Mahatma Gandhi(1869-1948): The light has not gone out

Himanshu Shekhar and Vineet Sharma

“If my faith burns bright as I hope it will even if I stand alone I shall be alive in the grave, and what is more speaking of it.” MK Gandhi A lot has been heard and said about Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the man world knows as ‘Mahatma’. Mahatma Gandhi fought for what was right for the marginalised of the world. ‘Truth’ and ‘Non Violence’ are some things which we normally associate with Mahatma. Today, my thoughts ponder over what ‘Gandhism’ or say, the neo-term ‘Gandhigiri,’ means for this world. Mahatma might have died on Jan 30, 1948 but ‘Gandhism’, the pursuit of truth, is still the most relevant answer to the terrorism infested world of today. A world that is rendered helpless as the serpents of terror and injustice induce their venomous fangs in the soul of our society. I recollect my first encounter with the phenomenon that is known to the world as Mahatma Gandhi. A complete chapter devoted to Mahatma Gandhi in the Std.IV text book was my only knowledge about Gandhiji. Of course there was that ‘Talisman’ on the inside cover of every NCERT book. By Std VIII that knowledge about ‘Mahatma’ increased as history books devoted entire chapters to Mahatma Gandhi and how his ideology influenced the freedom movement and made it a benchmark of humanity the world over. Books definitely suggested that there was no bigger leader than Mahatma Gandhi in India’s struggle for Independence. If ever the whole nation responded to one man’s call it was the ‘Mahatma’s. If ever Indian politicians were ready to accept one person’s stream of thought, it was Mahatma Gandhi’s. It is true that one idea cannot be acceptable to all but Gandhiji was one person who managed to convince a majority of others with his constantly evolving thoughts. So that prompts me to raise a question I kept close to my heart since the day I knew what that ‘Talisman’ meant. How did ‘Mahatma’ fail in stopping the India – Pakistan partition? Why he did not act forcibly if Nehru and Jinnah were on collision course? ‘Mahatma’ as the name suggests means ‘Saint’ and ‘Saint’s are not supposed to make mistakes. Jacob Worm-Müller, who wrote a report while nominating him for Nobel Peace Prize on Gandhi, was much more critical. Muller who fully understood the general admiration for Gandhi as a person wrote: "He is, undoubtedly, a good, noble and ascetic person – a prominent man who is deservedly honoured and loved by the masses of India." On the other hand, when considering Gandhi as a political leader, the Norwegian professor’s description was less favourable. Muller further added, "Sharp turns in his policies, which can hardly be satisfactorily explained by his followers. (...) He is a freedom fighter and a dictator, an idealist and a nationalist. He is frequently a Christ, but then, suddenly, an ordinary politician." Gandhiji stood for human dignity Muller probably ignored the fact that Mahatma Gandhi stood for truth and justice. Human dignity is supreme, this is what he believed in and practiced voraciously. When he fought for the first time against injustice in Durban, after being thrown out from the first class compartment was, for his dignity. Dignity and liberty was what he believed was birth right of every individual. In search of that dignity ‘Ahimsa’ and ‘Satyagrah’ became the weapons and ‘truth’ the ultimate course. And whenever he felt that the ways he chose were flawed he sat down in introspection, changing his action if his doubts could be put to rest. Precisely that was the reason why Non Co-Operation Movement was called off after Chauri Chaura incident. So, was Mahatma actually shirking responsibility? Maybe ‘Bapu’ himself would have liked to throw some light on this, if there had been such an opportunity. When asked why he did not join the celebrations after 15 August 1947? This is what he had to answer. “Our freedom was a hard fought one and I always felt that we should be worthy of it. I did not want India torn to pieces with religious hatred. The communal riots at Noakhali pained me deeply. I felt that suffering caused by Indians was no less painful than the sufferings caused by the British and development of mutual understanding and respect among our people was as important as getting rid of the foreign rule.”Re-living past Jan 30, 1948 On Friday 30 January 1948, Gandhi woke up at his usual hour, 3:30 a.m. After the Morning Prayer he put the final touches to the new constitution for Congress which he had been unable to finish the previous night. The rest of the morning was spent answering letters. Someone mentioned the fact that despite his poor health he was working incessantly. `Tomorrow`, he explained, `I may not be here`. He was aware of the strengthening of the police guard around the Birla House, but notwithstanding Home Minister Patel`s earnest request, Gandhi would not permit those with weapons in their hands and non-violence in their hearts to attended the prayer meetings: `If I have to die I should like to die at the prayer meeting. You are wrong in believing that you can protect me from harm. God is my protector. ` It was now nearly four o` clock in the afternoon, and soon there would be a meeting with Vallabhbhai Patel. Gandhiji had earlier been drawn into the ideological differences over the rivalry between Patel and Nehru. He had expressed his view that one of the two should withdraw from the cabinet. He had since come to the conclusion that both were indispensable, pointing out that the government would be seriously weakened if it lost either. Patel arrived with his daughter, Maniben, and was promptly ushered into the room where Gandhiji sat at his spinning wheel. The conversation with Patel was long and an absorbing one. Gandhiji stressed that any breach between the two senior party colleagues would be disastrous. He would seek out Jawahar Lal Nehru after the evening prayer and discuss the whole matter with him as well. Earlier in the day someone had shown him a clipping from the London Times, an article suggesting that the conflict between Nehru and Patel was irreconcilable. He was determined to put an end to the disunity between them, even if it meant delaying his journey to Sevagram. While the conversation continued he took his evening meal. It was now past 5 p.m., but he did not notice that he was late for the prayer meeting. Abhaben, the young wife of Kanu Gandhi, grandson of the Mahatma`s cousin, held up a watch, but neither Gandhi nor Patel paid any attention. After sometime Patel`s daughter reminded them that it was ten minutes past five and that he had been late for his prayer meeting, whereupon the two men rose. It had been decided that he, along with Patel and Nehru, would together discuss the matter the following day. Patel and his daughter immediately left the Birla House while Gandhiji, a little vexed at being unpunctual, made his way to the prayer meeting. Leaning lightly on the two girls, Manu and Abha, his `walking sticks`, he took a short cut across the grass, walking briskly to make up for the lost time and then mounted the six low steps up to the level of the prayer ground. As he took a few paces in the direction of the wooden platform on which he sat during services, the crowd made way to enable him to pass through, bowing to his feet as he went by. Gandhiji took his arms off the girls` shoulders and for a moment stood there smiling, touching his palms in the traditional greeting-blessing. Just then a stocky young man in a khaki bush jacket jostled through the crowd, and when he was directly in front of the most charismatic of men, he fired three shots into him at point blank range. The Mahatma`s hands folded in friendly greeting, descended slowly. `Hey Ram’ (Oh God Rama),` he murmured, and sighed softly as the frail body slumped to the ground. The assassin was held by the Police. He was Nathuram Godse, an editor of a Marathi newspaper, Hindu Rashtra and an active and fanatic member of the Hindu Mahasabha. The protector of a newly formed nation was carried indoors, but he was already unconscious. Within a few moments, a doctor pronounced him dead. Patel, who lived not far from Birla House, had hardly reached home when he had to rush back. A few minutes later Nehru arrived. Soon one of Gandhiji`s disciples appeared at the door of Birla House to speak to the anxiously waiting crowd: `Bapuji is finished.` A moan went up from the crowd. An epic in the saga of Indian and world history had ended. With his death, Bapu left many questions unanswered but not before showing the world how great arrogant powers can be brought down to earth. He showed the common, deprived and starved citizens of the world how truth could empower us all.