To use the metaphor of the two kind of poles may be apt in exposition of Constitutional and Political centres in our democracy. Constitutional centre, needing intellectual integrity is akin to geographic pole, while political integrity makes democracy happen.
The critical contribution of Mahatma was to firm up both these kind of poles and make them almost co-axial. His accent on non-violence and equating truth with non-violence, an inference from Patanjali Yogasutra created indigenous basis for achieving common social understanding for civil law to prevail.
To think of social justice being his critical contribution is simply ridiculous. Just because Lelyveld had some standing in US establishment, does not make his inference on Mahatma a valid one.
Re: Geographic pole and magnetic pole metaphor
by Ramesh on Apr 07, 2011 06:02 AM
that social conscience still can be called Gandhi. ---------
Early in this book, the editor has passes a value judgment on Indian nuclear policy and juxtaposed it to nuclear opposition by Mahatama. This interpolation was totally unwarranted in a book about Mahatama, instead betrays his editorial bias on Indian security policy. With this backdrop, the suggestion of reducing Indian social conscience to that of Mahatma, whose faddist inclination he has stressed repeatedly in the book, is simply absurd.
Mahatma was a lawyer and a political personality, India has had many great personalities in the realm of arts and literature who have more authentic claim to social conscience. Anyway, to reduce the perceptions of our multi-linguistic, multi-ethnic society to the conscience of one man is an merely a simplistic exercise in projection.
Such inane supposition either reflects his obsession with the personality of Mahatma, or may be it is just his wishful thinking.
Re: Re: Geographic pole and magnetic pole metaphor
by Ramesh on Apr 07, 2011 06:32 AM
It is not easy to assess the impact of Mahatma on Indian masses in villages. For this we need to study the masses, not just Mahatma the leader. It is not clear how much time and effort was invested in culling valid inferences on Indian hoi polloi in S Africa or in India.
Mahatma was perhaps placed somewhere between a priest and a politician, fulfilling at some sub-terrain level the shortcoming in both these roles. To properly comprehend the role shall require much research and is in the domain of social science research, not art. However, a glimpse of the incongruity in priestly life as depicted in the verse below may give an idea of the complex and profound impact Mahatam had on the masses.
The Village Priest ------------------------ In a decrepit village there lived a man. Face anointed with tilak on forehead. Lost in rituals, steeped in past. Myth had cast his role for all.
Religious calendar set his chore. Dates computed, tithy ascertained. Perpetuating the Hindu folklore By conducting the festivals galore.
In like fashion he earned his bread From pujas, kirtans and prayers said. There were prophecies as well Reports on how planets shall rule over men.
A simple man with many mores, A man of faith, god's devout. Lived in dreams and spun for other Besides modernity crowing blatantly.
Pls do not ban any book on Mahatma Gandhi. He has led an open and honest life. A book on Mahatma need not get banned like "Polyester Prince" got banned in India. Only criminals need the protection of ban - not our Mahatma.
Only leader who proclaimed boldly that my life is my message is Mahatma Gandhiji. He had already writen his autobiography the experiments with truth. So there is no need for others to imagine and write anything on Gandhiji expecially who has not seen him. Ofcoarse they can write anything on gandhism but not on gandhi's life. Mohandas karamchan Gandhi is a real mahatma who still inspires many people not only in India but also in abroad like Nelson mandela, Martin luthar king and obama etc. There is a proverb in tamil which says a dog barking at the sun will not make any harm to the sun. Gandhiji is a great visionary leader who had not only fought against british rule but also against untouchability and exploitation.
