A death Foretold?
On the morning of 30th January 1948, the sleepy town of Alwar in Rajasthan woke up to a declaration in the form of handbills pasted all over the town square. These handbills had a chilling message, says Tushar Gandhi, great grandson of Mahatma Gandhi. The heretic Mahatma has been slayed, town dwellers celebrate the end of an era of blasphemy was what the handbills said, Gandhi goes on to add. As offensive as these handbills were, they were noteworthy because of a little incongruity – the Mahatma was slayed later that day and exactly five hours after the first of these handbills found their way to the walls of Alwar.
The last few days of my great grandfathers life saw many such interesting events all across the country. Each of these incidents were equally significant and telling. The official apathy towards these events indicates a conspiracy of sorts. The truth in the form of a clarification is essential, especially when it has become a fashion to blame him for anything and everything thats gone wrong with the country,says Tushar Arun Gandhi, in the city to launch his book Lets Kill Gandhi : The Chronicle of his Last Days, The Conspiracy, Murder, Investigation and Trial.
Ahimsa ~ Non Violence
An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind,
MK Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi was shot with a Berretta 9 mm automatic. Three bullets were pumped into the old and frail body of a man who was synonymous with non-violence. As he reportedly mentioned his last famous words Hey Ram at Birla House in Lutyens Delhi, his adversaries in far flung places like Pune and Alwar, mentions the author, were celebrating victory. It was in more ways than ironical for with the Mahatma died everything that the man stood for, Gandhi adds. Nathuram Vinayak Godse was arrested for the act. A sinister plot, drawn up by a bunch of Hindu fanatics, was eventually uncovered. Godses partners were also rounded up. Godse was hanged for what he had done, something that both Gandhiji had he been alive and our family regretted. But what was not divulged were the facts that led up to this horrendous crime.
Godse, who has gained the stature of a hero amongst some fanatic groups, accused Gandhi of masterminding the Partition. The truth is that my great grandfather was totally against the Partition. Godse was also arrested in 1935 for attempts at the Mahatmas life. Partition was not even considered then, says a distraught Tushar Gandhi. Interestingly the first attempt was made in Pune right after Gandhiji launched his famous Harijan yatra.
Swaraj ~ Self-governance through individuals and community building
You assist an administration most effectively by obeying its orders and decrees. An evil administration never deserves such allegiance
MK Gandhi
I believe a living Gandhi was too much of a bother for people with vested interests who wanted to divide and rule. It was easier to pay respect to a lifeless samadhi in Raj Ghat than be answerable to the very face of truth. Bapu, after all, predicted all that was to go wrong in our country. If he were alive today, he would have died a thousand deaths. The very concept of community has disappeared from our country. We exist in fragments. The first official victim of that fragmentisation was Bapu himself, rues Tushar.
Gandhigiri ~ Munnabhais answer to all problems
If Gandhigiri doesnt work then send the person a get well soon card…
Munnabhai
I am a non-vegetarian who wears branded clothes but I believe Im a Gandhian, claims the writer. It is not because I was born to the Gandhi family but because I try and live a honest life. As long as truth honesty and compassion exist in this world Mahatma will live. However it amuses Tushar to see his great grandfathers philosophies in the garb of Gandhigiri. I feel our nation needs a Get Well Soon card, smiles Gandhi.
URL – http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=227077