Genius of Gandhi contd...

In continuation to
http://random-rp.blogspot.com/2008/01/genius-of-gandhi.html

Something I wrote as reply to someone's doubts...You asked why did Gandhi suspended non-cooperation movement.

Please remember that Gandhi stuck to Gita in his life and deeds. If you would refer to chapter ii shloka 31 you will get the answer. The Shloka says (sorry I am not too good in translation.. someone else can do a better job.)"When there is time for your duty you should not run away from it; for there is no higher good for a Kshatriya than a righteous war. "Refer to last two words. Righteous war.

Indepndence struggle was a righteous war because it was unsaught. And the way it was being faught was through moral means. Now the moment we distroyed Chauri Chaura the war was no longer righteous. The British had a moral reason to avenge. Gandhi realized that in such a case the distinction of right and wrong would have blurred and the movement would have failed.If you need further explaination.

If I look at Nandigram I realise the power of this. The cause was right. But the outcomes ? No one knows who is right and who is wrong. And this blurring of lines was what Gandhi avoided and faught till his last breath to avoid this.

Some people call introduction of Rama as an idol in freedom struggle as foolishness.I call it the MASTER STROKE of independence struggle. Here you had to lead illiterate people into the struggle. What do they know about Marx and all. Could they relate to him. Could they connect to freedom struggle. They needed something they could connect to. And thanks to Tulsi Das Rama was known even in the remotest corners of India. Gandhi did not reinvent the wheel. He merely connected people to what they knew.

Gandhi was not a mere paper tiger or a strategist or an elitist leader. He toiled WITH the people in the villages and the streets. He led by example. That is what caused people to join in the struggle. Not the elitist leaders who could not talk to the masses.