Mahatma Gandhi is world renowned person for the Nonviolence movement which stood as a pillar for the Freedom Struggle for India. However, just from what I heard, like many, I too had severe misconceptions about Gandhi. It is very sad. Fortunately, I happened to read the autobiography of Gandhi - The Story of My Experiments with Truth. It was a revelation about Gandhi. I could get very close to him because his autobiography is spotlessly honest. I had earlier written about it in my blog post. From then on, I didn't give much serious thought about the misconceptions about Gandhi. My thought was, Gandhi was such an honest person; How can such a wall be raised in front of Gandhi ? Who does that so ? Why Gandhi is painted that way ?
Incidentally, I happened to read few of the essays by Writer-Novelist Jeyamohan's on Gandhi, E.Ve.Ra (Periyar) and others. In this year's book expo, I purchased a book Indraya Gandhi (இன்றைய காந்தி - Today's Gandhi) by Jeyamohan. I am glad, I got that book. This book is very neutral. That adds credibility to it. Jeyamohan laments Gandhi wherever he was naive.
Since there are many misconceptions about Gandhi, I thought of penning down a synopsis of the book. This book is compilation of essays by Jeyamohan on Gandhi. These essays were written in response to many questions that he got through his website (from his fans and readers). Later, these essays were compiled into a book. The book is divided into three parts (1. Personality 2. Politics 3. Vision)
Part 1 - Personality
1) Gandhi's Simplicity
Until Gandhi came back to India , Freedom Struggle was organized only by the rich, kings and Zamindaars (aristocrats) for their benefit / selfish-motives. Congress (Party) was functioning only among the rich. Hence, independence at that time would have not meant for the poor. It would have been just transfer of powers from the British Viceroys to the Kings in India. All the kings in India were thinking to renovate their palaces after independence.
Gandhi understood that, independence must be for the entire country. This democracy should be for all the people in the country. He chose to be among the people. In Gandhi's autobiography, Gandhi has mentioned that, one of the reflection of democracy is that a train should have only one single class. It should not have first, second and third classes. He travelled in trains in third class. [Sarojini Naidu even mocked about Gandhi travelling in third class in train.]
Zamindaars understood that Gandhi's way will shatter their dreams and plans of ruling people and leading an aristocratic life. Until Gandhi came, all the super rich (Nehru, Sarojini) would always travel in the elite trains (Rajdhani's) and elite class that was used by the British Viceroys. If not Gandhi, the partymen of Congress (and the rich) wouldn't have travelled to places that were not connected by rail. Only Gandhi travelled to places even if it didn't had rail connectivity.
Gandhi was wearing the simplest dress (just Khadi dress). His attire (simple loincloth and a shawl) was exactly the dress a farmer would wear in India. People perceived him to be their leader for them. He mingled among the poor. Simplicity is the reason why Gandhi attracted more people than Gokhale and Thilak. Gandhi, in the same agriculturist minimalistic dress, met King George V. Gandhi didn't follow the protocol (for dress) that has to be followed for meeting the King. He would live as what he was. He did not wish to deceive others by dressing up like the Britons. He would wear the dress of the people whom he represented. He represented the half-naked and half-starving millions of India. In the same dress, he spoke in the round table conference in front of the King. One journalist asked him: "Don't you feel embarrassed to see the King George V in this scanty dress?" Of course he was not participating in a beauty contest remember. Gandhi said: "Why should I feel ashamed?", and (humorously) added: "The King has enough on for both of us." That's the message. Simplicity.
[27-Nov-2013]
[27-Nov-2013]
2) Mohandas Gandhi & Mahatma
Many people blame that Gandhi was the person who introduced the practice of bowing and touching the feet. He projected himself to be a Mahatma and thought himself a Mahatma. Both are different.
Gandhi was a modern man. He absorbed the European modernism. He approached things scientifically. So, that case, would he have considered himself to be a Mahatma ? Many European who have been with Gandhi have said that Gandhi was more of an European. His thought process was adhering that of Europeans.
Gandhi came from a religion Vainavam (Vaishnavism) which had it is roots in the religion Samanam. In this religion, the highest point is simplicity and total devotion. According to the religion, the man has to win himself. This religion is based on fasting. Fasting is a method to purify. Gandhi severely strained his body through fasting. According to him, the control on mind/heart and his body will make him more strong (mentally). He won by his sacrifice. His life always included - living closer to nature, self-control, rejecting consumerism. Through these he architected the Satyagraha movement.
Gandhi thought that to win himself two things were hurdles viz 1) Lust 2) Food. He founded Sabarmati Ashram and performed various experiments on himself to overcome lust and food. In general he wanted to control and overcome desires. And he overcame. At the end of the process, he was able to architect Satyagraha. Only here, people identified Gandhi as a Mahatma. It is purely because of the underlying Indian Heritage in their psychology or mindset or inner conscience. It is said (approximately) that in 1920 the tribals of Madhya Pradesh called Gandhi as Mahatma (against the popular misconceived belief that Rabindranath Tagore was the one who first called Gandhi as Mahatma). But Gandhi didn't allow people, who called him Mahatma, near him. Gandhi severely condemned calling him as Mahatma. This title Mahatma pained him a lot. In many of his speeches he has mocked at calling him as Mahatma. He mocked at himself and laughed out loudly.
Gandhi said Ahimsa (Nonviolence) and Truth are as old as mountains in this world and to the best possible extent I am trying to implement them in my life. The entire nation followed Gandhi not because what he says are correct but because he is the correct person. Entire nation was in his feet. But, whenever people touched his feet, his heart pained.
India is a nation in which for almost 20 centuries it was ruled by kings. Almost 75% of the nation was controlled by the kings. But in just 15 years Gandhi as a single person brought all the people to democracy. It was Gandhi (Gandhi's congress) who brought most number of women to Politics. In India, no other political party brought women to politics as Gandhi did. Even in today's world (21st century), in the world of information technology and mass communications, it is not so easy to communicate to the whole nation India. But in the first half of the 20the century itself Gandhi communicated with all the people. He made himself a message. He made his life a message. A leader needs astounding courage to tell that my life itself is my message. And it needs terrific guts to tell in front of the history (for all research enthusiasts) that in his private life there is no secret. Even his SIMPLE appearance in SIMPLE attire was a message. That's the message he gave to people who came to meet him.
Gandhi neither accepted not entertained others deference for him (பெரியாரை வியத்தலும் இலமே சிறியோரை இகழ்தல் அதனினும் இலமே). Gandhi was of opinion that if he can do one thing then all others also can do it. He visioned 1) a world without any war 2) a world that doesn't loot the natural resources 3) a humanity without any differences in the world. For all these, he thought two things are needed 1) Control of desires 2) Love for fellow human being. But these were big challenges for normal men.
When we see Gandhi as Mahatma we jump into fixed notions and already have conclusions about him. And that is where we take him far away from him, thereby, thinking we cannot follow him. Gandhi followed Karmayoga (an Indian Heritage) matured to legendary fruit (கனிந்த ஞானி). பாழ்பட்டு நின்றதாமோர் பாரத தேசம் தன்னை வாழ்விக்க வந்த காந்தி மகாத்மா நீ வாழ்க வாழ்க. (India was a desolated nation. For which, to give life, came a person Gandhi - a Mahatma. Let your glory Hail)
[28-Nov-2013]
To be continued .....
3) Gandhi a Baniya
Gandhi was a modern man. He absorbed the European modernism. He approached things scientifically. So, that case, would he have considered himself to be a Mahatma ? Many European who have been with Gandhi have said that Gandhi was more of an European. His thought process was adhering that of Europeans.
Gandhi came from a religion Vainavam (Vaishnavism) which had it is roots in the religion Samanam. In this religion, the highest point is simplicity and total devotion. According to the religion, the man has to win himself. This religion is based on fasting. Fasting is a method to purify. Gandhi severely strained his body through fasting. According to him, the control on mind/heart and his body will make him more strong (mentally). He won by his sacrifice. His life always included - living closer to nature, self-control, rejecting consumerism. Through these he architected the Satyagraha movement.
Gandhi thought that to win himself two things were hurdles viz 1) Lust 2) Food. He founded Sabarmati Ashram and performed various experiments on himself to overcome lust and food. In general he wanted to control and overcome desires. And he overcame. At the end of the process, he was able to architect Satyagraha. Only here, people identified Gandhi as a Mahatma. It is purely because of the underlying Indian Heritage in their psychology or mindset or inner conscience. It is said (approximately) that in 1920 the tribals of Madhya Pradesh called Gandhi as Mahatma (against the popular misconceived belief that Rabindranath Tagore was the one who first called Gandhi as Mahatma). But Gandhi didn't allow people, who called him Mahatma, near him. Gandhi severely condemned calling him as Mahatma. This title Mahatma pained him a lot. In many of his speeches he has mocked at calling him as Mahatma. He mocked at himself and laughed out loudly.
Gandhi said Ahimsa (Nonviolence) and Truth are as old as mountains in this world and to the best possible extent I am trying to implement them in my life. The entire nation followed Gandhi not because what he says are correct but because he is the correct person. Entire nation was in his feet. But, whenever people touched his feet, his heart pained.
India is a nation in which for almost 20 centuries it was ruled by kings. Almost 75% of the nation was controlled by the kings. But in just 15 years Gandhi as a single person brought all the people to democracy. It was Gandhi (Gandhi's congress) who brought most number of women to Politics. In India, no other political party brought women to politics as Gandhi did. Even in today's world (21st century), in the world of information technology and mass communications, it is not so easy to communicate to the whole nation India. But in the first half of the 20the century itself Gandhi communicated with all the people. He made himself a message. He made his life a message. A leader needs astounding courage to tell that my life itself is my message. And it needs terrific guts to tell in front of the history (for all research enthusiasts) that in his private life there is no secret. Even his SIMPLE appearance in SIMPLE attire was a message. That's the message he gave to people who came to meet him.
Gandhi neither accepted not entertained others deference for him (பெரியாரை வியத்தலும் இலமே சிறியோரை இகழ்தல் அதனினும் இலமே). Gandhi was of opinion that if he can do one thing then all others also can do it. He visioned 1) a world without any war 2) a world that doesn't loot the natural resources 3) a humanity without any differences in the world. For all these, he thought two things are needed 1) Control of desires 2) Love for fellow human being. But these were big challenges for normal men.
When we see Gandhi as Mahatma we jump into fixed notions and already have conclusions about him. And that is where we take him far away from him, thereby, thinking we cannot follow him. Gandhi followed Karmayoga (an Indian Heritage) matured to legendary fruit (கனிந்த ஞானி). பாழ்பட்டு நின்றதாமோர் பாரத தேசம் தன்னை வாழ்விக்க வந்த காந்தி மகாத்மா நீ வாழ்க வாழ்க. (India was a desolated nation. For which, to give life, came a person Gandhi - a Mahatma. Let your glory Hail)
[28-Nov-2013]
To be continued .....
3) Gandhi a Baniya
4) Gandhi and Brahmacharya
5) Gandhi's Children
Part 2- Politics
1) Dialogue with The Hatred
2) Gandhi's way
3) Gandhi's mistakes
4) Hitler and Gandhi
5) Che Guevara and Gandhi
6) Gandhi's Betrayal
7) Gandhi and Caste
8) Gandhi and Hindi
9) Gandhi and Dalit Politics
10) Gandhi and Backward people
11) Vaikom Struggle
Part 3 - Vision
1) Gandhi and Technology
2) Gandhi's Medicine
3) Gandhi's Nation
4) Gandhi's Village Autonomy (Grama Swaraj)
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