My friends and I used to play galli cricket when we were young. We used to call each other by cricketing names. And the name that was most sought after was Sachin. And last week I heard a couple of kids fighting over the name "Dhoni". And then the very next day Sachin scored a ton.
And then Munnabhai re-appeared. And as they teased on TV, he was not alone this time. He had Mahatma Gandhi for company. Who, some said. Accha, the bloke who gave us independence. And suddenly (as usual) the whole country was divided again. They debated whether Mahatma's "Gandhigiri" is relevant in today's world.
Some said, " Its very relevant. His gospels of truth and non-violence are more conducive to harmony and peaceful co-existence... There is a need to re-invent Gandhi in India in the present context of terrorism and dissonance."
And the opposition said, " What a fraud film. That is a wrong depiction of Gandhi."
And I refuse to accept both.
I refute to the second argument simply because it does not talk about the concept. There is nothing wrong in recreating Gandhi and illustrating him talking in "Tapori" language.
Those who are protesting are mindless dissenters who are skewed by political power plays. The arguments put forward by them are petty and can be safely ignored.
But what is more disturbing is the plethora of responses, blogs, comments, articles, interviews, et al which has come out in favor of the "relevance of Gandhigiri" in modern day India. What relevance are we talking about? Let me clarify. are lost in the maze of hazy fog of an undisturbed past.
Bapu's basic three principles were:
(a) satyagraha,(b) ahimsa and (c) tapasiya.
Satyagraha - Philosophy of non-violent resistance - That means if there is anything wrong happening around you, do protest. But in a non-violent manner.
Thus, if the cab driver refuses to take you to your destination, you sit in front of his cab in protest and don't let him move - even if it means that he can run you over.
Ahimsa - Philosphy of non-violence - This means that in whatever you do, non-violent approach should be imbedded into it.
If the goon next door teases and calls out names to your sister, you just go upto him and tell him he should not be doing that. That is a wrong deed.If he still does not listen, then you go upto him again and advice him. So on and so forth.
Tapasaya - Principle and practice of physical and spiritual austerity - That means there should be discipline in all walks of your life.
Therefore, even if you go out to watch the movie you really have been waiting to watch and see that the tickets are sold out (and there are hordes of people who are buying it from the 'blackers' around) , you simply curse your luck and go back home.
I know the examples I gave are quite naïve. That was the intention. Even if in such stupid instances, "Gandhigiri" falls flat, how on earth can we talk of it being relevant today?
I know the counter argument to this would be - If everyone follows these principles, then everything would smoothen. But there lies the trick. Can or has it ever happened that aal of us(Indians) have thought the same way? No, not even in grave situations. We always have something different to opine. Even when our country was getting freed. Even when the 93 verdict was being given. Even when we won the World Cup.
Its very natural for two people to have tow different perspective of the same happening. But at times, it really beats me, that on otherwise unanimous topics, how can we still debate? And if we do, then there is something wong. And if we do, then "Gandhigiri" would have a slim chance of making a comback into our lives.
What exactly do we want to inherit from Gandhi? His commitment to the truth at all costs, his brutal honesty, his devotion to his principles. One of these or all? At the end of the day, despite the barbs and the derision heaped on him by no end of detractors, he remains a real man, the greatest to emerge from India and one of the world's most influential people. But the qestion still remains unanswered - Is he relevant today?
Are we living in a real world?
How many of us think that talking to terrorists and making them understand would help? We would be really foolhardy to believe that if we tell them that you have killed so many of us, don't kill more - they would oblige.
How many of us think that if there is corruption existing in offices, the best way to tackle is to make those guys realize how poor we are and we can't afford to pay bribes? Who are we kidding? Do we even have the time?
How many of us have the time to think about our health? How many of us have the time think of our parents' well being? How many of care about the drenched, street urchin, tapping at our car window? How many of us bother to know who are neighbors are? How many of us have not bought train tickets from touts? How many of us have not told a lie to our parents, bosses and spouses? How many of us have ever tried not to waste food? How many of us have never fought with friends or foes? How many of us don't have foes at all? How many of us have bought gifts for street children or people at old-age homes?
This list of modern-day "Gandhism" is inexhaustible. And this where the gap exists. We all are a bunch of pseudos. We love to talk about how relevant "Gandhigiri" is today but would dread to practice it. Because we know its not practical. But we would still talk about it - you know, talking about Gandhigiri is so cool now. Everyone in the country wants to reflect that there is a Gandhi within him. And Gandhigiri runs in his blood. But the real picture is quite gory.
Millions could not digest the fact on 30th January 1948 that Mahatma Gandhi was dead. They just could not believe it. I think time has come again for all of us to stand up and accept that Gandhigiri is also dead today. We should stop duping others and ourselves by saying and believing that Gandhi and his principles still exist. Gandhigiri is DEAD.
About the AuthorAbhijit Bhattacharya The author is a Marketing professional in the field of broadcast media for more than 9 years now.
He was born in Kolkata, where he finished his hig...Read Morefirst published:September 18, 2006, 14:26 ISTlast updated:September 18, 2006, 14:26 IST
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There was a time when I heard my uncles mutter, " Amitabh de din gaye." That was almost more than a decade back. And then KBC happened.
My friends and I used to play galli cricket when we were young. We used to call each other by cricketing names. And the name that was most sought after was Sachin. And last week I heard a couple of kids fighting over the name "Dhoni". And then the very next day Sachin scored a ton.
And then Munnabhai re-appeared. And as they teased on TV, he was not alone this time. He had Mahatma Gandhi for company. Who, some said. Accha, the bloke who gave us independence. And suddenly (as usual) the whole country was divided again. They debated whether Mahatma's "Gandhigiri" is relevant in today's world.
Some said, " Its very relevant. His gospels of truth and non-violence are more conducive to harmony and peaceful co-existence... There is a need to re-invent Gandhi in India in the present context of terrorism and dissonance."
And the opposition said, " What a fraud film. That is a wrong depiction of Gandhi."
And I refuse to accept both.
I refute to the second argument simply because it does not talk about the concept. There is nothing wrong in recreating Gandhi and illustrating him talking in "Tapori" language.
Those who are protesting are mindless dissenters who are skewed by political power plays. The arguments put forward by them are petty and can be safely ignored.
But what is more disturbing is the plethora of responses, blogs, comments, articles, interviews, et al which has come out in favor of the "relevance of Gandhigiri" in modern day India. What relevance are we talking about? Let me clarify. are lost in the maze of hazy fog of an undisturbed past.
Bapu's basic three principles were:
(a) satyagraha,(b) ahimsa and (c) tapasiya.
Satyagraha - Philosophy of non-violent resistance - That means if there is anything wrong happening around you, do protest. But in a non-violent manner.
Thus, if the cab driver refuses to take you to your destination, you sit in front of his cab in protest and don't let him move - even if it means that he can run you over.
Ahimsa - Philosphy of non-violence - This means that in whatever you do, non-violent approach should be imbedded into it.
If the goon next door teases and calls out names to your sister, you just go upto him and tell him he should not be doing that. That is a wrong deed.If he still does not listen, then you go upto him again and advice him. So on and so forth.
Tapasaya - Principle and practice of physical and spiritual austerity - That means there should be discipline in all walks of your life.
Therefore, even if you go out to watch the movie you really have been waiting to watch and see that the tickets are sold out (and there are hordes of people who are buying it from the 'blackers' around) , you simply curse your luck and go back home.
I know the examples I gave are quite naïve. That was the intention. Even if in such stupid instances, "Gandhigiri" falls flat, how on earth can we talk of it being relevant today?
I know the counter argument to this would be - If everyone follows these principles, then everything would smoothen. But there lies the trick. Can or has it ever happened that aal of us(Indians) have thought the same way? No, not even in grave situations. We always have something different to opine. Even when our country was getting freed. Even when the 93 verdict was being given. Even when we won the World Cup.
Its very natural for two people to have tow different perspective of the same happening. But at times, it really beats me, that on otherwise unanimous topics, how can we still debate? And if we do, then there is something wong. And if we do, then "Gandhigiri" would have a slim chance of making a comback into our lives.
What exactly do we want to inherit from Gandhi? His commitment to the truth at all costs, his brutal honesty, his devotion to his principles. One of these or all? At the end of the day, despite the barbs and the derision heaped on him by no end of detractors, he remains a real man, the greatest to emerge from India and one of the world's most influential people. But the qestion still remains unanswered - Is he relevant today?
Are we living in a real world?
How many of us think that talking to terrorists and making them understand would help? We would be really foolhardy to believe that if we tell them that you have killed so many of us, don't kill more - they would oblige.
How many of us think that if there is corruption existing in offices, the best way to tackle is to make those guys realize how poor we are and we can't afford to pay bribes? Who are we kidding? Do we even have the time?
How many of us have the time to think about our health? How many of us have the time think of our parents' well being? How many of care about the drenched, street urchin, tapping at our car window? How many of us bother to know who are neighbors are? How many of us have not bought train tickets from touts? How many of us have not told a lie to our parents, bosses and spouses? How many of us have ever tried not to waste food? How many of us have never fought with friends or foes? How many of us don't have foes at all? How many of us have bought gifts for street children or people at old-age homes?
This list of modern-day "Gandhism" is inexhaustible. And this where the gap exists. We all are a bunch of pseudos. We love to talk about how relevant "Gandhigiri" is today but would dread to practice it. Because we know its not practical. But we would still talk about it - you know, talking about Gandhigiri is so cool now. Everyone in the country wants to reflect that there is a Gandhi within him. And Gandhigiri runs in his blood. But the real picture is quite gory.
Millions could not digest the fact on 30th January 1948 that Mahatma Gandhi was dead. They just could not believe it. I think time has come again for all of us to stand up and accept that Gandhigiri is also dead today. We should stop duping others and ourselves by saying and believing that Gandhi and his principles still exist. Gandhigiri is DEAD.
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