Immortal Soul of
Bapu in Peril
Bapu in Peril
"A man without education is like a brave man without arms. Kings govern men and learned men govern Kings"
By Mukesh Sharma
Come the date of 2nd October, political parties in government are out to float full page ads in newspapers. Clad in starch white kurta pyjama, netas rush to the samadhi of Bapu in the morning to pay floral tribute in full glare of media cameras - a mere charm offensive. The commoners allege that Mahatma Gandhi is the only iconic man of Indian politics who has been cheated the most in the last 72 years of independence and next comes the hapless people. It seems that Bapu’s immortal soul is in peril.
One of the leading families of Indian politics has become the self declared ‘proprietors’ of surname “Gandhi”, and often beats the drum of seclurism propounded by Bapu. Most of netas have staked claim on the patriotism of Bapu, and now are self-styled “patriots’. Even the walking stick of Bapu has been snatched away and is being used as danda to terrorise the innocent people. A few have laid their hand on the specs of Bapu and are using it in ads for commercial gains. Buck does not stop here, 2000 note that carries the pic of Bapu predominently, adorns the coffers of the rich and corrupt netas who live kingsize life. Perhaps, out of shame, only loin cloth of Bapu has been spared. It is a open secret that the netas pretend to follow Bapu’s principle and philosophy just to ingratiate themselves. Truth is stranger than fiction.
Last night, this journalist/ author happened to have talks with the soul of beloved Bapu in dream. Here are excerpts of conversation:
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| His immortal soul in peril |
Author: Bapu, how is the India of your dream?
Bapu: I shall work for an India in which the poorest shall feel that it is their country, in whose making they have an effective voice, an India in which there shall be no high class and low class of people, an India in which all communities shall live in perfect harmony . . . . There can be no room in such an India for the curse of untouchability or the curse of intoxicating drinks and drugs . . . . Women will enjoy the same right as men . . . . This is the India of my dream.
Author: Bapu, the rich are getting richer the poor are getting poorer. It has given rise to many social evils and has jeopardised the unity and integrity of India. What is the solution to this problem?
Bapu: The rich can not accumulate wealth without the co-operation of the poor in the society. So non-violent non co-operation and civil disobedience are the right and infallible solution.
As soon as a man looks upon himself as a servant of society, earns for its sake, spends for its benefit, then purity enters into his earnings and there is ahimsa in his venture. Moreover, if men’s mind turns towards this way of life, there will come about peaceful revolution in society, and that without any bitterness.
Author: Materialism is on the rise, the rich love to flaunt their wealth through their acquisition. any suggestion?
Bapu: Non-possession is allied to non-stealing. A thing not originally stolen must neverthless be classified as stolen property if we possess it without needing it. Possession implies provision for the future. A seeker after truth, a follower of the law of love, can’t hold anything against tomorrow. God never stores for the morrow. He never creates more than what is strictly needed for the moment. if, therefore, we repose faith in his providence, we should be assured that he will give us every day our daily bread, measuring everything we require.
Author: Would you throw some light on your Principle of Non-violence?
Bapu: I am not a visionary. I claim to be as practical idealist. The religion of non-violence is not meant merely for the rishis and saints. It is meant for the common people as well. Non-violence is the law of our species as violence is the law of the brute and he knows no law but that of physical might. The dignity of man requires obedience to a higher law - to the strength of the spirit.
Author: Is education necessary for the development of man?
Bapu: A man without education is like a brave man without arms. Kings govern men and learned men govern Kings.
Author: Who is wise?
Bapu: A wise men is not he who considers how he may get out of an evil, but he who sees to it that he doesn’t fall into it.
Author: What is truthfullness?
Bapu: No man’s Religion can be right unless his heart becomes right, nor can his heart become right unless his tongue is right . . . .
Author: Can anyone become Sanyasin by wearing saffaron clothes?
Bapu: A Rishi or Sanyasin is one who has realised himself. Sannyasa according to the Gita is the renunciation of actions prompted by desire.
Author:What is true development?
Bapu: True development consists in reducing ourselves to a cipher. Selfless service is secret of life. To rise above passion is the highest ideal.
Author: What is God ?
Bapu: Truth is God. This God is living force. That force resides in the body, but is not the body. He who denies the existence of that great force, denies to himself access to its inexhaustible power and remains impotent.
Author: What is Indian Culture?
Bapu: Indian culture is neither Hindu, Islamic, nor any other, wholly. It is a fusion of all. I want culture of all lands to be blown about my house and as freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any. I refuse to live in other peoples’ houses as an interloper, a beggar or a slave.
Author: Indians are losing trust in Indian civilization?
Bapu: We are inhabitants of a country which has so long survived with its own civilization. Many a civilization of Europe is destroyed, but India, our country, survives as a witness to its own civilization. All scholars agree in testifying that the civilization of India is the same today as it was thousands years ago. But, now we have reason to suspect that we have no longer faith in our civilization. Every morning we worship, recite the verses composed by our forebears, but we don’t understand their significance. Our faith is turning in another direction.
Author: How do you judge religion?
Bapu: After long study and experience I have come to these conclusions:
i) All religions are true.
ii) All religions have some error in them.
iii) All religions are almost as dear to me as my own Hinduism. My veneration for other faiths is the same as for my own faith.
Consequently, the thought of conversion is impossible . . . Our prayer for others ought never to be:
‘God give them light thou has given to me!’ But: ‘Give them all the light and truth they need for their highest development.’
Author: How can a man be truly religious?
Bapu: A man can be truly religious when he is truly good.
Author: How do you see nationalism?
Bapu: My idea of nationalism is that my country may become free, that if need be whole of the country may die so that humanity race may live. There is no room for race hatred here. Let that be our nationalism.
Author: Do you think that prevailing political system and political powers people’s representatives enjoy can change the life of miserable millions?
Bapu: Political power in my opinion, can’t be our ultimate aim. It is one of the means used by men for their all-round advancement. The power to control national life through national representatives will become unnecessary of the national life becomes so perfect as to be self-controlled. It will then be a state of enlightened anarchy in which each person will become his own ruler . . . . In an, ideal state there will be no political institution and therefore no political power.
Author: Can great reform be achieved without winning political power?
Bapu: The thinker like Thoreau said ‘that government is best which governs the least.’ That means when people come into possession of political power, the interference with the freedom of people is reduced to a minimum. In other words, a nation that runs its affairs smoothly and effectively without much State interference is truly democratic. Where such a condition is absent, the form of government is democratic in name.
Author: How the standard of public life can be raised?
Bapu: We shall never be able to raise the standard of public life through laws. We are not made that way. Only if the lives of the leaders both private and public, are perfect will they be able to produce any effect on the people. Mere preaching will have no effect.
Author: How unity can be brought about?
Bapu: In my opinion unity will come not by one mechanical means but by change of heart and
attitude on the part of the leaders of public opinion.
Author: How can heaven be brought upon earth?
Bapu: Here, I subscribe to the truthful views of Sh. Satish Chandra Mukherjee who says: ‘If we could erase the Is and Mine’s from religion, politics, economics, etc., we shall soon be free and bring heaven on earth.’
Author: What is your wish?
Bapu: I don’t ask for temporal power, nor do I ask to go to heaven, nor even to attain nirvana, what I ask for is that I may be able to relieve the pain of those who are in pain.
Author: What message you would like to convey to present generation of politicians and people?
Bapu: My life is its own message. If it is not, then nothing I can now say will fulfil the purpose. I have no complain against my assassinator. May god bless him and rest his soul in peace.
Assassinating the body of course doesn’t matter, for, out of my ashes a thousand Gandhi will arise. But what if people assassinate or burn the principle I have lived for?
(Statements of Bapu given here are based on the works of Mahatma Gandhi compiled in the book 'The Essential Writings of Mahatma Gandhi, OUP, 1995)
