Gandhi ji baffles me. I always find him very intriguing. His life moves effortlessly from one end of spectrum to other. He believed in peace. But his zealotry in handling any situation with peaceful manner often caused India and Indian independence movement major setbacks. He wanted all voices to be heard but at the same time, he was quite autocratic in his decisions. He created fierce followings as well as fierce opposition. Anything and everything related to him were extremities. And, as always, extremities always meet. In Gandhi ji's case, his actions and his personalities were the reason behind such extremities. His audacity to challenge the might of British empire with seemingly innocuous method of Satyagraha was outlandish by all accounts but it worked. It did wonders. At the same time his timidity in taking necessary and stern actions right before partition cause untold misery.
Contradiction ran amok in his personal life as well public.It seems his personality was in constant turmoil. Reading his autobiography gives us valuable insight into his philosophy, which was imposed on Indian people and changed the course of independence struggle.
Since his childhood, knowingly or unknowingly, he always carried certain notion about what is right and what is wrong, who is good and who is not. But these principals proved elusive to him. And, he was absolutely self-absorbed in his quest of achieving this mirage. He was married happily and had a nice family. But then he wanted to live austere life. So, in the midst of his family life he decided to take a vow of celibacy. Such efforts weren't exactly logical. More ever, he never fully understood that someone is going to face repercussions of his abnormal actions. Or perhaps, it never occurred to him that his ideals, his quests might be contrary to some one else's beliefs. This pattern of kept recurring even in his public policy decision. For better, for worst.
He was a politician. Leading a political movement of freeing a country from clutches of colonial superpower was always going to be a treacherous journey. It wasn't any Saint's job or perhaps, person doing this shouldn't be called as a Saint. But then, Gandhi ji wanted to be a saint as well as a politician. This contradiction was obvious to create trouble. For example, he was successful in stirring up Indian society to stand up against British power in 1921 but then with one violent incidence and he decided to call off raging movement. Reason, he wanted a strictly non-violent movement, that is, Saintly way. Now, no one was questioning his leadership, his motives or perhaps, his methods. But his zealotry in forcing 'peaceful' movement on Indian people was quite contrary to vary philosophy he was trying to espouse. Similar thing happened during the riots of Mophala in Kerala, a precursor to his actions during partition.
When India needed a stern leader during the bloody days of partition, instead of using his towering stature Gandhi ji not only failed in his basic duty but he impeded efforts of others who were taking necessary decisions. Razakar's were creating havoc in central India, Punjab and Bengal was literally flooded with blood and here, our esteemed leader wanted peace by asking only one community to stop retaliating. This was beyond redemption.
Contrary to popular culture he was not sole reason behind independence but he was one of the very few important reasons behind independence. Lokmanya Tilak set up stage, a perfect political launching pad for independence movement and Gandhi ji used that pad to take movement to next stage. His efforts to mobilize people for the cause are unparalleled in Indian history. Irrespective of casts, clans, gender, region and to certain extent religion, masses readily stood besides him. Trusting him with their lives. At best Indian society at that time can be described as fragmented, timid and non-confident. Gandhi ji successfully stirred flames of independence amongst these lost souls. It was truly a superhuman effort.
Thus he understood what is needed to be done to unite people for political struggle i.e. he was a perfect political leader but then at critical junctures his inner urge to become a Saint would take hold of him. To say his inner conflicts caused untold misery would be an understatement.
In the heat of partition his limitations came into fore. The visage of invincibility suddenly started looking more like showmanship and his ideals listless. Contradiction followed him to his end, his followers, sensing the imminent fall of this grand sire, rushed to commodities his principals in the market of petty politics. All this was too much for him to bear. Instead of being more attentive, Gandhi ji retired into his world of Maun-Vrat and Upavaas. The irony is not that monsters his indecisions created ended up consuming him but these monsters made cruel joke of his principals by elevating him to the Godly status.
He was a mortal human being who did superhuman things. Some of his principals were outdated and ill-informed but then some where bang on the target. In any case he shouldn't be an object of loath. We need to take what suits our time and move on. It is better than making mockery of this great person and hurting our own generation.
