O Gandhi. Where Art Thou?
All along i kept telling myself that your method of non violence was a silly concept that just delayed Independence.
But today i feel that more than gaining independence it was the discipline that you taught your children that was your greatest gift. You united them all. The Punjabi, the Marathis, the Tamils, Bengalis, men of all castes and religion stood up together as one.
You brought India together.
Come back, dear Mohandas Gandhi.
Come back before your children kill each other in fits of anger. We need your lesson of non violence more than ever today.
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October 2nd, 2009 at 11:31 am
I too, like many other urban Indians, misunderstood the note-waale baba.
But we also need to grow some balls and learn how to hit back, especially in the case of our neighbours to the west, because aajkal kindness is often mistaken for weakness. Gandhiji’s philosophy is admirable, but self-defence is equally important.
Although one wonders if our “composite dialogue” and “joint probes” are acts of kindness at all.
But why the mopey tone? We are too lazy to kill each other. India will live on, simply because the old generation of Indians is simply too lethargic to bring about any kind of change, good or bad. Everything is the youth’s job, after all.
Both require a genuine feeling of belonging and pride, which hardly anyone of us has. It’s a lot more than waving the tricolour and jumping up and down like maniacs everytime India wins a cricket match.
We need Gandhiji back to teach us that. Our duties
How we’ve betrayed his sacrifice
October 2nd, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Often times i wonder if he does not cry at what we have done to something that he got the whole nation to dream of and work towards.
I wonder what he will think of us. Our nation. And ofcourse, of the Congress party !
Sigh !
October 2nd, 2009 at 6:58 pm
He was the father of fist mass movements in India, first unified struggles. No one ever achieved what he did with persistence and faith.
It breaks my heart to see people hurl accusations at him, his character, without ever knowing his life. Without knowing that he gave them something they have taken for granted: Freedom to be what you want to be.
October 2nd, 2009 at 7:51 pm
@Akshay – Interesting comment! I agree, ahimsa doesnt mean that you remove your balls and throw them in the Yamuna. Our political leadership has done well to divide the country and failed in putting our aggressive neighbors in their proper place.
I dont think though, that it’s a youth vs old generation question. It’s a matter of will.
Gandhi taught us to not to hit back, but also not to fear anyone as long as we are asserting our right. For some reason we seem to start shaking whenever China as much as raises a finger at us.
@Kavi – I am sure Gandhi is ashamed of what his country has become. And maybe even more scandalized at seeing what’s happened to his name.
@Poonam – He was definitely an amazing personality, despite all the controversies associated with his life. No one since him even comes close in terms of his contributions towards nation building.
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:27 am
everyone forgot lal bahadur shastri. the quiet unassuming man, who worked hard and away from the limelight. i grew up listening to songs about “aaj hai 2 october ka din, aaj ka din hai bara mahaan, aaj ke din do phool khile, jinse mehka hindustan”. but now, thanks to munna bhai m.b.b.s, we are only re-discovering the mahatma. has anyone even heard of the tashkent conference where shastriji was murdered? recently someone stole his reading glasses “worth 1 crore” as the media was eager to inform us. that’s all the mention he got in the last so many years. we love only those the media loves. first gandhiji opposed partition and then he tried to stop the minority from going to their own country, he is still great and will always be great. but this greatness is confined to his fight for equality and preaching of tolerance for the untouchables – to fellow indians. there were many other mechanisms that won us our independence. what history students know is that the british were actually on the way out, but politicians were crafty and saw the advantage in “fighting and winning” this independence. if we are such ardent followers of gandhiji, where is the equality in the policy of reservation? the downtrodden dalits are now practising the same intolerance and violence they were victims of. we are a nation of racists – we don’t accept people from other states and go blue in the face when other people treat us like crap. and let us not pretend that gandhiji left india a tolerant and united country and what we see now is how it deteriorated after his death. it was the same in his lifetime.
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:44 am
^
I thought the LBS’ death at Tashkent was an accident. But it seemed fishy anyway, given it was hours after he signed the Tashkent pact.
I’d be glad if you could enlighten.
“there were many other mechanisms that won us our independence. what history students know is that the british were actually on the way out, but politicians were crafty and saw the advantage in “fighting and winning” this independence.”
Agreed. The British no longer saw any merit in retaining India. WWII had completely sapped them of their strength.
The politicians of the era are also responsible for our deep-seated inferiority complex and our lack of self-respect. I feel people like Nehru and others, in some way had this feeling of superiority at being “exposed” to “Western” ideals, and considered themselves savage handlers of their “beastly” brethren.
Reservations:
Your comment sounds great, idealistic. However, reservations
are a pretty effective tool for ensuring social justice. But they need to be implemented in a better manner so that the deserving people are beneficiaries.
The BS about “meritocracy” and “quality dilution” is the random banter of urban people like you and me, and ob. the oh-so-patriotic now-NRI IIT alumni. We people are hardly aware of Indian social realities and care two hoots about the country anyway.
Least of all the ex-IITians(and other -ians) who are getting so worked up, given they’re all in their comfy silicon valley offices counting their dollars. What a profitable investment of taxpayers’ money
. And still better, what a proud moment for our roadside hawker on whom our higher education is subsidized 
(I too study in a govt. college and pay a pittance compared to my friends in pvt. colleges. I feel really guilty at times.)
(I’m no Dalit. Infact, I lost out on IIT this year mainly because of reservations, and a “depressed” friend of mine is enjoying himself in IIT Bombay. That’s why I feel reservations on economic grounds is a better option. Most imp., a revamp of the primary edu. system is needed. )
In short, it’s not about quality or merit. It’s about empowering the oppressed of India by giving them opportunities such as, studying in such instititutions. These are govt-controlled educational instis and not factories for the American economy. Urban people like us need to drill that into our heads first. We act as if we own the country
, a country we’ve more or less abandoned.
I’ve always felt reservations for Dalits in primary schools would be more fruitful. But the privileged section of society wouldn’t allow it. Most of them would get conniption fits if an “ugly, smelly Dalit boy from a village(yuck!)” came to study with their well dressed,english(with very irritating accent)-speaking children in their tony convent schools.
This mentality of ours is manifesting in our idiotic,pathetic railings against politicos like Mayawati.She’s screwing the country(and her own people) no doubt, but we’ve been screwing the nation for 62 years now.
Such hypocrisy.
And I treat people from all states nicely. Infact, I’ve lived in such vastly different states I don’t know what to call myself. Decent people are always tolerant and accepting of people from other states. Problem is that the Decent people don’t care enough about the country to make their countrymen decent.
And therein, lies the plight of India.
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:51 am
Hi,
I read your blogs regularly and like your views. I appreciate that a young person has the courage and sense of duty for the society, to say things in a decent way.
I am an elderly person, and I have always believed in Gandhian values. These values bridge people and do not divide them. This is my lifetime experience.
I am encouraged to note that with people like you spreading message of responsibility and peace, India can progress better.
May your tribe increase. Let all of us , in our own little ways, prove that Gandhi taught us true values that work even today.
October 3rd, 2009 at 6:32 pm
I think we need Gandhi’s principles now, more than ever. The strength of conviction, the courage, his ideas of equality for all, and the honesty with which he went about his work, is all that we have totally forgotten about. I think he would definitely hang his head in shame to see what the country he gave shape to, has become.
October 4th, 2009 at 8:01 am
I agree with your views and the comments above. It is not easy to live for others.
October 4th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
@MS – My bad, i was not aware of 2nd oct being LBS’ birthday. I agree in that Gandhi is paid a lot of lip service, and somehow nobody seems to care about his ideals.
At the same time i think you are being a bit too cynical in thinking that Indians were as racist even during his lifetime. Even if they were, it is to his credit that he kept them together.
@Akshay – Strong opinions, once again! I think your dislike for NRIs is a bit misplaced. They arent all bad; and what’s wrong if they care about the country? I guess staying away makes you feel for the country, which is the reason they sometimes appear too nationalist. But still that’s not a bad thing.
I have come across such opinions earlier also, and it beats me why some Indians love to hate NRIs. But the moment someone achieves something, he is hailed as an Indian hero.
@Jayalakshmi – Thanks for the encouragement. Your kind words and the blessings just made my day.
@Smitha @Solilo – Yups. Very important to believe in the old fashioned values!
October 5th, 2009 at 8:45 am
not surprised at all at this fading of LBJ’s memory. he is not endorsed by obama! he does not appear on any currency. and i can’t blame people when the govt is totally oblivious. this is what historic cleansing is all about. were we discriminatory in 1947? you bet we were. interstate marriages were taboo, jobs were only offered on “son of soil” basis, properties were not sold to “outsiders”, money was purified by sprinkling of gangajal when it was handled by “other caste”. see, gandhiji would not have had to work so hard at uniting a people that were already united. and who can forget sardar patel and his struggle to keep all the states together? he is not known as the ironman for nothing. hyderabad and its affiliation to pakistan was understandable, but rajasthan and calcutta, orissa and modern-day UP and MP? we have to learn from our past, what worked and what did not. can’t ignore it.
October 5th, 2009 at 7:03 pm
NRIs?
I’ve got nothing against NRIs. I was just trying to say how ridiculous the arguments against reservations are. Primary one being that IITs and higher educational institutes “contribute” to the nation, and reservations would reduce the “quality” of the graduates, and this would “diminish” the “contributions”. The other arguments: a)it’s inequality and b)It leads to “brain drain” are so laughable they don’t even warrant a reply.
That’s crap. Whom are we kidding? Neither the IITs/NITs/IIMs contribute much to the nation. They exist to serve the self-interests of their students,a substantial chunk whom who run off to America after availing subsidized education, which people like your driver and my housemaid pay for!
I couldn’t care less. These people may live where they want. Do what they want. But don’t they dare extol their “contribution” to the nation.
It’s bad because it insults people who truly work for the nation. Like policeman, like the municipal workers we all love to abuse,like our soldiers,and innumerable such examples. We all hear about instances of corruption and etc. Why is the police so corrupt? Why not, I ask. When we’re bsy going ga-ga over a bunch of IITians for “improving India’s image”, while brazenly ignoring the cops’ own difficulties and problems, and notably, their contributions, why should they give a damn?
“But the moment someone achieves something, he is hailed as an Indian hero. ”
Ya, that’s sort of my point. I find it really disgusting.
That we feel proud of “Indians” like Arun Majumdar and Kanna Rajan while ignoring the unknown soldier who died so we could all run our idiotic blogs is a matter of shame, not pride.
Disclaimer: I know there are a great many NRIs who contribute immensely to the nation, as there are IITians. But I don’t like people crowing and exaggerating the “monumental” contributions of higher learning instis. to Indian industry and science just to argue against reservations. It certainly isn’t true. I repeat, I have nothing against NRIs or IITians. It’s not sour grapes either
October 5th, 2009 at 11:29 pm
@ Akshay…
Please vent elsewhere….you are one of those who will say a million things against everyone from an NRI to an IITian and the first chance you get you will take a flight and be out of India and settle down abroad.
So just reflect your inexperience elsewhere in some adolescent corner of the universe where teenage rage is the most discussed issue.
October 7th, 2009 at 2:21 am
There can’t be another Gandhi. In fact, people waste time waiting for another “man” to arrive. Gandhi himself said The change begins with you. The best there will be is another person who will be more suited to the current conditions.
October 9th, 2009 at 10:17 pm
Please vent elsewhere….you are one of those who will say a million things against everyone from an NRI to an IITian and the first chance you get you will take a flight and be out of India and settle down abroad.
Duh, I’m not venting myself. I’m just against people who give idiotic
arguments against reservations, that’s all.
And I’m not saying a million things against anyone, I don’t like people who endlessly glorify them. Sure the NRIs/IITians don’t ask for it. The problem is with us.
Because I’m young, I’m immature and stupid, huh?
Do take the trouble of reading properly before getting all worked up
And I never said anything against going abroad. I might for all I know. But if I do, it would be for the thrill of a new experience, and not because I’m frustrated with my nation. (felt like mentioning it here)
October 9th, 2009 at 10:42 pm
and
, it isn’t about saying a million things against anyone. It’s the endless glorification of these people that irks me. I’m not blaming them, the NRIs/IITians don’t ask for it. The problem is with us.
Today, we are again crowing the achievements of an “Indian-born” scientist without bothering to understand what made him leave India in the first place. Sure it isn’t Ramakrishnan’s fault. We are to be blamed.
And lastly, before you retaliate (:lol:), do condescend to think over the words of this immature teenager:
When the Andhra CM died, we conducted a massive search operation for three days.
Francis Induvar, an intelligence officer who worked against the Naxalite movement. His decapitated body was found seven days after he died.
All I can say is this gives a very good indication of what kind of people we are. Any elder person I say this to says exactly what you did. Teenage angst
Well if every empowered Indian ignores his duties and indulges in mindless criticism of govt/political organs, and dismisses every comment that calls for proactivity as teenage “rage”……………….
Please take the trouble of reading properly before getting all worked up
And lastly, I apologize if my previous comment offended any NRIs. But the sensible ones would appreciate what I wanted to say.
Thanks
October 9th, 2009 at 11:10 pm
@Akshay – Enough said. Try not to go around offending everybody in sight. Having an opinion is one thing; being offensive to people is a different ballgame altogether.
October 10th, 2009 at 10:50 pm
You have pointed out two aspects of Gandhi’s life and work. One was his pivotal role in the independence struggle (uniting people and temporarily transcending caste, religion and language). I think his work in that arena was made easy due to what and who he was fighting against. There was a ‘gair hukumat’ (??? ??????), the British Raj, that was clearly alien to all Indians, and was in general contemptous of the natives and their culture. ‘Uniting’ people against this common enemy was a difficult task, but not as difficult as the task of uniting people when there wasnt a common enemy and the challenge became achieving collective goals that can benefit all or most. And this is the challenge Republican India’s political and intellectual elite have had to face. Sadly they havent lived upto it.
The other, perhaps more important in a global and personal context, is the political philosophy that he espoused, satya and ahimsa, non-violent struggle. They remain relevant for everybody everywhere. I dont know why some people respond to arguments advocating non-violence by saying, yeah but we should be violent against our enemies. Non-violent struggle is about standing up to injustice without losing self-control, it does not apply in the context of international relations. We continously degrade non-violence, where is this going to lead us as a society ?
October 13th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
I apologize if I offended anyone.
You can delete the comment if you wish.
But just because a person is a teenager doesn’t mean he’s intellectually challenged and cannot give objective opinions. And my opinions, I feel are certainly more objective and polite than people who don’t bother to read anything but start insulting me just because I’m a teenager.
Anyway I’m not coming back anymore. Sorry for the interruption