Gandhiji

I think he is an underrated leader (despite his popularity in India). I know the majority of Indians acknowledge his role in India being free by 1947, but there are also mixed/varying opinions about his role. David Hawkins credited him with bringing colonialism to an end all over the world – not just India. I think it is true – with India becoming free, it was just a matter of time.


But what did Gandhi do that left the British so stupefied? I recently saw Pazhassi Raja and was able to see how easily the British put him down (and posthumously acknowledging how great a warrior he was). The British were utterly helpless when it came to Gandhi because he never lifted a finger against them (in violence). All they needed was an excuse (remember the ridiculous “rules of engagement” excuse US uses in Iraq today?). He would not give it to them. But his greater success is inspiring an entire country to follow that. Where things went out of control, he put his life on the line (the death fast) and turned things around. While it is debatable about the long term effects of forcefully subduing such a violent atmosphere, the immediate efficacy cannot be disputed.

I think the fundamental strengths of him are:

1) His iron will. I think many likeminded souls would have given up at some point in the struggle.

2) His sincerity. He believed in what he was preaching and that made the difference. A façade-poster would not have worked at any time

He drove the British helplessness to such an extreme that they had to call him to London for a discussion about possible Indian independence. Why do I think he is underrated? In the entire history of revolutions, wars and bloodshed, I don’t think there has been anything of comparable result - an entire empire succumbing to non violence. Remember, this is the same empire that killed over one thousand unarmed civilians including women and children without qualms. This is the same empire that even imagined they could sit in another man’s house and decide if the man was fit enough to run the house.

While his contributions should be acknowledged, I think the other side also needs to be looked at. I am not fully qualified to comment – but my question is this? When someone treats you violently, and you take it in, only in a state of total acceptance can you really be at peace within. If every cell in your body longs to retaliate while you don’t – I think it is dual-damage – both outside and within. I suspect this happened to the populace at large when they tried to follow his ideals. I suspect it was done with genuine understanding. Otherwise, after the policemen were killed and Gandhi went on a fast, why where the Calcutta riots more fiery? In a sense, I think that was the time a deep chasm fell between the two religions in an inseparable way.

I think that this quote by Einstein about Gandhi sums up the miracle that the man is: "Generations to come, it may be, will scarce believe that such one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth".

Unfortunatly, in the current scenario of strife, there is no one comparable who can bring about such an implosive change to situations. We need enlightened leadership to change things!