Mohandas
Karamchand Gandhi. I never had great regard for this
man. I could never digest his larger-than-life-solemn sacrificing self, a
riddle which has intrigued me ever since I was introduced to this father of our
nation. When history became referring to this man for his morals and
values that India and Indians had imbibed from him; I became suspicious. Some
articles on the Internet revealed his other side; hideous.
And then one day, I laid
my hands on his autobiography, The Story
of My Experiments with Truth; I almost thought that maybe now I will find
the answers to my questions. This book is a diary of his life from his birth till 1921. But
yes...there has to be a BUT in between, trust me now I’m confused
about my POV towards him after putting the book down.
It has been quite a while since I’ve read a book so closely, pondering over many instances for long. I was impressed by the way he worked himself towards life, his meticulous and calculated actions. What impressed me more was his outright acceptance of the down trodden class/caste.
What did not impress me at all, were his confessions. Acts of malice once done cannot be rectified, they can only be repented. But this repentance should come across through your actions and not confessions. If he knew he was wrong in the way he treated his wife, did correct the same even after realizing it at such an early stage in his marriage?
It has been quite a while since I’ve read a book so closely, pondering over many instances for long. I was impressed by the way he worked himself towards life, his meticulous and calculated actions. What impressed me more was his outright acceptance of the down trodden class/caste.
What did not impress me at all, were his confessions. Acts of malice once done cannot be rectified, they can only be repented. But this repentance should come across through your actions and not confessions. If he knew he was wrong in the way he treated his wife, did correct the same even after realizing it at such an early stage in his marriage?
Mr. Gandhi was apparently a man who was
righteous and believed in doing what was right. But universal ‘right’ and his ‘right’
weren’t quite in harmony
One or two circumstances
were out-right unacceptable. I somehow could not keep pace with his
ideologies on many things. His hypocrisy allowed him to experiment with his
way of life but he didn’t allow any of his children to experiment and enlighten
themselves as their father had. He almost
postulated his actions upon them.
I have a question that
unsettles me again and again. What made him accept the title bestowed upon him?
Though I thank him for
bringing concepts of Swaraj and Ahimsa home, I still won’t stop till I
find answers. Until then, I refuse to accept this respect-worthy man as a true Mahatma.
I suggest that all Indians
must read this book and not to keep accepting things as they are.
It is truly a learning
experience.
(Ps. I know that many
would not accept my opinions. I apologize to them before-hand. Reviews are very
subjective after-all.)
