In the latter part of 1910s a frail looking Indian returned to India from South Africa with a will to fight for his people and beliefs. A will strong enough to make the strongest monarch in the world tremble and finally succumb.
Gandhi, for me, was the greatest and the most true leader India has seen (I'll try to explain my conviction as we move along). I can't remember anyone bringing the crowds of India, rich or poor, Hindu or Muslim, North Indian or South Indian, higher caste or an untouchable, together. He amalgamated the masses to one strong force called India (tragically, it was probably the last time the whole nation felt that way). He was the prophet who was going to lead India to their Promised land. India's very own Moses. He saw the power of Indian people, their diversity, their culture.
Gandhi had a dream bigger the country and its cause. Gandhi wanted to change the world. In a world caught in strife, violence, torn down by two massive wars heading for a nuclear war, Gandhi was the world's apostle. His message simple : truth and non-violence. Non-violence???!!! Why would someone do that? How can you try and deter the mother of all empires by non-violence ??? Ridiculous as it seems, it was India's best answer. Lets and try analyze for a little bit. Most countries who have got their independence through violent means continue to be rooted in violence. Most countries who have resorted to violence have either been thoroughly devastated, ruled by a dictator after independence or have plunged into civil war. India's condition around the time of independence was very precarious. There were riots breaking out in villages all over the country almost everyday. Hindus and Muslims slayed each other for no apparent house ( once in Punjab a Muslim's buffalo wandered into a Hindu's farm, and the resulting fight left hundreds in the village dead), women were raped, houses gutted, children orphaned. Civil war seemed inevitable. I'm quite sure India would have plunged into civil war and squandered the 90 years struggle if it wasn't for the message of peace from the Mahatma(great soul). Of course, there were riots inspite of Gandhi's message. He went from village to village trying to bring peace among the religious leaders of the village, he went on fasts unto death until the riots had stopped. Gandhi was probably the first person in modern history who sincerely wanted to make the world a better place to live in.
Gandhi had a vision beyond the freedom struggle. He wanted India to be self sufficient and its people to live in dignity. Gandhi knew that India's power lies in its villages. This is quite obvious considering around 70% of India's population lived in villages. But somehow, no one seemed to recognise it. They were just the abused lot of India and even today are. He fought for the untouchables. He gave them the title Harijan (God's children). He wanted to improve the sanitation habits and conditions of India. Its a pity that even after 57 years of his death the sanitation conditions and habits of Indians is appalling. He starting spinning his own cotton and insisted that his followers to do it too. He wanted to promote Indianness and self reliance. On the other hand, he wanted India to become an industrialist power house but in an Indian way and not by aping the west. It was the Nehru's socialist and Marxist outlook and Indira Gandhi's license Raj that hindered his vision.
The one thing that I don't agree with Gandhi was that with all his time and energy spent on the cause of the country he neglected his family and tried to impose his ideals on them. His eldest son turned into a drunk and was only close to his youngest son. When his wife was on her deathbed and could be saved by an injection, he did not give the doctor permission to inject his wife with the life saver as he thought it was an act of violence.
Its a pity that in the land of the man that gave the world hope and direction, he is looked upon and remembered with scorn by some of the youth. Gandhi has been the greatest leader the Indian motherland has seen since probably Akbar and God knows how long she will have to wait for another son of hers to show the disillusioned masses the way to glory and righteousness. Gandhi was truly a MAHATMA.
