This one’s probably one of the boring posts on this blog. It is also the one with the least possible direction or decisiveness, however the aim of this blog is to remain objective and maybe a lack of direction would in fact do good to the write.
It was a wall photo by a certain anti Gandhian or a realist on facebook which got me thinking. The photo showed a revolver bearing Godse and frail looking Gandhi in the same frame. Probably it was the scene of execution from one of the many movies on Gandhi. The description took a more-than-obvious dislike for Gandhi and in some way even glorified the assassination. The author seemed to be a very, in fact a fanatic patriot with an Om tattooed on his wrist. The author made his intentions clear that he wanted to defame Gandhi.
The references and quotes of questionable authenticity were also to suggest that Godse was right, and had the right to kill Gandhi. Now this is quite absurd, offensive if not otherwise forced to remain steady. What followed were lengthy messages and comments speaking bad of Gandhi, accusing him of being the reason for death of Bhagat Singh and Co., holding him responsible and ridiculing the creation of Pakistan, condemning Gandhi’s wish to give 55 crore rupees to Pakistan, and calling Gandhi the killer of the thousands of people who lost their lives to the agitation caused during the partition. The author went on to make some really crude and thick accusations from an obvious Hindu stance which I can discreetly keep out of this blog.
I’m not going to make a comment on Gandhi’s actions, nor am I willing to make further observations on the author’s ideology or the feelings of the hundreds who commented badly on Gandhi, but what I can’t help wondering is how easy it has become for us to criticize our elders, leaders or legends. It’s only human to forget the great deeds and point fingers when someone is wrong, but Gandhi? Even Gandhi?
While growing up, we were told to ask questions, not to accept anything blindly, stand up to authority and not be scared of anyone. Ofcourse, Bravery or courage can be seen a lot these days, some real and appreciable, and some stupid and wannabe-heroic. Does that give me the authority to think no one’s bigger than me? Or does it make me any bigger than I really am?
My college Principal, Dr. Venugopal K R is one of the brightest minds I’ve met so far, and he is by far the greatest and also the most modest person in my college, and yet, the students wouldn’t listen to him, not respect his classes and try to play a funny version of him. It’s easy to say that such things happen in college, and it’s just the rush and brush of being a college student, but when we are well aware of the greatness of someone and yet decide to negate all that he has achieved and choose to disrespect him, what does it mean? Is disrespecting or not accrediting an innate quality these days?
Another example would be the legendary players of the Indian cricket team, be it Rahul Dravid or Sachin Tendulkar we are eager to pin them to the ground and even be preposterous enough to accuse them of being selfish! Or anything that feels insulting. Have they not showed what they are made of over such a long time? Even the mighty fall someday, but that doesn’t give anyone the right to add insult. What I’m trying to ask here is that are we so desperate to display our unruliness? Are we so self obsessed that nothing means anything?
It’s true that certain teachings or ideas may lose relevance over time. It’s also true that things change with time, and they should. We need to adapt ourselves to the changes and keep pace, but that doesn’t mean we have to forget what our old ones said. If not practice, believe or respect, at least we can resist insults.
It’s true that certain teachings or ideas may lose relevance over time. It’s also true that things change with time, and they should. We need to adapt ourselves to the changes and keep pace, but that doesn’t mean we have to forget what our old ones said. If not practice, believe or respect, at least we can resist insults.
