Does the Mahatma need a law

Mangalore Today News Network

April 20: After a book on Gandhi reportedly described the Father of the Nation as bisexual and a racist, the central government is contemplating drafting a bill, which will make insults to Mahatma Gandhi an offence punishable by law. Many have expressed their dissent over the move, calling it unacceptable in a democratic set up.

Many historians, academics and scholars have slammed the Indian government for proposing to make insults to Mahatma Gandhi an offence punishable by law. The ruling Congress Party has announced that it is contemplating drafting a bill, which will make disrespect and insult to the Father of the Nation a punishable offence. The Congress’ ’knee-jerk’ reaction came following the claim by the author of a new book on Gandhi, called ’Great Soul: Mahatma Gandhi and His Struggle with India’, that Gandhi was bisexual and racist. The American author Joseph Lelyveld has moved quickly to deny he called the Mahatma a racist and a bisexual.

Many in India were outraged by the perceived insults to the Mahatma in the biography, which apparently focuses on Gandhi’s relationship with German-Jewish architect and bodybuilder Hermann Kallenbach. He lived with the German for two years in Johannesburg. The author quotes Gandhi’s letters to his friend, in which he is believed to have said, "How completely you have taken possession of my body. This is slavery with a vengeance."  In another startling revelation, the book claims he held racist views against Black people of South Africa. "We were marched off to a prison intended for Kaffirs," he is quoted as saying during a visit to the country.

The book has been banned by the Gujarat government. But Indian scholars, in turn, are upset over the government’s proposed bill as well as the ban threat the book faces in other parts. Many of them say that this is not how the world’s largest democracy should function. Says writer and historian Ramachandra Guha, the author of, ’India After Gandhi: The History of the World’s Largest Democracy’, "It is an outrageous bill. Gandhi doesn’t need the government of India to protect him."

Hurt
Gandhi’s scion, Tushar Gandhi, is hurt by the revelations in the book, but he doesn’t believe that banning the book or passing a bill to protect his great grandfather’s image is a solution. Says Tushar, "Why would we need a law to protect him? It is a  stupid decision. I don’t think such a law will ever see the light of day. I was in fact very surprised with such an announcement. I don’t know who will decide, what is an insult. How will it be codified? Who will sit and take measure of what is right and what is wrong?" However, the book has definitely upset him because it has been written in a "sensational" way. He says, "Who would want such stuff to be highlighted about one’s great grandfather? Personally, if you ask me it hurts, just because he is a public figure you have to sit and tolerate such things. It is a sort of vilification of your ancestor."

Unacceptable
Some dismiss it as cheap political gimmickry of the Congress party. But whatever the motive may be, many scholars and historians believe that the decision is unacceptable in the world’s largest democracy. Says historian Sharada Dwivedi, "What are we? China? Why are you passing a law on such a thing and blowing it out of proportion? Do these facts make him any less of a Mahatma?" Even Dwivedi asserts that the government doesn’t have to step in to protect Gandhi’s image. "The Mahatma made his own laws so making any law to protect his image is absolutely not necessary," emphasises Dwivedi. On the contrary, she argues, making a law or banning the book might generate more curiosity about the book. "When Rohinton Mistry’s book ’Such a Long Journey’ was banned, the sales of the book actually went right up," says Diwedi. Gandhians believe that the Mahatma’s life was like an open book and such ’facts’ highlighted about him have generated controversy because they have been taken out of context.

Gandhians
Even Mahatma Gandhi’s devout followers do not approve of the proposed bill. "Such a law is against our basic right of freedom of speech and hence we are not for it. We are also not for the ban of Lelyveld’s book. Let people read and then come to their own conclusion," says Somaiya TRK, programme co-ordinator, Bombay Sarvodya Mandal and Gandhi book Centre. While the debate rages over the proposed bill, academics find this move very surprising and say that it’s not welcome. "We are known for our tolerance and our tremendous democratic temperament. Does this mean that if anybody doesn’t accept your view or dissents with you, then you should pass a law to protect yourself? Such a step by the government, more than anything, is an indication of an undemocratic trend and could be very dangerous," says Sudha Mohan, associate professor, Department of Politics, University of Mumbai.  "I agree and abide by what a famous writer said, I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it," says Mohan.

Taboo
A nation where people may no longer consider homosexuality taboo, then why is such a hue and cry being made over Gandhi’s sexual orientation? asks Mohan. "Is it wrong to be gay? Is that what the government means?" questions Mohan. Vinita Bhatia, assistant professor, Sociology, St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, agrees with Mohan. "Even if he was bisexual, will he be less revered? Attention needs to be focused towards his philosophy and not his sexuality," says Bhatia.

But the state Congress spokesman, Anant Gadgil, believes that a law is required in order to prevent others from tarnishing Gandhi’s image and writing anything about the father of the nation. "By introducing the bill, we want to show that we as a party disapprove of such things written about the Mahatma. The law may not be one hundred per cent effective but at least it will be like a checkpoint for somebody who is planning to write and talk about such an iconic figure," emphasises Gadgil.

Norms
Some advocate a limited regulation to protect the Mahatma’s image. Says social activist Medha Patkar, "Everything cannot be brought under the law.  As far as disrespect of Gandhiji is concerned, there should be some kind of a framework and open or crude disrespect towards him should be looked into. There should be some social norms." Like most scholars and historians the average young Indian too condemns the proposed bill, which they believe, questions the whole democratic set up.  Neishaa Kumaar (18), a student  at St. Xavier’s College, says, "Right to expression is our fundamental right. Hence there is no need for such a law. There is no point in generating curiosity over the book. It should be left to the readers to read the book and arrive at a conclusion."

Ganesh Pawar (22), a student of IIT Powai, however believes that a group or a committee needs to be formed to regulate things written or said about great personalities. "But the committee should constitute of youngsters too along with experienced people. So that, opinions from various age groups are heard and respected." Some see this as a non-issue. "Why doesn’t the government do some constructive work and think of laws to fight corruption than focusing its energy towards something like this. The Mahatma did a lot for our country and that is what matters to us," says Sagar Raheja (22), Chetana Institute of Management and Research (CIMR), Bandra (E).

Many believe that, such an action by the government will in fact generate interest in the book. Says Rahul Damodar (22), who studies in IIT Powai, "If the government has any problem, then it should academically challenge the author or the book, not by using some sort of a diktat or force."

Controversy
A controversial biography on Mahatma Gandhi has claimed that the revered political leader was racist and bisexual. Great Soul, written by former New York Times executive editor Joseph Lelyveld, makes several new claims about the man who led India to independence.The book alleges that as an older man he held "nightly cuddles",without clothes, with 17-year-old girls in his entourage, including his own niece. It also suggests that he was in love with German-Jewish architect and bodybuilder, Hermann Kallenbach, for whom he left his wife.

The book  claims that Gandhi nicknamed himself ’Upper House’ and Kallenbach ’Lower House’. It goes on, "He made Lower House promise not to ’look lustfully upon any woman’. The two then pledged ’more love, and yet more love... such love as they hope the world has not yet seen’."

Against Blacks?
In another startling revelation, the book claims he held racist views against South African blacks. The Wall Street Journal review of the book said it recast Gandhi as "a sexual weirdo, a political incompetent, a fanatical faddist, implacably racist, and a ceaseless self-promoter, professing his love for mankind as a concept while actually despising people as individuals."

Explanation
Joseph Lelyveld has said his book on Mahatma Gandhi is "not sensationalist," and is based on material already published and available in the National Archives of India (NAI). "This is not a sensationalist book. I did not say Gandhi had a male lover. I said he lived with a man who was an architect as well as a body builder for nearly four years. The letters are part of the Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi (volume 96, to be precise) published by the government of India. They are in the Indian National Archive. That particular volume was first published in 1994. In other words, the material I used contains no news," said Lelyveld. Lelyveld has opposed the ban, describing it as "shameful." "In a country [India] that calls itself a democracy, it is shameful to ban a book that no one has read, including the people who are doing the banning."

Going native
A new book on Gandhi called ’Going Native: Gandhi’s relationship with Western Women’ written by Thomas Webber states, "Gandhi’s relationship with women had proved irresistibly fascinating to many, but it is surprising how little scholarly work has been undertaken on his attitudes to and relationships with women ¦Through these fascinating women, we get a different insight into Gandhi, who encouraged them to come and then was often captivated, and at times exasperated, by them."

Webber, who has been researching and writing on Gandhi for almost 30 years, writes in a chapter called, ’Margaret Sanger: Examining Gandhi’s Love and Lust’, "In the interviews. Sanger had put to Gandhi that, ’If we have a choice in our mates [as he did not] there is a natural sex attraction between two people. You then have a different experience and in the experience an expression of love which makes you a finer human being...and contributes to a finer understanding and a greater spiritual harmony.’ Gandhi’s response was illuminating: I had a woman with whom I almost fell. Is so personal that I did not put it in my autobiography.

We have considered if there can be this spiritual companionship. The marriage relationship is a matter of contract. Your parents arrange it in your childhood and you have nothing to do with it. I came in contact with an illiterate woman. Then I met a woman with a broad, cultural education. Could we not develop a close contact, I said to myself? This was a plausible argument, and I nearly slipped. I don’t know how. For a time it was seemed I had lost my anchor. I was saved by youngsters who warned me, I saw that I was doomed, they also were doomed. I decided I was not right in my argument."