Hey Ram

Jan 30th - Matyr's Day

A black day that will live through history. A day that will be remembered for the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi left this Karma Bhoomi in 1948. A legend, the apostle of Ahimsa came to an end. Inspite of leading the nation from slavery/colonialism to Independence, the Mahatma as he is fondly known as, was shot dead, by an angry yound man, considered to be a Hindu fanatic.

Lets do an autopsy of what preluded those days ?

Let me take you back to the year 1946. Everyone knew that Independence was around the corner (though the precise date remained undecided). The choice of Congress president became crucial since it was certain that the Viceroy would invite him or her to head the interim government. Twelve of the 15 Pradesh Congress Committees proposed the name of Sardar Patel; not one of them sent up the name of Jawaharlal Nehru -- not even his native United Provinces (as Uttar Pradesh was then titled). It was at this point that Mahatma Gandhi made his last decisive intervention in the affairs of the nation.

He asked his spiritual successor Acharya Kripalani -- who, if I remember correctly was the choice of the United Provinces Pradesh Congress Committee -- to circulate a note to the Congress Working Committee asking that body to nominate Nehru. From this distance in time, the Mahatma's reasons seem less than convincing. 'He, a Harrow boy, a Cambridge graduate and a barrister, is wanted to carry on the negotiations with Englishmen.' Again, the Mahatma believed that Nehru could 'make India play a role in international affairs.' More realistically, 'Jawahar will not take second place.' Whatever the rationale -- and the last suggests that our much-worshipped first prime minister was a spoiled brat in the Mahatma's estimation -- the fact remains that Bapu's suggestion carried the day, and Sardar Patel, the choice of the people, failed to become prime minister through a palace coup.

Jawaharlal Nehru's legion of sympathisers will argue that his accession was legitimised in subsequent elections. But the point is that a precedent had been set; future Congress prime ministers would face the people only after they were firmly in the chair. That was true of Indira Gandhi in 1967 (prime minister as of 1966), of Rajiv Gandhi in 1984, and of Narasimha Rao in 1991. The exception to that rule was Indira Gandhi in 1980.

In any case, by the winter of 1951-1952, when the first general election was held, there was no other real challenge to Nehru. Netaji's voice had not been heard since 1945, the Sardar had died in 1950, and Rajaji -- 11 years older than Nehru and far more scrupulous -- was too tired. But to read the dying Sardar's warning about Chinese intentions or Rajaji's fulmination against the 'license-permit-quota Raj' makes me wonder what might have been ... had one of these giants become prime minister. Aarambam.. Abaaya Sangu ....

So, finally instead of proving to be the father of the nation, he proved to be the father of nehru, by insisting on him becoming the PM.

Did it stop there? No. When Jinnah wanted to split, he gave in. Muslims split and carved their map and destiny in the name of Pakistan. In all sense of justice and reason, it is Pakistan which is supposed to have paid India for taking away the natural resources and asking for a psycological and physical split in the families of crores of Hindus and Muslims. Instead, When they asked for compensation and for the first when Nehru stood saying that we won't pay, Gandhi went on fasting until death. The nation is bigger than the individual, isn't it? True. But again, the fact remains that the nation had to givein for the individual. We ended paying. (pottadu daan pottom.. Nandri Ulla Naaikka Pottom? Illa)

Being a good citizen takes more precedence than being a Mahatma, when it comes to your mother land. After being correct so many times, he was wrong then. What if he is the Mahatma or what if he is the Father of the nation? "NetrikKaN Thirappinum kuttram Kutrame".

Before all these... his support to the Khilafat movement, which in no way is related to India was unnecessarily supported by him to appease the Indian muslims. What if the turkish sultan is aggravated by the British when their own home is in British's hands ? The muslims, instead of agitating against the british for Mother India, they agitated for the Turkish sultan. (Caliph became Khilafat). Instead of deploring it, Gandhi appeased the muslims to get their support. To become the universal leader of the nation.

He resigned from Congress when Netaji was elected the Preseident of the INC. Why? He couldn't stand against the young and ferocious voice of a colleague. This forced Netaji to quit congress.

Bhagat, this yound lad ... the voice of the next generation ... could have been saved, if he had wanted to.

Every single action of him had a big impact on the long term future of the nation. Anyhow, here we are... It is very easy to look at the history and comment. We have the advantage of looking at the past, present and the future of that day. Had we been in the crowd, what if had we been Gandhi ? Would we too have taken the same decisions? or would we have crumbled ?

Noone can answer any of these. Whatever may be said and done, it is breath taking to look at this man. As Einstein said, it is hard to believe, such a man ever walked on the face of this earth. Inspite of all the odds, he has been able to practise Ahimsa, inspire and lead the whole Nation to Independence.

His famous speech in South Africa goes like this... The Policeman can enter my house without my permission, throw me out, beat me up, crush me down. But, he cannot get my obedience. It takes more than words to walk your talk. In a public life than has spanned more than 40 years, anyone is bound to do mistakes. Windows XP has more bugs than win 95. Does it mean Win 95 is the better one? When you get more facilities, better things.. you tend to have some bugs too.. And the Mahatma has his share of it.

May his soul rest in peace.

- Murali