Arundhati Roy_ the Debate on the Gandhi Myth _ Frontlines of Revolutionary Struggle

1/28/2015 ArundhatiRoy:TheDebateontheGandhiMyth|FrontlinesofRevolutionaryStruggle

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ArundhatiRoy:TheDebateontheGandhiMythPostedonOctober25,2014byreed

[InIndia,2014hasbroughtmanyissuestothefore,notleastofwhichistheriseofNarendraModiasnationalleader,aftersecuringhisnotorietyastheprotectoranddefenderoftheantiMoslemGujaratMassacreoveradecadeago.Modisrise,welcomedbyWesternimperialismandmultinationalcorporations,has



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broughtfurthernationalcentralizationofthestatesbrutalrepressionagainstoppressedpeoples,tribals,dalits,democraticandrevolutionaryactivists.Andthe2014ModiIndiapersonafurtherdisguisestheofficialnationalcultureHindutvaexcluvist,casteist,andxenophobicbyhypocriticallyandpretentiouslyclaimingahumanitarian,peaceful,andmoralcharmorcharismabyfurtherinvokingamythologizedGandhiastheFatherofIndianNationalIdentity.Inchallengingthismythology,ArundhatiRoyhasprovidedanimportantcounternarrative,andhascomeundervitriolicattackfromThePowersThatBe.SeethefollowingvideointerviewbyLauraFlanders,andthemagazineinterviewbyLeenaChandran,fordetailsonthestruggleforclarityandtruthaboutMahatmaGandhi.Frontlinesed.]

DebunkingtheGandhiMyth:ArundhatiRoy

OnTheLauraFlandersShow:



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Author/activistArundhatiRoyontheAnnihilationofCaste,B.R.AmbedkarandtheWesternmythofMahatmaGandhi

Hiddeninplainsight

Wednesday17September2014

byLeenaChandran,ManoramaOnline

InJuly,ArundhatiRoyprovokedoutragefrommanyquartersbystatingthatthegenerallyacceptedimageofMahatmaGandhiwasalie.SpeakingattheUniversityof



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Kerala,Thiruvananthapuram,shealsocalledforinstitutionsbearinghisnametoberenamed.TheBookerprizewinningauthorscommentsrekindledalongrunninghistoricalargumentoverGandhisviewsoncasteandcatapultedhotdebateinKeralamedia.InthisexclusiveinterviewArundhatiRoytellsLeenaChandranwhyshewillnotbechangingherviewsonGandhi.TheGandhicontroversyisabelatedone,Ifeel.ItshouldhavetakenplaceearlierthisyearhadpeoplecloselyreadTheDoctorandtheSaintsoonafteritspublication.Infact,whatyousaidintheAyyankalimemoriallectureatDepartmentofHistory,KeralaUniversity,ThiruvananthapuramisnotasinflammableastheideasyoushareinTheDoctorandtheSaint

IwouldntgosofarastocallTheDoctorandtheSaintinflammable,thoughofcourseithasgeneratedafairamountofcontroversyfrommanyquarters,evensomeunexpectedones.Thatstobeexpected,becauseitsvexedterritory.Yesitdoesquestionconventionalwaysofthinking,



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mostlybyquotingfromthelesserknownwritingsofGandhi.ItwaswrittenasanintroductiontoAmbedkarsAnnihilationofCaste.Ambedkarsviewschallengetheestablishedorderinprofoundandradicalways.ThecontroversyaroundGandhisviewsonraceandcastestartedlongbeforeIwroteTheDoctorandtheSaint.YoucouldsaythatitstartedwiththeAmbedkarGandhidebate.IthasbeendebatedforyearsintheworldofDalitpoliticsbutthathasbeencarefullyandsuccessfullykeptoutoftheestablishmentdiscourse.ThemayhemintheKeralamediapostmyAyyankaliMemorialLectureisjustnoisyposturingbysomepeoplewhocouldntbebotheredtoreadAmbedkarsAnnihilationofCaste,orTheDoctorandtheSaint,oranythingmuchelse.NoteventheworksofGandhiwhotheyaresokeentodefend.Therearemanyvestedinterestsinvolvedinthisdebate.Itmaybetoomuchtoexpectthemtochange.Buttheyoungwillchangetheirviews.Forsure.

MostofyourcriticsshoutthequestionWhatdoesArundhatiknowaboutourGandhiji?Whatrighthasshegot?Well,youcite



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himprofoundlybuthowvast,howdeep,haveyouprobedtheentireoeuvreoftheman?Whatwasthetypeofresearchyoutookupon?CanyouelaboratehowyouwentaboutlearningAmbedkarandunlearningGandhi?

OurGandhiji?AndwhoisthisArundhati?SomesortofextraterrestrialwithaseparatesetofrightsfromthosewhoownGandhi?WouldtheysayourAmbedkarthosesamepeople?Unlikely.Letmesaythis:TheDoctorandtheSaintisnotabouttheentireoevreofeitherGandhiorAmbedkar.ItsabouttheAmbedkarGandhidebate.Ispentmonthsresearchingandreading,thewritingsofAmbedkarandGandhibeforeIwroteit.IstartedwithGandhisrebuttaltoAnnihilationofCastein1936,andfollowedthethreadofhispronouncementsoncasteandraceallthewaybacktohistimeinSouthAfrica.(IhavespentsometimeinSouthAfrica.)IwasshockedatwhatIwasreading,andevenmoreshockedathowsuccessfullytheseverydisturbingaspectsofGandhihadpassedundertheradarofpublicandestablishmentintellectualscrutiny.



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IrealizedveryquicklythattheonlywaytodowhatIwantedtodowastouseGandhisownwordsasmuchaspossibletokeepmycommentsandanalysistoaminimum.Ofcoursethishasmeantthatitsalong,almostbooklengthintroduction.Allofitinprettysensitiveterritory.Sotheresbeeneverykindofreaction,fromagreatembraceandagreatdealoflove,toanger,notalwaysalongpredictablelines.SomehavecriticizedthefactthatIhavewrittenmoreaboutGandhithanAmbedkar.Thatsavalidpoint,butmyownreasoningisthatunlesswedefusethedensesmokescreenGandhiputuptoinordertoobscureAmbedkarsclarity,wellstillbegropingaroundinthedark.ThatwasAmbedkarslogictoo,when,ofallthecriticismhereceivedforAnnihilationofCaste,hechosetoreplytoGandhis.Inevitably,someofthecontroversythathasbeengeneratedaroundthebookisaboutme,personally,myintentions,mymotivationsandpoliticalsympathies,mycaste,myhomeaddressandnotwhatIvewritten,whichisapity,thoughitsentirelypredictableandIhavegrownusedtothatsortofthing.Imaprettyeasytargetbeingwell



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knowncutsbothways,itgivesmeaswellasmycriticstraction.TheroyaltiesfrommybooksmakemereasonablywelloffandeconomicallyindependentsohowdareIwriteaboutinequality?Iamnotagoodwoman,Iamnotseentohavesufferedintherightways,IhavenotvoluntarilyembracedalifeofsacrificeinanyoftheprescribedformatssowhatgivesmetherighttowritethethingsIdo?Fortunately,Imnotlookingforamoralcharactercertificatefromanybody.ReaderscanchoosetoreadandintellectuallyengagewithwhatIvewritten,ornot.Therestisnoise.

S.Anand,theeditorofAmbedkarsAnnihilationofCaste,requestedyouforanintroductiontenyearsback.Youagreedandbegantheresearchandreading.WasitthenthatyoustartedtoreconsiderthecontributionsoftheGreatSoul?

Ambedkarhasdeepenedmyunderstandingandinformedmythinkinginprofoundandcriticalways.Hegivesustoolswithwhichtounderstandandanalyzethesocietyinwhichwelivehewasaradicalthinker,andafearlessone.



ForhimtohavetakenonGandhiinthewayhedidattheheightofGandhisfameandinfluenceisphenomenal.HewroteagreatdealaboutGandhiandtheCongressbecausetheysoughttothwarthiminsuchdeviousandcomplicatedways.ReadingAmbedkarcertainlymademeunlearntheclichsaboutGandhithatmanyofusgrewupwith.Rightnowthough,Ambedkarslegacyisingravedanger.AnnihilationofCastewasascholarlydenunciationofHinduism.AmbedkarwantedhispeopletorenounceHinduism.Buttoday,DalitsarebeingHinduizedandSanskritizedatapace.ThisnewgovernmentwouldbeAmbedkarsnightmare.AnewShuddhimovementthepurificationoftheimpuretoreturntheimpuretotheHindufoldhasbeenannounced.TheRSSChiefhasdeclaredthatallIndiansareHindus.Itsallverydisturbing.

DidMaryRoy,youriconoclasticmotherinfluenceyouinanywayinreconsideringGandhi?Iaskthisinparticularbecauseitisalwaysprettyhardtochangewhatwewereschooledin.



MyiconoclasticmotherhasalwaysbeenagreatadmirerofGandhi.SosheplayednoroleinthewritingofTheDoctorandtheSaint.Speakingformyself,beforeIdidthereadingIhavenowdone,IthoughtGandhiwasacunning,butconsummateandimaginativepolitician.TwothingsabouthimalwaysbotheredmedeeplyhisattitudetowomenandsexwhichdeservesaseparatebookinitselfandhiscallingDalitsharijans,whichIfounduglyandpatronizing.

ButdoesthatmeanGandhidisappointedyoutotally?IsntthereevenasinglequalityyouappreciateinGandhi?

Gandhiwasafascinatingcharacterwhocapturedthepublicimaginationinhisownlifetimeandstillseemstomesmerizepeople.IdontthinkreadersofTheDoctorandtheSaintwillcomeawaythinkingitisanuncritical,worshipfulhagiographyofAmbedkarandarelentlesscondemnationofGandhi.Incredibly,insomequartersIveactuallybeenattackedforpraisingGandhithoughtheytoodontseemtohavereadthebook.TheysayIvecalledGandhiaSaint,missingtheironyIintended,also



missingthefactthatAmbedkaroftensarcasticallyreferredtoGandhiasaSaint.ThentherearesomefolksnotjustDalitsmindyou,afewBrahminstoowhobelievethatanonDalitsimplydoesnothavetherighttowriteanintroductiontoanAmbedkartextatall.TheyseeitasaprivilegedcastepersonsappropriationofAmbedkar.Butonthewhole,totakealongview,thisdebate,alltheseaccusationsandinsinuations,eventheoutburstthathappenedinKerala,thethreatsofarrest,theprocessionsthoughsometimesitsprettyhurtful,isaultimatelyagoodthing.Allofushavebeenmarinatedinsomanythousandsofyearsofinstitutionalizedprejudice.Ithastobeexorcized,andthatprocesswillnotbepretty.Noneofusispure,noneofusisperfect,notextcanbewhollyrightorabovecriticism.Thechoicebeforeusistoreachouttoeachotherinimperfectpoliticalsolidarityortoisolateourselvesfromeachotherinourseparatebombshelters,curledupinselfconstructednotionsofunsurpassablerighteousness.

InterestingtonotethatyouhavenotsparedSwamiVivekanandaaswell.InTheDoctorandthe



Saint,youcitehiswordsdiscouragingthereligiousconversionoftheuntouchables.But,isntitanoutofthecontextcitation?

Itisnot.WhatSwamiVivekanandasaidwasverymuchpartofthepoliticsofprivilegedcasteanxietyoverdemographythatbeganaroundthen.ItwasthegenesisofwhatweknowtodayasHindutva.

ButhowfeasibleisittocompareGandhiandAyyankali,theleaderoftheuntouchablesinKerala,dependingontheircontributions?Thelattersworkandinfluencewasaregionalphenomenon.

Whynotcomparethem?Whyisthatsosacrilegious?AyyankalifoughtfortherightsofPulayachildrentoattendschool,asfarbackas1904,heledthefirstagriculturalworkersstrikeandasuccessfuloneatthatbeforetheRussianRevolution.DuringthoseyearsGandhiinSouthAfricawasmakingthemostoffensivestatementsaboutBlackAfricansandsubordinatedcasteIndianworkers.InTrivandrumIspokeabouthowGandhibelievedinthe



castesystem.Iquotedanextraordinaryessayhewrotein1936calledTheIdealBhangiinwhichheelucidatedhisviewsonthemeritsofancestralandhereditaryoccupations.Personally,Ithinkthatisagraveformofviolence.Isaidweshouldthinkaboutwhichofthetwokindsofpeopleweshouldbenamingouruniversitiesafter.Isthatwrong?

SaintoftheStatusQuo,themostfamousIndian,themostconsummatepoliticianthemodernworldhaseverknownyouhaveputtheMahatmahoodinquestion.ButisntthereaprocessofrefinementwhenwecloselywatchhowGandhievolvedoverthedecades?Doyouwanttosayallthatwasagranddeception?Citinghiswordsfromtheearlylife,thelessgreatsoul,isagraveinjustice,yourcriticspointout.

ThesequestionsthatmycriticsputtomearequestionsthatIputtomyselfbeforeIwrotewhatIwrote.DidGandhichange?Didheevolve?Didherenouncehisviews(anddeeds)oncaste?ToaddressthisissueIhavequotedhiswritingsandspeechesoverthespanofhis



entireadultlifefromhisarrivalinSouthAfricaintheearly1890srightupuntilhewasanoldmanin1946.EveninmytalkattheTrivandrumUniversityIquotedhimin1894andthen40yearslaterin1936whenwroteTheIdealBhangihewasnearly70yearsoldatthetime.

Thenextaccusationisthatthequotesaretakenoutofcontext.IdliketoknowinwhatcontextdoesitbecomeacceptabletocallBlackAfricansbestialsavagesandsubordinatecasteIndianworkerscongenitalliarswhosemoralfacultieshavecollapsed?Inwhatcontextisitacceptabletosaythatscavengersshouldremainscavengersforgenerationstocome?

IsGandhiagranddeceptionyouask?AllGandhiswritingsarecompiledandavailabletothepublic.Theyhavenotbeeneditedordoctored.Sotheresnodeceptiononthatfront.Butyes,therehasbeenagreatdealofdishonestyinhowthelegacyofGandhihasbeenpackagedandpasseddownforpublicconsumptionsinwhathasbeenhighlightedandwhathasbeenhiddenliesdisturbing,and



deliberatelydishonestpolitics.

ThethirddefenseisthatGandhiwasamanofhistimesandthatwecannotgraftourcontemporaryunderstandingofpoliticalandsocialjusticeontosomeonewholivedmorethanacenturyago.IhaveaddressedthistooinTheDoctorandtheSaint,andhavedirectedreaderstotheworkofpeoplelikePanditaRamabai,JotibaPhuleandSavitribaiPhulewhowereGandhispredecessors,nottomentionPeriyar,Ayyankali,ShriNarayanaGuruaswellashiscontemporariesinothercountries.

OnJanuary14,1937GandhivisitedVenganur,Thiruvananthapuram,tomeetAyyankali,theleaderoftheuntouchablePulayas,famouslyknownasthePulayaKing.Healsohadabriefexchangewithagroupofuntouchableyouths.OneofthemwasK.R.Velayudhan,theelderbrotherofK.R.Narayanan,thefirstDalitPresidentofIndia.VelayudhanaskedGandhiwhatdesignationhewouldgivethePulayasintheSwaraj.GandhirepliedthathewouldappointaHarijanasthefirstPresidentof



India.

Gandhiwasalwayscomfortablepatronizingharijansandgivingthemfreeadvice.In1936inafamousconversationwithaReverendJohnMott,inwhichhewasobjectingtotheReverendsmissionaryworkamongharijansGandhisaidWouldyouDrMott,preachthegospeltoacow?Well,someoftheseuntouchablesareworsethancowsinunderstanding.ImeantheycannomoredistinguishbetweenrelativemeritsofIslam,HinduismandChristianitythanacow

EventodaypeopleseemquitecomfortableaboutGandhicallingAyyankaliaPulayaKing.Similarly,DrAmbedkarisoftencalledtheLeaderoftheUntouchables,butwhatifAyyankaliorAmbedkar,oranybodyelse,eventoday,calledGandhiaBaniaMahatma?Therewouldbeprocessionsandpolicecases.

AsforthestoryofGandhisviewsanddeedsonthereal,andnotmerelysymbolicpoliticalrepresentationofDalits,ofDalits



choosingtheirownrepresentativespleasereadAnnihilationofCasteaswellastheaccountofthefirstfacetofaceconfrontationbetweenGandhiandAmbedkarattheSecondRoundTableConference.

Whenhewas25andareporterwithTheTimesofIndia,K.R.NarayananmetGandhiinBombay.HehadaquestionforGandhi:WheninEnglandIamaskedabouttheUntouchabilityissueinIndia,shouldIreplyasaHarijanorshouldIreplyasanIndian?AndGandhiwasquicktoanswer:Whenabroad,youwillsaythatitisaninternalmatterforustosolveoncetheBritishleaveIndia

ThatwaswhyGandhiwassoagainstAmbedkarbecauseherefusedtokeepquietaboutthecastequestionuntilafterIndependence.ThatwaswhattheirgreatconfrontationattheRoundTableConferencewasabout.Alsothemomentpeopleinpowersayitsaninternalmatterwemusttakeitasanominoussign.Thenextmoveistoblameoutsidersforallpoliticalunrest.Thentheytelluswhoareoutsidersandwhoareinsiders,whoisarealIndianand



whoisnot,whoisarealHinduwhoisnot,whoisarealMuslim,whoisnot,andbeforeyouknowitreligiousandculturalnationalismandeveryotherkindofbigotryissittingonyourdoorsteplikeasnarlingapparition,askingtobeletin.

AshishNandysIntimateenemy:LossandRecoveryofSelfunderColonialismislistedinthebibliographytoTheDoctorandtheSaint.InarecentinterviewwithaMalayalamweekly,hehasdisagreedwithyouropiniononGandhi.Hereswhathesaid:Arundhatiismyfriend.Shesagoodwriter.ButIdonttakehercommentsseriously.SheoncedescribedtheNaxalitesasGandhianswithGuns.LetsseeifshellchangeheropiniononGandhiornot.Gandhitriedtomakethecastesystemsomethingbasedonworkandduty.Hehadarealisticattitudetowardspracticeslikeuntouchability.Gandhihasattractedalotofcriticism.Butitisabsurdtosaythathisactionswerepartofaconspiracy

Ihopeyouarequotinghimcorrectly,Ifindithardtobelievehe



saidallthis,eventhoughsomeofthethingshesaidaboutDalitsattheJaipurFestivalwerehardtobelievetoo.AshishNandyisaseniorprofessorandapublicintellectualofsomestanding,soletmenotquibbleabouthispatronizingtone,orthefactthathedoesnotseemtohavereadwhatIvewritten,butfeelsfreetocommentonitanyway.(HebestowedasimilarfavoronNayantaraSehgalathertherecentlaunchofhernewbook.)Assuminghedidsayallthis,letsjustlookatsomefacts.

First:IhavenevercalledNaxalitesGandhianswithGuns.Imnotthatstupid.ThatwasanOutlookcopyeditorsphotocaption.Iwouldexpecttheeruditeprofessortodomethefavorofcheckingmytextcarefully,inthiscasemyessayWalkingwiththeComradesbeforemakingsuchaloosecomment.

Second:Gandhididnottrytomakethecastesystembasedonworkanddutythecastesystem,whichprecededGandhibyafewthousandyearswasasystembasedonworkandduty.Itassignedpeoplehereditaryoccupationsandfittedthemintoa



hierarchicalsystemofdutiesandentitlements.Thisiswhatthewholestruggleagainstcasteisallabout!

Third:ImnotsurewhatarealisticattitudetowardspracticeslikeUntouchabilitymeans.Seriouslywhatdoesitmean?

Fourth:IhaveneversaidGandhisactionswerepartofaconspiracy.

Fifth:NoIwillnotbechangingmyopinionaboutGandhi.

Bytheway,whydopeoplesayShesagreatwriterandthengoontoattributethemoststupidcommentsthatIhavenevermadetome?Isitamanthing,Iwonder?Firstofall,inthiscaseitdoesntreallymatterwhetherImagreatwriteroragreatfool.WhynotdealwiththecontentofwhatIhavewritten?Orifthatistoomuchofaneffort,whynotjustdealwiththethingsGandhisaid?Refutethem,denythem,arguewiththem.SayIinventedthem.SayTheCollectedWorksofMahatmaGandhiisaforgery.Howaboutthatasalineofdefense?



M.G.S.Narayanan,thefamoushistorianwroteanarticlecriticizingyourviews:Arundhatisstatureasagoodnovelistdoesntmakeherfitforcommentingonhistoryorpolitics...ShemighthavethoughtthebestwaytopleaseDr.B.R.Ambedkar,AyyankaliandtheMarxistsistoinsulttheFatherofourNation.

IlovetheideathathethinksImtryingtopleasepeopleitsawholenewme!ButfromhisunderstandingofhistoryM.G.SNarayananshouldknowthatitsvirtuallyimpossibletopleaseAmbedkaritesandMarxistsatthesametime.Anyway,herewegoagainArundhatisstatusasagoodnovelistdoesnotgivehertherightto..!BacktothesubjectofArundhatiRoysRightsandDuties.Manthing?Orisitaninsidiousmanifestationofcaste?Whatarethesubjectsthatgood(female)novelistscancommentupon?Nohistory,nopolitics,thenwhat?Babyfashion?Skincare?Istherealist?Aregood(female)novelistsatleastallowedtoquotetheFatheroftheNation?Ordoweneedtoapplyintriplicateforthat?Mustweuseselectedquotescertifiedbywell



knownhistorians?

AsforquotingGandhi,ShashiTharoorwhilespeakingatataYouthCongressSeminarinThiruvananthapurampointedoutthatthewordsGandhiusedbelongedtothatparticulartimeinhistoryandonecannotcriticizehimontheirbasis.HeaddedthatGandhisviewsstandsuitableforthe21stcenturyandhismessagesareexactlyofthesortfortweeting.HealsostatedthatthecontroversialantiGandhicommentsaretheresultofyourmisunderstandingofthegreatman.

Ah,poormeconfused,unabletocomprehendthings,gettingitallwrongmaybeIneedcoachingclasses?LookIhavenotmadecontroversialantiGandhicomments.IhavequotedGandhisayingsomeextremelycontroversialthings.IfShashiTharoor,aMemberofParliamentandawellknownwriter,believesthatGandhisdeedsandstatementscallingAfricanblackskaffirsandsavages,partneringwiththeBritishintheircolonialwarsinSouthAfrica,andsayingthatuntouchableshaveless



intelligencethancowswereacceptableduringGandhistime,andalsostandsuitableforthe21stcentury,thenitsaysalotaboutTharoorhimself.Abouthisviewsoncasteandrace,andabouthisknowledgeofhistoryaboutwhatotherpeopleinIndiaweredoing,sayingandwritingwaybeforeGandhiwasevenborn.

VeteranMalayalampoetandactivistSugathakumaritoolashedoutatyouforcommentingthatthegenerallyacceptedpublicimageofGandhiwasallalie.SheaccusedyouofbeingscornfulofGandhiandthewordMahatma.

AsforSugathaKumarisanguishletmesaythatalieisnotjustwhatyouchoosetotell,butalsowhatyouchoosetoleaveoutinthetelling.ThereasonIsaidthattheGandhiweareservedupinourtextbooksisalie,isbecauseverydisturbingthingsabouthislifeandtimesandwritingsareleftoutofthenarrative.Thereisapatternandapoliticstotheselectionstowhatisleftoutandwhatiskeptinthatfalsifiesthingsinseriousways.

Theinabilitytofaceupto,letalone



dealwiththeseaspectsofGandhiareshowinghisdefendersupinaverysadlight.ItseemstomethatitistheywhoareguiltyofwhattheyaccusemeofofnotreadingGandhi.Andiftheyhaveindeedreadhim,thenthingsareevenmoredirethanIthought.TheIdealBhangievenifyouwanttointerpretitinsomeconvolutedwaythatabsolvesGandhiofprejudicesthathehimselfwashappytopubliclyembracewasjustonepieceofwritinginapoliticaltrajectorythatspannedmorethanhalfacentury.Gandhisviewsanddeedsonthesubjectofcasteremainedconsistent.Iamnotscornfuloftheseviews,no.ScornfulisalightweightandinaccurateadjectivetodescribewhatIfeelaboutthem.

M.N.Karassery,literarycriticandformerProfessoratUniversityofCalicutsharedsomeinterestingobservationsinanarticlesupportingyou:Amidstthesecrazycontroversies,thereliestherepeatedaffirmationthatGandhiissacred.Butpoliticalleadersshouldnotethefactthatthereisnothingcalledsacredinthisland.Thereshouldntbe.Here,



everythingissecular.Theconstitutionstatesthatourcountryissecular.Ifthereissomethingsacredthathindersfreedomofexpression,itsagainstourconstitution.

Onefeelssuchprofoundgratitudeforsanity.Andclarity.Butthatsthewonderfulthingaboutthiscountry.Despitethecrazybigotryandprejudice,therewillalwaysbesomepeoplewhostanduptoit.InKeralamanyhave,includingtheHistoryDepartmentofKeralaUniversitywhoinvitedmeinthefirstplace.

WhenE.M.S.Nampoothirippad,theMarxisttheoristandformerChiefMinisterofKeralacriticisedGandhiforhisreligiousfundamentalism,O.V.Vijayan,thefamouswriterandpoliticalcartoonist,wroteinresponsethatGandhiwasaliberationtheologist.

Gandhiwasbynomeansaliberationtheologist.Bynomeans.

Gandhi,however,holdsastunningstatureamidsttheAfricanBlacks.HaveyourantiGandhicommentscreatedany



internationalresponses?

Itsamysterythatheshouldbeadmiredsomuchbypeopleheoftendescribedinveryunfortunateways.TheDoctorandtheSainthasnotbeenyetbeenpublishedoutsideofIndia.

InTheDoctorandtheSaintyoumentionthatGandhidissuadedGeorgeJosephfrominterveningintheinternalmatteroftheHindusduringtheVaikomSatyagraha.Hewasnotallowedtogoonahungerstrike.InterestingtonotethecommentsofGopalkrishnaGandhi,GandhisgrandsonandsonofDevadasGandhiandLakshmiGandhi,whohaswrittenprolificallyonhisgrandfather:ButinVaikomhedisfavoredJosephoranyonestarvingasamethodofprotest.Why?Thecluetohisseemingcontradictionovertheforegoingoffoodasaweaponlies,Ithink,inthedifferencebetweenahungerstrikeandafastandoverthelikelydenouementtosuchproceedings.Ahungerstrikeisapressuretactic,plainandsimple,amoraljuniortoafast.Andsuchevenifithasstrength,itlacks



stature.Whereasafastwithallitsingredientsofatonement,selfpurification,andcompletenonviolenceinthought,wordanddeed,isadifferentorderofpersuasiontoberesortedtoonlybyanadept,andthen,directednotatAuthorityalone,butequallyatSociety.GandhiwastodissuadeKelappan,likewise,later.(KeralaandGandhi.IndianLiteratureJuly/August2012.)

GandhididnothesitatetousehisHungerStrike/FasttotheDeath_whateveryouwanttocallitintheYerawadaprisonasapressuretacticinthemostcoerciveandunfairwaypossible.PublicpressureandthefearthattheUntouchablecommunitywouldfacegreatviolenceifhedidnotrelentandwasheldresponsibleforGandhisdeathforcedAmbedkartosignthePoonaPact.RamsayMcDonaldscommunalawardthatgaveDalitstherighttoformtheirownelectoratesomethingthatAmbedkarhadfoughtforyearsforwasrescinded.AmbedkarlatercalledthefastAfoulandfilthyact.ThisisnottheplacetogointoitindetailaboutitbutDalitsarestillsufferingtheeffectofthePoonaPact.AskMayawatiaboutthat.



ThePrimeMinisterwillinauguratetheAyyankalibirthanniversarycelebrationsinNewDelhionSep8.WillhecommentonyourcontroversialspeechinThiruvananthapuram,Iwonder.

IcantsaythatImstayingupnightsworryingaboutit..

WhyisitthatpeoplegomadwhenyoutalkabouttheDalits?IremembertherewasthesamekindofuproarfollowingyourcommentsontheDelhigangrape.Youwereinvitingattentiontoheinous,unknowncrimesthatDalitwomenaresubjectedto.

Youllhavetoaskthem!Idontknow.Butheresafact:in2012,theyearoftheDelhigangrapeforsomereasonmostpeopleforgettomentionthatthegirlwasmurderedtoo,asthoughthatisjustaminordetailaccordingtotheNCRB,morethan1500Dalitwomenwererapedbytouchablemen.Thisisnottosaythattheprotestswerenotimportant,theydidgiveusamorestringentlawagainstrape.Butweneedsomeperspectivedontwe?HundredsofMuslimwomenwererapedinGujaratin2002,butweresupposedtomoveonfromthere



right?Yougetshouteddownifyoutalkaboutthat,orthemassrapeofKashmiriwomenbythearmyinKunanPoshpora..

YourconcernforthesocalledUntouchablesisasublimebackscoreofTheGodofSmallThingsaswell.

IwouldnotcallitconcernforthesocalledUntouchables.WellleavethatsortofmissionaryemotiontoGandhians.TheGodofSmallThingsis,amongotherthings,aboutthesicknessofoursociety.Whenitcomestocaste,itisthesocalleduppercastes,theMammachis,BabyKochammasandComradePillaiswhoweshouldbeconcernedabout.Theyarethesickones,notVelutha.Heborethebrunt,inaterrible,tragicway,oftheirsickness.

Beingawriter,beingsomebodywhodoesntgowiththetide,raisingissuesthatveryfewdaretoraise,beingatthetempestuouscentreofhotpolitical,environmentalissues/controversiesHowmuchriskinessdoyouattributetoyourlife?Arentyourdearones,includingyourmother,



worriedaboutyoursafety?

PeopleinthiscountryarefightingtougherbattlesandtakinggreaterrisksthanIam.AcrimeiscommittedagainstaDalitevery16minutes.In2012,650Dalitsweremurderedincasteatrocities.TherearethousandsofMuslimslivinginrefugeecampsaswespeak,whilekillersintheirtensofthousandsholdmahasabhasbrandishingaxesandswordsandpromisingmoreviolence.ImtalkingofMuzzaffarnagarinUP.PeoplearebeingmurderedinKashmir,inManipur.Alloverthecountrythousandsareinjail,includingclosefriendsofmine.Asformymotherworryingshesnotthatsortofmother.Sheisabosslady.

Inthecoldhoursofblindidolatry,youhaveboldlylitawaysidefireforthosewhoaredisappointedwithcertainaspectsofGandhi.Whatsthegreateroutcomeyouexpectoutofit?Howdoyouwantthisdebatetoproducepositiveoutcome?

Theoutcomecanonlybepositive.Uncoveringacoveruporatleastpointingtothingsthathavebeen



hiddeninplainsightcanonlybeagoodthing,evenifitsalittlepainfulatfirst.Butletmemakethisabsolutelyclear:Ididnotlightthefire.Thecreditforthatgoestomanymanypeople.Imjustoneofthem.

AnandGokani,greatgrandsonofGandhicommentedthatyouwouldrepentandregretinfutureformakingsuchawrongstatementonGandhiji,whobelievedinequality.Hereiswhathesaid:Roymadesuchasweepingstatementtoappeasesomebody.ItisheropiniononGandhiandshehastherighttodoit.ButeveryonewhohasreadbooksonGandhiknowsthetruthabouthim.Shemaybeawriterandactivist,butbeyondthat,makingsweepingstatementsonGandhiwhoisaninternationalfigureisnotgood.Thatswhycriticismwasraisedagainstherstatementfromvariouscorners.

ShemaybeawriterandactivistbutBut,butbutbut.IvepeeredintothecrystalbowlanddonotseerepentanceandregretaboutthisonmyhorizonLookGandhiismorethanjustafamilyheirloom.Heis



theoneofthemainbuildingblocksofthefoundationoftheideaofIndiaitself.Gandhismhasbecomeanindustryitinvolvesmajorstakes,includingmoney,realestateandpoliticalandacademicinstitutions.Critiquingitcannotbedonecarelessly.Butthecathasbeenclawingitswayoutofthebagforsometimeitsontheloosenow,runningthroughthealleyways.Therewillbekittenssoon,andkittenskittens(grandkittens).Theywillnotgobackinthebag.Thestorysout.Thepolicecanthelp.Northeprisons.Norpoliticiansthreats.Itwillbealittlehardforawhile,buteventually,itwillbegoodforusall.Alittlehonestyneverharmedanybodyinthelongrun.

Source:http://english.manoramaonline.com/news/features/gandhiismorethanjustafamilyheirloomarundhatiroy.html

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