Mahatma Gandhi

I wonder whether criticising the greats like Father of the Nation Mahatama Gandhi has become a fad with the new generation. Ask these critics and one will be surprised that they have no idea about the history of the Indian Nationalist Movement. Ask these bretheren so fond of Khushwant Singh, Shobha Dey, Chetan Bhagat or any foreign author for that matter whether they have read the first page of “My Experiments with Truth.”

How many of us are actually aware of the circumstances prevailing in that era and the mental pressure and agony suffered by a man of Mahatma’s stature that we start blaming him for decisions which our ancestors entrusted in him. Now let these critics put the entire blame on their parents and grandparents.

I grew up hearing stories of our great leaders and freedom fighters be it the heroes of 1857 or the likes of Veer Savarkar, Bose etc. They all contributed in the struggle for freedom in their own ways and I admire all of them. Needless to say this one man shook the British Empire from its roots. Whenever I think of him I am reminded the lines “De di hamen aazaadi bina khadag bina dhaal…” Irrespective of the means employed it is the great result he achieved for us for which we should be grateful to him.

My hand always goes up in salute to this man for what he has done for my country. Let us not get into the fad of criticizing our leaders just to gain cheap popularity or projecting ourselves as someone with upbeat or revolutionary ideas.

As far as the man goes it would take only a Saint to have the name of the almighty on his lips when he is breathing his last.