talking in equal terms with US during cold war era collapsed and divided into four to five countries after 75 years. Marxism which  inspired lot of young people for more than 100 years exists now only in the name of some Indian parties.

It is all the more difficult to think otherwise when out of two major political parties one could not find a better candidate than a seemingly reluctant dynastic leader and other one could not find a leader other than the person whose secular credentials are not beyond suspicion by his own party colleagues. We need not blame only these two. Other parties are also feeling dynastic rule as natural and some of the heir apparents claiming the right over their party as if it is an ancestral property. Fortunately courts are yet to entertain such cases.

Our finance minister, RBI and financial experts are concerned that gold imports are increasing and  are second only to most essential crude oil. Ironically, India ranks very low in human development index. India produces a very little gold. Though one of the largest economies still it has the largest poor population in the world. Even as RBI and Government are trying all other failed methods like increasing taxes which only encourage smuggling, banks and other financial institutions are advertising to buy gold with attractive gold loan schemes. But none of our political class has the courage to appeal to people to reduce gold consumption in these difficult times. Compare this with Mahatma’s preaching of boycotting foreign goods and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Sastry’s appeal for skipping one meal in a week.

Rave parties and pub culture of youth to exhibit their freedom (some of them are financed by their own parents) also raise questions about true nature of freedom and whether we really deserve freedom brought by the sacrifices under the leadership of Mahatma.

Adolf  Hitler writes in Mein Kampf that teaching and studying history does not mean memorizing some important dates and the names of rulers or reciting some doctrines. History reading means studying the process involved leading to those events,causes, effect  of those events, relevance of these events and learning from them for the present day society.

HG Wells writes about preserving historic events with an example on Buddhism.  Disciples of Buddha   preserved the tree under which Gautama attained enlightenment. But they could not preserve the eight fold path prescribed by him. Otherwise Buddhism or  for that matter world would have been different today.

Every political party mentions RamaRajya in its manifesto but follows Coalition Dharma not Sanatana Dharma after coming to power. According to this Dharma everything can be condoned and pardoned in the name of preserving coalition. Blinking is more virtuous than awakening. Sidestepping is more valued than facing the problem. All great debates  take place on TV screen while Parliament meets for passing condolence resolutions or for adjournments to the next day. Every political party agrees on some issues outside the parliament but sees to it that the bill is not introduced in the house. Majority of the members oppose some issues but see to it that the bill is passed so that the government of the day should not be embarrassed. Even the members of major opposition parties abstain from important voting by taking an excuse of more urgent work than expressing the will of the people they represent.

Like these many things can be written and pages can be filled. So, at this juncture Mahatma’s philosophy is more relevant than any other time.

Our politicians must realize the consequences of stopping free expression. A film is banned after clearance from a respected body like censors and justifying the ban by announcing that it may antagonize the feeling of some groups thereby create law and order problems. These people should just refer to American Declaration of Independence authored by Thomas Jefferson and others which is the fore-runner for all modern day democracies. The fate that is deserved by the government which cannot protect liberty is clearly mentioned. No civilization has grown without somebody questioning the existing practices. Questions may be right or wrong but the right to question is never throttled in India. As Nobel Laurette Amartyasen has written that Caravaka and Gautama Buddha questioned.   But they were never stopped from questioning. In fact India is proud that there is no Galileo unlike in the west even in ancient times. Just imagine Mahatma did not question untouchability or British Government stopped it taking shelter under creating unrest among upper classes.

Mahatma never asked his followers to destroy public places to show the might of the movement. In fact, he stopped the freedom struggle when an innocent mob had torched a police station in a remote village in Bihar, much to the dismay of the greatest admirers of Mahatma because of his belief that a seed sown somewhere might grow into big tree which cannot be rooted out.

Criticism of Mahatma was never discouraged. Even Jawaharlal Nehru criticized Mahatma when Bihar earthquake and untouchability were linked by Mahatma. Gandhi’s policy of non-violence was protested by Netaji. Surprisingly, Netaji won the congress presidential election against the nominee supported by Mahatma. Difference of opinion was always respected in India. Atheism is as old as Vedas writes Amartyasen  in Argumentative Indian.

Some leaders across all parties have given statements questioning the girl of the requirement to travel in a bus in the capital in recent sensational gang rape case only to deny it next day and defending again at some other place. Let us set aside a moment of Mahatma’s definition of freedom that a true freedom is a time when a woman can move alone in the middle of night.But let us talk about their convictions. Compare this with Mahatma’s. Mahatma was asked to deny a statement in the court by a judge. He even requested Gandhi at least to apologize, so that he is spared from giving punishment to the great person. Instead, Mahatma asked the judge to do his duty.

It looks silly to mention here at a time that GO’s are made, unmade, tampered, alignment of roads  are changed, bureaucrats and intelligentia work overtime to serve the interest of their sons and their political masters only to blame each other in case the scam becomes open and sons of even honourable judges are involved in taking bribes for arranging bail in a much publicized case whereas Mahatma disowned one of his son’s only because his behavior was improper. But is it not a laughing matter that our country is ranked 94^th in Transparency International’s corruption index and 134^th in the latest human development index of United Nations and the country’s Youth is indifferent to these figures and are only interested and browbeat about their CTCs and pay packets.

Gandhiji went abroad for higher studies. This is not a news to be written for the present day generation when NRIs are one of largest immigrant community living in US and parents aspire to send their children to US or   get married their daughters to a green card holder. But 120 years back crossing the ocean was a taboo for a traditional Indian. Gandhi could persuade his parents, but only after promising his mother that he would never touch wine, other women or take meat. Putlibai did not ask for dollars or wealth but good behavior. For modern day parents every thing that is American is green, but they cannot digest when any young boy or girl dates like their American counterparts. But they fail to teach the good behavior. Mahatma writes in his autobiography that even  after lot of practice he almost came near to breaking the promise before remembering his word to his mother. Here is a lesson of parenting for every parent and behavior for every child.

Gandhiji is totally identified with freedom struggle by text book history. This did a great disservice to the nation or mankind. Because the young generation is identifying with him as a politician only, ignoring more important spiritual quality in him. Another important thing ignored is his transnational character. He fought against South African apartheid as well and he did it much before coming to India and only at the age of 46 he came back to India.  First seed of rebellion against  the racism  was also sown in him only in South Africa. His Phoenix Ashram in Durban is as famous as Sabarmati or Sevagram. His patriotism did not prevent him from making friendship with Europeans including British nationals and he was always surrounded by some white people. His first and fundamental policy was to protest the bad behavior in the person, without hating him like a true sanatanist. When whole India was celebrating the Independence Gandhiji was mourning for the people who were killed in partition riots. For him Hindu Muslim Unity and eradicating the untouchability were far ahead in his priorities than freedom. Just before his assassination also, he was on fast and one of the demands was to pay the money to Pakistan that was promised during the partition. He predicted the consequences of partition of India and tried his best to avoid it. World is facing the result of it and source of terrorism anywhere in the world has its roots in the region and this region is always at the receiving end of the scourge. Apart from this there were three wars between two countries and one of the countries divided again. The basic reason for which the country was born could not keep it united and the Sub continent is always on the boil. Leaders of two nations shaking hands is news of the world and for a casual statement on Jinnah a leader like LK Advani has to face the wrath of the many people. Every statement by one nation is always viewed with suspicion by the other and gives scope for other nations to fish in troubled waters. It is clearly proving Mahatma’s prediction that partition would not solve problems but fuel further problems.

His love for humanity was best exemplified by the letter written by him to Hitler addressing him as Dear Friend. He explains in the letter addressing him as friend should not surprise Hitler because a man like Gandhi cannot have enemies. He further writes that both were fighting  against the same power but it does not stop him from condemning the behavior of  the dictator as it threatens the very existence of humanity. He tried to teach the virtues of non violence to the great dictator.

Another big mistake in our text books is ignoring his spiritual character. With a peep into a few pages of My Experiments with Truth we will realize that he followed more spiritual path than political. His detractors were always complaining that his apolitical behavior would create more harm to the struggle rather than serving it and no political goal could be achieved through spiritual path he followed. But he never deviated from it and he openly declared many a time that he follows Santana dharma. He had always avoided anything that is slightly against Sanatana Dharma.Yet it didn’t prevent him from befriending people of all religions and none of   them, not even Jinnah suspected his secular credentials. At the same time he fought fiercely against sanatanists for eradicating untouchability. After reading few pages we will realize that he would have made a better spiritual leader than a political leader. In fact he had his Ashrams three famous ones (1) Phoenix in Durban South Africa (2) Sabarmati near Ahmedabad (3) Sevagram near Wardha.  But from them, living spiritual life led all types of struggles- political, industrial and spiritual struggles.

Many people and leaders did not believe initially that his truth and non-violence could bring freedom. But one by one including Lalalajpatroy of Lal Bal Pal fame  (one of militant wing) became admirers of Mahatma is a text book itself on leadership and I have not come across any book on personality development or leadership written by any author or any countryman without mentioning Mahatma even once. But unfortunately none of our Youth even do not correctly remember or try to study about him.

Another criticism on Gandhi is that he was against industrialization and only wanted village industries. There cannot be anything far from truth. If he was totally against industrialization, business legends at that time like GD Birla, Kasturibhai Lalbhai and Ambalal Sarabhai would not have come near him nor he would have entertained them given his nature. These people were ardent admirers of Mahatma itself shows his view about industrialization. There were times when Jawaharlal viewed them with suspicion but not Gandhi. At the same time he had seen in his stay in Europe that industrialization did not solve all the problems of Europe. If it could not solve the problems of Europe, then he genuinely  believed industrialization alone can never solve all the problems of more populous, basically rural India. Hence it is important that village industries should also develop in conjunction with big industries. Otherwise problems like urban migration and slums will create their own problems. Importance of rural market and rural industry is emphasized by modern day economists like CK Prahald in his Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid. Successes like Prof Mohammed’s Bangladesh Grameena Bank also emphasizes the importance of village industries even in modern era. At the same time Mahatma in his time would not have imagined the invention of cell phones or spread of internet which could reduce rural urban divide and world becomes a global village.

It is disgusting to see or hear the way the politicians, bureaucrats and intelligentsia express their difference of opinion publicly on TV channels and the language they use against one another. They are not even trying to act of emulating the standards set by great leaders around 100 years ago. Mahatma is not alone in this regard. Many leaders have done that. But it is best exemplified by arguably the  two greatest leaders of all time in India, Mahatma and Lokmanya. Two years before his demise Tilak requested Gandhi to attend congress meeting. Gandhi politely declined his invitation telling him he differs with Lokmanya and Mrs. Besant in their method of fighting. He also acknowledged at the same time that both of them do believe Gandhi’s method would not achieve the goal. Gandhi said he differs with moderates led by Gokhale also and told that he strongly believes in his method of truth and non-violence and would be patient so that people will also understand.  At the same time he did want to tell in congress public meeting and embarrass Tilak. He advised both moderates and extremists also to state their positions publicly to people rather than compromising on their fundamental beliefs to project the common face. At the same time Gandhi organized a meeting to collect funds to compensate the loss incurred by Tilak in his court battle against English man  for public good. Mahatma always addressed Tilak as Lokmanya and paid greatest tributes on his demise telling that Tilak felt Swaraj as his passion and advanced the achievement of independence by many years by his acts and deeds.

Mahatma’s personal qualities and behavior like Simple living, Simple eating, Indriya Nigraham (control of senses), renunciation, truthfulness, adherence to non-violence, vegetarianism, courage, fighting for the oppressed,  way of mingling with masses, leadership qualities, of following Sanatana Dharma with the letter and spirit and patience are like a saint and only word MAHATMA can best describe him.

Jim Collins and his co-author  propose a theory of Yin-Yang in their book Built to Last which discusses the long surviving and most successful companies. The secret of these companies is preserving the core and changing the rest rather than trying to change everything.

So as a nation we have to also preserve the core of the nation that is best demonstrated by Mahatma. By writing all the above pages I don’t want to immortalize Mahatma. Jawaharlal Nehru writes in Discovery of India that India immortalize its great scriptures and people make them god to feel satisfied that ordinary human beings need not ever try to follow them, because god is too big to follow for ordinary.  Western nations make their great people as role models and our youth who are overawed by the west should follow west in this aspect also and try to imbibe great qualities of Mahatma not only to pay true tributes to him but for the very survival of our nation and democracy. On this day of my conclusion I came across a news item in a telugu news paper-Eenadu that the Chinese are teaching about Mahatma to their younger generation to build a Good Character and a sense of direction to the whole country for their future. Let us learn from others and imitate them  as we only imitate from others and learn about our greatness.

The cause of today is the effect of past and cause of the future.

Whatever you think that you will be. If you think yourself weak, weak you will be; If you think yourself strong, strong you will be.

What the world wants is character. The world is in need of those whose life is one burning love, selfless. That love will make every word tell like thunderbolt .

                                                -swami Vivekananda.