Destroyer of the Nation
Gandhi should have born 50 years after independence. And Lokmany Tilak and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose should have lived at least 20 years more.We could have seen a better India than this. I am not saying we could got freed before 1947, but nation could have been in better responsible hands after freedom. English ruled us for 200 years almost. The techniques they followed to batter down big kings and kingdoms in India were very practical. To beat an enemy you have to be tough and should retaliate its attack with same force and aggression. But the way we tried to get back our freedom is surprising me. It looks like after rebellion of 1857 a fear of getting defeated started growing in Indian minds. Apart from a few spot rebels in Maharashtra, Bihar and Bengal violent protest was almost vanished.
In 1885 a party born , basically not for freedom struggle rather for obtaining a share in british government ruling India. Later with increased opposition from british government over interference, Congress decided to fight against British rule. Even then it was undecided on what way to deal with british. Some thought to go harsh and some thought to please them and get the chunk. The roots of weak, disarrayed India lie there. Congress, whom we assumed unchallenged leader of our independence movement, were always undecided on its methods.
To throw away the intruder in your house you cannot be kind to him or need to beg at him if you are strong. The Gandhi Techniques of 'satyagraha' or 'law breaking(that too polite law breaking)' are valid today because it is our own government and (like what Medha Patkar or SBI employees are doing) we can force government to be proper in governance. But it is a grossly wrong method to fight with enemy. Otherwise Terrorists should leave killing people and Pakistan should not ask for Kashmir if ManMohan Singh is going on 'satyagraha' . Even my father, a Gandhi scholar(though not a blind follower), says, "People followed Gandhi because it was easier to follow him than Bhagat Singh".
Gandhi was a manager rather a best people manager than anybody else. He managed Netaji Bose, he managed Bhagat, he managed Jinnah and he managed 30-40 crore innocent though matured Indian crowd. Go back to history and you will see no country got her freedom without fighting violently with the ruler. Otherwise why britishers will fear of Bhagat Singh more than Gandhi. Why they kept Gandhi alive for years and hanged Bhagat Singh as soon as they saw his popularity is increasing?
I am not writing because I am inspired because of rangDeBasati or such seasonal patriotism. Any common man if thinks with his mind clear of prejudice and being practical, he will find Gandhi led us to a much shattered future. He insisted on his mild and obsolete methods even though he saw the success Tilak, Bhagat Singh and Netaji Bose. Proposing a weaker leader like Jawaharlal Nehru, he became KingMaker. Why it was necessory to go on hunger strike when Netaji Bose was becoming president of congress session for second consecutive time ?
I accept Gandhi had mass support. But I fail to convince myself that Gandhi fought for freedom and that too selflessly. He was great politician. Non-voilance and such stuff is good to negotiate with those who will listen. But those who don't listen need a blast.
More Later..
--Abhijit
posted by abhijit @ Monday, May 15, 2006
6 comments
6 Comments:
Gud thought , but violence neccessarily doesnt bring the desired results, its always the patience that wins. Perhaps Gandhi realised it.;)
@deepak: Agreed. I will suggest few good words instead of violence...controlled aggression or self defence...
Voilence need not always be seen as doing something wrong. Its necessory otherwise neither lakhs of standing armies around the world nor millitary science is justified.
My thoughts exactly!
Gandhi was at most a good politician who understood mass psychology very well. His being portrayed almost as a saint irritates me to no end. And I think it's time to ask another question: Why should all our currency notes have Gandhi's picture? Are we short of great men?
Alas, if Subhash Bose lived after independence, the Nehru-Gandhi family would be nowhere...people knew there was only one real leader in the country- their Netaji. Even Gandhi's candidate was defeated by Netaji in the congress presidential elections.
And you know the funny thing? In our class X history book, there were 4-5 chapters on Gandhi, Nehru, Jinnah etc, while only half a chapter for Bhagat Singh and his friends and Netaji combined. This despite the fact that Netaji was the first person in the history of British India to win back a territory from the British. The Royal Navy revolted at Mumbai just inspired by Netaji and his men. Navy was the very foundation of the British Empire, and it was for the first time in the history of the entire British Empire that a Royal navy openly revolted anywhere in the world. It was a BIG reason for the British leaving India. But how much did you study in school about the naval revolt?
I think it's high time we rewrite our history books.
@Sugata: egg-jactly!!
when u say seasonal patriotism u come across as very mature, but ur single minded criticism of Gandhi is not very well placed.he had his flaws .esp when he doesnt believe in allopathy he refuses treatment for Kasturba and she pays heavily for not taking penicillin.butwhen he needs allopathy intervention for his appendix he gets all of it --the works.So many such instances yet so many good qualities .so while Nehru's personal life can be criticised he was a well read man.Tilak , Bose were extremely intelligent people and like u i wish they wud have a longer life which cud definitely be fruitful. EVeryone contributed their bit by which the end justified the means.I feel we must filter and keep taking all that is good of the past and wat there is around for the future,it helps us grow.
I stumbled upon you blog because I studied in Karad for 4 years.
Lokmanya Tilak was not very progressive socially , he opposed inter caste marriages and his actions with shahu maharaj put a long term wedge in maharashtra.
as for bose , his action of inviting japanese to drive out the british was short sighted as best. the japanese were 100 timese more cruel and inhuman than the british.
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