THE REAL TRIBUTE

This I write on the 60^th death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

Are the principles of Mahatma Gandhi still followed? This may seem to be the most silly and unusual question to be asked to any Indian. I will not be surprised if the present day leaders of the country, in the name of self proclamation as the protectors of Mahatma’s legacy (both political and social) file a court suit against me for such an unkind statement.

He was shot not during the English rule but during our own governance. Liberation from the earth was what we could reward him with for liberating us from the shackles of slavery. Independence which was the result of toiling by many souls spearheaded and guided by the Bapu put an abrupt end to his own life and ideals. The pyres engulfed not only his body but also his ideologies of love, brotherhood, honesty, equality and non-violence. Instead,

1. Acts of hate, inequality, discrimination and violence have surfaced.

2. Attitude towards women and children has become offensive and derogatory.

3. Truth and unselfish service have become words only to be found in the dictionary.

When people from the other corners of the world like Sir Martin Luther King and Sir Nelson Mandela have inculcated his thoughts actions into their genes, it’s shameful to note that we (politicians included), the true inheritors are applauding creations with Gandhian values only on screen and in the print instead of us practicing it in our own lives. We the billion plus people are the conspirators of murdering Gandhism.

Can we still claim that we follow the Gandhian path?

The buried ashes of Gandhian thoughts are dug up only on the eve of his birth or death anniversary. October 2^nd (date of birth) is considered just another holiday and January 30^th (date of assassination) for not being declared a public holiday is regretted.

Building India he dreamt into a reality would be the most fitting tribute we could pay rather than Charka spinning, singing of bhajans and taking vows.