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If Gandhi Returns

 

At Raj Ghat in 2001

About a decade back I suggested the theme ‘Gandhi Returns’ for a one-act play to a student. It was for an inter-House competition. Gulshan, the House Prefect, understood me instantly and wrote the script for the play that went on to win the first prize. In the play, Gandhi returned to the present India and was tormented by what he saw: corruption and political chicanery on the one hand and the helplessness of the common person on the other. Gandhi was another helpless common man on the side of the stage where life’s noisy drama was played out. Whenever he tried to interfere on behalf of truth and justice, he was rebuffed. Indians didn’t recognise him anymore. If someone did, it was worse: Gandhi was mocked or blamed.

Narendra Modi had not ascended the throne in Indraprastha yet. If he had, Gulshan’s script would have been different. Because for Gulshan, Modi became the real hero of India, the man who deserved to replace Gandhi as the father of the nation, after 2014. Probably Gulshan would have written a script in which Mahatma Gandhi retreated graciously and gracefully after placing his mantle on Modi’s back and congratulating him for being Sabka Saath and bringing Sabka Vikas.

Now, a decade after I suggested that theme to Gulshan, I sit in my home in a serene village in Kerala wondering about both the helpless Gandhi I imagined and the Gandhi I now imagine Gulshan would have portrayed a couple of years later. I think Gandhi wouldn’t have been either of these. He would refuse to be a helpless common man. He never was a helpless man. He was a fighter though one who fought differently from all others. He wouldn’t have stopped fighting even in the waning days of Dr Manmohan Sigh or in the heyday of Narendra Modi.

My suggestion to Gulshan was inspired by Dostoevsky who had imagined Jesus returning to the Catholic Spain only to be defenestrated by a Cardinal of the Church. Gandhi was different from Jesus, however; he wouldn’t have given up so easily. Jesus was driven more by love and kindness than by truth and justice. Gandhi was not so tender. I was wrong to suggest a feeble Gandhi to Gulshan. Gandhi would never give up without a fight even if it was Narendra Modi himself that he was pitted against.


Unfortunately Gandhi has no choice just as Jesus does not. Jesus is a prisoner of the churches established in his name and Gandhi’s mantle has been snatched by Modi. Modi is one of those rare figures in history to have paid obeisance to both Gandhi and Godse, the martyr and the killer. Modi is likely to be the only Indian who ever dared to replace the Mahatma in a classical picture. Only Modi can rush in where the greatest of spirits would dread to tread.


And today’s India belongs to that daring Modi. Today’s India is Modi’s creation. It took him just a few years to alter the entire fabric of a humongous nation. India today is just the obverse of what Gandhi had dreamt for the country. And it is the handiwork of Modi. I wouldn’t go to the extent of putting the words of one of Salman Rushdie’s characters verbatim into India’s mouth: “You took beauty and created hideousness.” But I would put what follows those words in Shalimar the Clown: “I am the meaning of your deeds. I am the meaning of your so-called love; your destructive, selfish, wanton love. Your love looks just like hatred… You turned me into a lie. This is not me. This is not me. This is you.”

I can visualise Gulshan gnashing his teeth if he reads this post. He thinks Gandhi deserves to be replaced with Modi. He is convinced that India deserves that if only for redeeming Hinduism from predators. And he is not an exception. He is just one among a few million Indians who think alike.

Ironically, Gandhi was the best Hindu who ever walked the earth.

Happy Gandhi Jayanti.

PS. This blog is participating in The Blogchatter’s #MyFriendAlexa campaign.

Comments

  1. I read your post and can make out that we live in democratic India and every being has right to their words!

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    Replies
    1. Perhaps India is too large for any individual to take away her democracy!

      Delete
  2. Hari OM
    Well spoken!!! Modi is no mahatma, no matter how he dresses or lengthens his beard. YAM xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. But one might appreciate his efforts to create a niche for himself in history.

      Delete
  3. Such a wonderful way to put up the thoughts.....appreciating as the world wants to read while indicating your pov....

    ReplyDelete
  4. I thought I would read about how Ghandhi ji felt coming back in 2021. But the post is more inclined towards political aspect.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've written pretty much about Gandhi. So i wanted this post to be different. Can we strip politics off while speaking of Gandhi's return?

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  5. From where I see he is the best marketing person in the world. For a good or bad, that history will tell. It's more like love him hate him but don't ignore him

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    Replies
    1. Certainly he can't be ignored. About history's verdict, i can say that history has never been benign to those who were little more than showbiz marketers.

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  6. As i began reading your post i was thinking Gandhi would never be a common man and you pointed that out soon. Even though i do not agree with everything about Modi yet your points about Gandhi were spot on

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  7. Manisha - I don't know the exact thoughts if Gandhi returned but I feel he would be happy to see that people still stand up together some on his principles some not but raise their concerns. As for Modi, good or bad is something I dont know but you cant ignore him for sure.

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  8. Am no Modi Bhakt or anti him. He is no Mahatma for sure. But he has surely created a mark for himself.

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  9. As a Gandhian and Protestant Christian the following lines shocked me:
    --
    Unfortunately Gandhi has no choice just as Jesus does not. Jesus is a prisoner of the churches established in his name and Gandhi’s mantle has been snatched by Modi.
    --
    I read your blog thrice to understand your perspective, in retrospect, I am able to see your point of view.
    Loved your thought-provoking post! Keep sharing your thoughts, you have a fan in me!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Definitely a thought provoking post. But need more understanding of Gandhi. I am speaking about myself. I have not read Gandhi much. But yes, I appreciate what Modi is doing. Both have kept country at the centre and both have their weakness and strengths and none is God.
    I was just checking the reality of Modi garlanding Godse and it's false. You can check it here https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof/pm-modi-didnt-garland-nathuram-godses-bust-it-was-deen-dayal-upadhyay

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sometimes we are quickly taken by what is being shared on social media. Liked you have the picture is not true. So, I feel we pick the information very very carefully.
      Politically we have to wait more to know about Modi

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  11. How I wish that he does return, we need him more now than ever.

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  12. I expected something different view on Gandhi....but agree with the view about present "Mahatma".

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  13. Democracy has given rights to each person who is a Gandhi or Godse from the inside

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  14. wow - interesting and thought provoking post....

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  15. What a thought provoking read this was. Men like Gandhi cannot be replaced ever.

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  16. He will definitely be in for a shocker if he returns. A thought provoking post.

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  17. He will definitely be in for a shocker if he returns. A thought provoking post.

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  18. This is definitely thought provoking for me. I try to imagine what if Gandhi visited India in year 2021. There are endless thoughts in my mind right now. I just want to say I don't think that Modi and Gandhi are the figures one could compare.

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  19. Wll, your post has left me in an on going confusion. All the what of's are scarry.

    ReplyDelete

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