There has been too much Gandhi in my personal life since Christmas:
I read his autobiography 2 months ago during my Argentina trip,
I watched “Gandhi” movie just 2 weeks ago and
after watching movie I had this urge to buy Gandhi’s poster which says “My life is my message”
Gandhi & his character are so fresh in my mind that when I read all kind of news about auction of his belongings, I wonder about the irony of this whole situation. Of all the people, this is about this half-naked man whose whole life was about simplicity, truth& fight for things beyond material possessions.
Understandably all Indians,including myself, are feeling very passionate about his items not being in India. However sometimes I wonder how Gandhi would have felt if he had seen today’s India & situations like these. My guess is if he knew his sandals were worth so many millions he would have sold it himself and provide shelter or spinning wheels to people with this money. If he had seen today’s India he would have felt little sad that all his life & struggle was for a place like India is today.
Anyways, I wish Indians feel same passionate about truth & justice as they are feeling about his items. I wish Indians have conviction like Gandhi to believe in what’s right & what’s not and have strength like “Bapu” to fight for them. That will be priceless!!
I really enjoyed visiting Gandhi memorials in January–in the midst of crazy Delhi, they are a source of solitude in memory of a very courageous person.
Nicely written. I feel the same about the whole worship thing. The message of the people get lost amid the misinterpretations and the trinkets. But it’s like that everywhere. The Christians worship bones of saints. The buddhist erect temples to preserve Buddha’s teeth. I wonder what the B-man himself would think of it, his message also being one of letting go of material possessions.
Alas, just human nature, I guess, to worship instead of trying to understand.
I really liked this post. Can I copy it to my site? Thank you in advance.
sure. I am glad you liked it.
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Well!! Nice Article!! You seems to have touch the essence of Gandhi by avoiding the common trap of hero worship… But I feel that each person learns best from their own experience.. Yes you will have some effect temporarily, if you read the story of a great person but ultimately the change can happen thru ur own personal experience only.. Tat’s what probably makes the life fun:)