03/06/2024
Modi on Gandhi"
A Celluloid Character, My Foot!
By A. J. Philip
The Ten Commandments, directed by Cecil B. DeMille, was released three years after my birth and holds the distinction of being the first movie I watched in a theatre. This film, inspired by the Book of Exodus in the Bible, narrates the story of Moses leading the Israelites across the desert.
The climax of the film depicts Moses' encounter with God, who bestows upon him the Ten Commandments. Rather than demanding the construction of a grand temple, God calls for His people to live virtuous lives, adhering to the commandments. This emphasis on moral integrity over grandiose structures underscores the core message of the film.
The film made a huge impact on me. Nearly sixty years after watching it, some scenes are still vividly etched in my memory. I can still recall the moment when Moses turns a stick into a snake, transforms water into blood, and parts the sea to let his people cross.
Another unforgettable scene is Moses' encounter with God, whose face was not shown, adding to the mystery and awe. The image of Moses holding the stone tablets containing the Ten Commandments is particularly powerful.
As a child, I couldn't fully grasp the enormity of these situations, even if I had read the relevant portions of the Bible. However, the visual and emotional impact of these scenes left a lasting impression, demonstrating the film's profound influence on my understanding of these biblical events.
The Old Testament holds sacred significance for Christians, Jews, and, to some extent, Muslims, collectively encompassing two-thirds of the world's population. In 1979, the film 'Jesus' was released, based on the Book of Luke from the New Testament. This movie was a major hit, seen by tens of millions and translated into hundreds of languages.
Given the longstanding historical and religious significance of the Bible, suggesting that it only became famous after the release of these two films would reveal a profound misunderstanding of history and religious knowledge. The Bible has been a foundational text for billions of people over millennia, shaping cultures, laws, and moral frameworks long before these cinematic adaptations.
Such a statement would likely be viewed as naive or ignorant of the Bible's deep and enduring impact on human civilisation.
These thoughts came to me when I read Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement claiming that Gandhi became famous after Richard Attenborough's film, which won several Oscars. Ben Kingsley, who portrayed Gandhi in the film, is the son of a Gujarati father and an English mother. Modi's statement reveals his ignorance of Gandhi's profound global impact.
Gandhi is revered worldwide as one of the greatest figures in history, celebrated for his role in India's independence and his philosophy of non-violence. The film certainly helped bring Gandhi's story to a broader audience, but his fame and influence were well-established long before its release. Modi's remark diminishes Gandhi's immense historical and cultural significance, reflecting a lack of understanding of the depth of Gandhi's legacy and the respect he commands globally.
I wondered how Modi could forget a significant personal experience. During one of his first visits to Japan as Prime Minister in 2014, he gifted the Japanese Prime Minister a specially prepared copy of the Bhagavad Gita. This gesture might have made the head of the Ramakrishna Mission proud, but it likely puzzled his Japanese counterpart, coming from the leader of a secular government.
However, Modi also took a sapling from the Bodhi tree under which Lord Buddha attained enlightenment, a gesture that was more culturally attuned, given Japan's large Buddhist population. This contrast in gifts highlights Modi's occasional missteps in understanding the appropriate contexts for cultural and religious symbols in international diplomacy.
The episode reflects a broader issue of balancing personal beliefs with the secular and diplomatic responsibilities of his office.
A few years later, Modi visited Japan for a Group of Seven meeting chaired by Japan. During this visit, he had to go to Hiroshima, where he was amazed to see that the Bodhi tree sapling he had gifted was now growing into a tree. Hiroshima, infamous for the American Air Force's nuclear bombing that led to Japan's surrender and the end of World War II, held significant symbolism.
Modi was also tasked with unveiling a statue of Mahatma Gandhi, donated by India. It underscored the belief that Hiroshima's devastation could have been avoided if Gandhi's call for ahimsa, or non-violence, had been heeded. This act highlighted the enduring relevance of Gandhi's philosophy of peace in a world still grappling with the consequences of war and violence.
Was it Ben Kingsley's portrayal of Gandhi that inspired India under Narendra Modi to donate a bust of the Mahatma to Hiroshima? Reflecting on the film "Gandhi", I recall my friend the late Noor Fatima, who played the beggar whose nakedness moved Gandhi to give her his upper garment. Both of them were taking bath in the river Gandak in Bihar.
I believe that this moment marked Gandhi's transformation into the Mahatma. Of course, I don't forget that it was poet Rabindranath Tagore who called him Mahatma first. From then on, he renounced wearing an upper garment, a gesture of solidarity with India's impoverished masses. This act of profound empathy and humility famously led Winston Churchill to dismissively refer to him as a "naked fakir."
The donation of Gandhi's bust to Hiroshima reminds the world of Gandhi's enduring legacy and the power of compassion in the face of adversity, particularly poignant in a city that has witnessed the devastating consequences of war.
Modi is well known for his distinctive attire; he is rarely seen wearing the same outfit twice. In contrast, Buddha's renown began when he left his palace, not while he stayed within its luxury. This highlights that philanthropy, not acquisition, defines true greatness.
While Modi's sartorial choices draw attention, it is acts of selflessness and renunciation, like those of Buddha and Gandhi, that leave a lasting impact. True greatness is measured by one's contributions to humanity and compassion, not by personal accumulation or appearances.
Gandhi aspired to study in Britain but faced strong opposition from religious leaders who were against him crossing the sea. They warned him that doing so would result in excommunication from his community.
Despite these threats, Gandhi was determined to pursue his education abroad. It was his uncle who provided the crucial support and encouragement needed to defy the religious injunction. Recognising the importance of this opportunity for Gandhi's future, his uncle urged him to leave for England, disregarding the potential consequences.
This decision was pivotal in Gandhi's life, allowing him to gain legal education and exposure to different cultures that would later shape his philosophy and leadership. His time in Britain was instrumental in developing the ideas and strategies that would eventually drive his role in India's struggle for independence. The encouragement from his uncle highlights the importance of support and guidance in overcoming societal barriers.
When Gandhi returned to India after completing his studies in England, he found himself in the same predicament as millions of unemployed people today. Despite his qualifications, he struggled to secure a job. It was a Gujarati Muslim businessman with interests in South Africa who offered Gandhi a clerical position there.
Accepting this opportunity, Gandhi moved to South Africa, where he encountered the harsh realities of apartheid. Over the next 20 years, he utilised his organisational skills and developed his philosophy of non-violent resistance. His experiences and efforts against racial discrimination in South Africa allowed him to emerge as a formidable leader.
This period was crucial in shaping his abilities and strategies, which he later applied to the Indian independence movement. Gandhi's time in South Africa was not just about employment; it was a transformative phase where he honed his leadership and advocacy skills, laying the groundwork for his future role as a global icon of peace and justice.
Upon his return to India, Gandhi embarked on a journey across the country to understand its cultural and social diversities. Far from remaining idle, he plunged into the national movement and quickly became the undisputed leader of the Indian National Congress. His leadership and relentless activism soon made him a formidable opponent to the British rulers, who arrested him several times in an attempt to quell his influence.
During this period, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) existed, but its leaders chose to stay away from the freedom struggle, believing their primary responsibility was to strengthen the Hindu community. They distanced themselves from the independence movement, focusing instead on their own agenda.
Gandhi, meanwhile, faced opposition not only from colonial authorities but also from within his own country. Chettur Sankaran Nair, the only Keralite to become president of the Congress, wrote a book describing Gandhi as a dictator.
Despite the opposition, Gandhi remained steadfast. His commitment to pacifism and non-violence earned him worldwide respect. It is no wonder that Martin Luther King Jr., accompanied by his wife, visited India to pay homage to Gandhi. King visited numerous sites associated with Gandhi, reflecting the profound influence Gandhi had on his own philosophy and activism.
On a visit to Atlanta, USA, I visited King's final resting place, where a statue of Gandhi also stands. This monument is a testament to Gandhi's enduring legacy. Modi should visit this place to understand that Gandhi is not just a celluloid figure like Amitabh Bachchan but a global symbol of peace and non-violence.
I had the privilege of accompanying Prime Minister Manmohan Singh when he visited South Africa to celebrate the centenary of Satyagraha. During the visit, he inaugurated a Gandhi museum in the Pretoria prison where Gandhi had been incarcerated.
I had the opportunity to peruse the Bible Gandhi used, noting the verses he underlined and the annotations he made. His favourite portion was Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, from which he drew many of his ideas on non-violence.
Gandhi's admirers included notable figures like Albert Einstein, who spoke highly of him long before Richard Attenborough's film brought his story to the silver screen. Unlike Modi, Gandhi never claimed infallibility or extraordinary origins. He was transparent about his mistakes and maintained that his opinions could evolve.
When asked which of his contradictory opinions should be considered definitive, he humbly suggested that his most recent opinion be taken as his final stance.
Gandhi often differed with his colleagues but refrained from personal attacks. The harshest criticism he offered was likening the Simon Commission's recommendations to a post-dated cheque drawn on a crumbling bank. The RSS, however, never acknowledged his leadership and, instead, derided him.
The Malayalam poet ONV Kurup, in his autobiography, recounts his shock at seeing a wealthy family in Thiruvananthapuram distribute sweets to celebrate Gandhi's assassination. Gandhi was hated by some because he forced the government to fulfil its commitments to the newly-formed Pakistan regarding the sharing of assets.
Nathuram Godse, Gandhi's assassin, had a different rationale rooted in philosophical disagreement. Godse believed that non-violence was not a part of Hindu tradition, as the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata suggested a culture of valour and warfare. He resented Gandhi's promotion of non-violence, fearing it weakened the nation.
Gandhi paid the ultimate price for his principles, but he was always prepared to do so. Regardless of what Modi or anyone else might say, Mahatma Gandhi remains one of the greatest figures in world history.
To Gandhi, truth was synonymous with God, and his life was an "experiment with truth." His legacy of non-violence and peaceful resistance continues to inspire movements for justice and human rights across the globe. Prime ministers may come and go, but the Mahatma will remain a symbol of everything sublime in human life. Let there be no mistaking of this, Narendra Modi or no Narendra Modi.
Gandhi is revered worldwide as one of the greatest figures in history, celebrated for his role in India's independence and his philosophy of non-violence.
