DECODING GANDHI

Even after more than 66 years of his death Gandhi inspires an awe that perhaps no other name does. Be it for his contribution to the independence of India, or his relevance for the present times or for even sheer curiosity about a person who probably led the greatest mass movement of the world so far, Gandhi lives on. It is not without reason that you will find a street or an esquire or a building or some other form of memorabilia named after Gandhi in every country of consequence. That the United Nations Organization declared October 2nd, Gandhi’s birthday as world Non-violence day in 2007 is proof enough that Gandhi is still not immaterial in this material world. But Gandhi deserves much more. So we need to invent and reinvent Gandhi again and again.
As we approach yet another October 2, let us try to understand Gandhi who continues to remain an enigma. Rightly had Einstein said that “Generations to come, it may well be, will scarce believe that such a man as this one ever in flesh and blood walked upon this Earth.”

How can the Gandhi enigma be unfolded? There were attempts by people like Richard Attenborough, the Hollywood filmmaker to create the magic of Gandhi for a large section of Indian and Western audience through the film Gandhi. Our own Bollywood film maker Rajkumar Hirani invented Gandhi for the hoi polloi with Lage Raho Munna Bhai. But Gandhi has to be positioned in a manner befitting of his contribution. His life was his message. Gandhi was a great leader but an even a greater teacher. He communicated through his actions. For him change had to begin from him. Many before him had purchased the ticket to travel in first class compartment and many were denied that right, or ousted from the compartment as unceremoniously as Gandhi. But Gandhi chose to protest and point out that color of the skin cannot give privileges to some and subjugation to others.

His life was based on principles which he adhered to till his last. If he valued non-violence he valued it no matter what came in way. His decision to call off the non-cooperation movement after the Chauri-Chaura incident which raised many eye brows and still raises a few was based on his commitment to non-violence. It was Gandhi who brought the congress to the masses. It was he who believed that India lives in villages and few lawyers and members of the nobility cannot represent India. When the political class of today, that owes its privileges for a great part to Gandhi, is reluctant to travel to places which are not on the air map of India, we are reminded of Gandhi who travelled III class with the commoners to understand India. Because that was the class that masses traveled in, and there was no IV class. His faith in truthfulness and non-violence, his distaste for self aggrandizement are all foreign to the present day society, and in fact the reason for the ensuing decadence. Many say that Gandhi was ahead of times. No, Gandhi was beyond time. He is eternal and will always be the call of times. While lessons galore can be learnt from Gandhi’s life the important one is – Don’t say yes, when you want to say no. That is Gandhi. For me, for you and for all of us.