Mahatma Gandhi was
assassinated on 30th January 1949 in Birla House, New Delhi. On the
eve of his assassination I am reminded of his killer, Nathuram Godse of the
Hindu Mahasabha. Godse is back in the news thanks to those seeking to idolize
him, and even build temples in his honour.
His loquacious
proponent is Sakshi Maharaj, the saffron clad BJP MP from my neighbouring
district of Unnao. It is not insignificant that the sadhu himself is a prime
accused in the murder of one Brahm Dutt Dwivedi, an MLA from another adjoining
district of Farrukhabad. He is allegedly involved in some other heinous crimes
as well. So small wonder then that he and his ilk seek to idolize Godse. But
God forbid that such should actually happen.
In this era of 3G,
4G and 5G, we are called to choose between the 2 Gs. Haanjee, the two Gs
that I am referring to are Gandhi the victim, and Godse the assassin.
What drove Godse to
murder Gandhiji? Apparently the Hindu Mahasabha was infuriated because Gandhiji
acceded to the partition of the country, with a separate homeland (Pakistan)
for the Muslims. He had also insisted that the compensatory contractual sum of
Rupees Fifty Five Crores be handed over to Pakistan. At Independence, when the rest
of the country was feasting (in celebration mood) Gandhiji was fasting in
Bengal, to try and stop the genocide being perpetrated at Novkhali. The Hindu
extreme right perceived these acts of Gandhiji as being partial to the Muslims.
They saw red, so they shot him dead.
In all probability the terrorists who shot
dead the Charlie Hebdo cartoonists were also filled with righteous indignation
and misplaced ardour. The same goes for the Pakistani Taliban that slaughtered
innocent children in Peshawar, and the Boko Haram who are indiscriminately
killing thousands in Nigeria, and now Niger. When will this self-righteous
indignation end?
When we turn to the
other G. Several of us could have causes that we passionately espouse. We could
also have major differences of opinion with the “other”. But that does not, in
any way, justify killing the opposition. It is here that the other G shows the
way.
When the freedom
struggle was at its zenith a group of zealots (a deliberate choice of word)
torched a police station in Chauri Chaura. Gandhiji immediately put the freedom
struggle on hold. In like manner, during the Second World War (1939-45)
Gandhiji extracted a promise from the British that he would support their war
effort, provided that after the war ended, India would be granted freedom. The
rest is history.
There are many such
instances in the life of the Mahatma, when he subjugated his own plans to that
of the greater good. That is the hallmark of greatness. It is also the skill of
a master negotiator, and the magnanimity of a Spirit filled person. No one can
ever please all, so there will always be disgruntled and disillusioned
elements. In no way does that justify taking the lives of the antagonists; or
worse still, the innocent lives of those not even remotely involved in the
conflict.
As we commemorate
the 66th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s martyrdom let us make a
choice between the 2 Gs. For God’s sake, let it not be for Godse!
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