150th Gandhi Jayanthi

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

Born                     -     2nd October 1869 at Porbandar.

Assassinated      -     30th January 1948 at Birla House, New Delhi.

Lot of people ask me why should he be the father of the nation? Our independence struggle dates back to the 1800s then how is he eligible to be called the "Father of the Nation".  That tells us a lot about the times that we are living. Gandhiji has to prove why he deserves to be the father of the nation! Nehru has to prove why he had to be the First Prime Minister and anyone who has the fortitude to question those in power need to prove their allegiance to the Nation. The saving grace is that still the nationality is not decided based on such whims and fancies, at least till the NRC is implemented in the "right" and "intended" sense.

72 years after independence, a nation questioning the "father of nation" only shows how sick our minds have become. The Venom that is injected has entered every vein in our body and our intellect and ability to interpret information has been taken over by organised propaganda through social media platforms.

India before independence was not India. It was a geographical area where 400+ small kingdoms fought each other for supremacy. The Dutch, French and then the British saw the immense wealth and invaded these kingdoms and eventually captured them. There was localised resistance and fights. Most often than not, those went futile as the resistance was too small against the might of the Britishers (Who eventually had control over majority of the geographical area) or the neighbouring kingdoms used the opportunity and helped the British to defeat these challengers. A Jhansi Rani, Tantiya Tope, Pazhassi Raja, Kittur Rani Chennamma were not considered the father /mother figure of the nation because of these reasons. Not because their valour, courage or patriotism had anything lacking.

It was the formation of Indian National Congress and the leadership of the dynamic and determined Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi which gave a Path, Purpose, Shape and the much-needed coordination to such localised resistance. He led the freedom struggle from the front. His non-violent techniques like the Salt Satyagraha, Non-Cooperation Movement etc. Were strong signals to the British. People from different corners of the Geographical Region saw their leader in him. He was able to unite people from all corners; belonging to different religions and casts, having language differences, having cultural disparities etc., to line up behind him and display our might to the Empire "whose sun never set".

It is for this reason that not only Indians but people all over the world see their inspiration in him. Giant world personalities like Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Ho Chi Minh and many other such greats found their inspiration in Gandhiji. A Superhuman in his own rights, Rabindra Nath Tagore named him "MAHATMA"; not out of obsession or expecting personal favours as some of the current day "greats" do with their intellectual leader. It was well and truly deserved.

It is the freedom that he got us, which has enabled us to question him, belittle him, disrespect him and discredit him of his service to this great nation which after Independence is called INDIA.

An individual who was inspired by a nefarious ideology assassinated him by shooting him at a point-blank range, in 1948. Today the ideology behind that one person has found more takers, and unfortunately so; and they are assassinating the idea called "Gandhism".

We don't get offended when he is called "Mohanlal" by the Prime Minister,

We are not agitated when he is referred in Singular as 'woh ek chatur baniya tha" by the then President of the largest political party,

When his image is shot again and again in the streets,

When he is removed from Khadi posters,

When he is cornered to cleanliness or swachatha campaign posters

When his idea of India is torn down

We seem to be fine with the "father of our nation" being belittled day in and day out.

He was a champion of Ahimsa, but today we champion in Himsa against the other, that could be a Muslim, Dalit, Christian or anyone else opposing the idea and ideology of a certain group.

He was a champion of non-cooperation. We too champion that, but against our Kashmiri Brothers and Sisters by locking them down in their places for almost two months.

He championed Quit-India, we too are doing that but in the name of NRC by asking people to prove their nationality, to those including the former President's family or a Army Veteran's family.

He still instills inspiration in many minds, and it is time that such minds come together to resist the onslaught of the ideology which assassinated him.

On his 150th Birth Anniversary, let's resolve to fight it in our own way, one that is guided by and based on his ideas and ideology.

Wishing all of you a happy Gandhi Jayanthi.

Jai Hind!