The revised limits of Kolakat port covers 28,646 sq km and eats into already notified limits of Dhamara, Chudamani, Chandipur, Inchudi, Subarnarekha mouth, Bichitrapur and Bahabalpur port”, the PIL had mentioned.
From the facts generally known and publicized and related in the book, Gandhi was a weirdo even from 'Indian Standards'. I know no Indian who would sleep with their 17 year old grand niece and get aroused. What was that all about ? An invitation to incest ?
Re: Why Hide ?
by rama anne on Apr 08, 2011 10:37 AM
jehan Mir you have to grow your mind to understand Gandhi ,mere mortals cannot when we do not understand we should not call people with weirdo at all in fact gandhi was a good man and remains most popular in india and abroad he did it in a good way and wrote about it
Re: Re: Why Hide ?
by Jehan Mir on Apr 08, 2011 11:42 PM
I apologize for having called Gandhi as "weirdo".This statement was based upon Gandhi's own misperception that his arousal was because of his niece when in fact it was inspite of it.It is called as 'sex harmones'. Gandhi was so humble,honest and transparent that he could not camouflage his own non-guilty guilt.
I once again apologize if I hurt anybody's feelings. Please see my correction.
Re: Why Hide ?
by Shri Hegde on Apr 08, 2011 07:44 AM
Obviously he was not ordinary man and this did flirt with moral standards on it's edge, because he wanted to seek truth. He was man enough to write about it. Besides these points, we have to look at his overall influence and inspiration to the society, which is thousand times bigger.
Gandhiji was great, there's no doubt about that. Let us not loose focus because of some silly book..let us continue our fight against corruption.. Let us not follow these diversionary tactics initiated by the government with help of sections of media...
Gandhi's sexuality was his personal matter and it is none of anybody's business to pass a judgment on him. Since he was a major public figure and father of a nation,his followers are entitled to know everything about him whether good or bad. Whether he was homosexual or bisexual does not taint his accomplishments and what he stood for in life.
He was a human being and not god ,therefore was subject to all the vagaries of life.This however,does provide a great boost to long closeted causes in India.
Re: A Big Boost for Gay Indians!
by Shri Hegde on Apr 08, 2011 07:47 AM
Gandhi followers are not like Michel Jackson or Shahruk Kahan followers who want to know about their intimate personal details and want to buy their innerwares in auctions. Also, the personal details are irrelevance in the context of his role and stature.
Lelyveld remembers meeting a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh historian at the RSS headquarters in Nagpur, Maharashtra, and coming to the conclusion that the movement, which isn't conventionally considered pro-Gandhi, has long changed its view on the Mahatma. "In recent decades, it has been mentioning his name in its daily roll call of Hindu heroes," he says. -------------------
We must thank Mr Lelyveld for highlighting this fact about RSS, in the prayers along with divine names, the name of Mahatma is also invoked.
While this will not overnight change the perception of RSS, such awareness of truth about RSS at the discerning elite level certainly helps.
The contrast between Mahatma about listening to truth and Jinnah looking for deals is also well said.
So far have read the first part on his South Africa phase of life. Mr Lelyveld is clinically objective and provides the backdrop of the 1913 phase really well. He does not eulogize Gandhi, nor spares his foibles. For this reason alone the book would probably make a lasting impact on educated Indians, not just in short term but for decades to come. But for the very same reason deserves not to be spared for any shortcomings in his writings or observations.
Re: Thank Yor Mr Lelyveld
by Ramesh on Apr 08, 2011 04:07 AM
An impact of a book is not only on those who read it but also who have just heard about it and read only the alluded references. The misguided attempts to ban it may have also harmed the perceptions about the book.
Mahatma did not want to be remembered by what he wrote; he said that his life was his real message. And to write about his real life, is what the book seeks to do.
We need to thank Mr Lelyveld for recreating the life of Mahatma in words by dedicating four years of his scholarship to it.
The poem below, written during my college years is dedicated here to his effort and with a wish that the book and the author obtain a friendly acceptance.
The spirit of national consciousness, In all men at all levels; An expression of religious woes, Mixed with modern civilisational throes. A complex mixture of thoughts did swell, Struck their roots and cast a spell.
Amidst the turmoil India arose, A man in making, men evoked. Nation found an expression, Concept deemed a person. Metamorphosis of a native alien, In the garb of mystics legion; A mahatma was born.
Re: Re: Thank Yor Mr Lelyveld
by rama anne on Apr 08, 2011 10:40 AM
ramesh we do not books or recognisation from west Gandhiji is in hearts of all Indians already =============================== Gandhi - english film got osacrs and good reviews
============================= Bollywood - Hindi Munnabhai mbbs series was a poular hit as well (not made by gandhi family but someone outside ) =========================== EGypt uprising according to Mohammad - al Bharady was an inspiration from Gandhi
The problem with these Westerners is that they see sex everywhere even in their refrigerators and behind everything. The book on Ramakrishna Paramhamsa was another example of their perversion. Gandhi is not my icon but Lelyveld lies and pretends to be innocent when in reality without saying anything he has created all the contexts and made all the hidden suggestions in his book for others to draw exactly the conclusions they ended up drawing.
Look at the last sentence ("Perhaps it was a political calculation")of this paragrph: "Gandhi had clearly flirted with the idea of conversion when he was in Pretoria," the author says. "He went to the church on Sundays; in fact, he was on one occasion barred from a church in Durban (because of his race). His religious life revolved around Christianity for some time, but he finally gave up on the idea of converting. Perhaps it was a political calculation." and then the author says
"'I did once seriously think of embracing Christianity I was tremendously attracted to Christianity, but eventually I came to the conclusion that there was nothing really in your scriptures that we have not got in ours, and that to be a good Hindu also meant I would be a good Christian.'
How does he reconcile his statement of "Political calcluation" with the second statement. The second statemet clearly concludes that Gandhi did not convert because he came to the conclusion that Hindu philosophy was superior.
Look at the last sentence ("Perhaps it was a political calculation")of this paragrph: "Gandhi had clearly flirted with the idea of conversion when he was in Pretoria," the author says. "He went to the church on Sundays; in fact, he was on one occasion barred from a church in Durban (because of his race). His religious life revolved around Christianity for some time, but he finally gave up on the idea of converting. Perhaps it was a political calculation." and then the author says
"'I did once seriously think of embracing Christianity I was tremendously attracted to Christianity, but eventually I came to the conclusion that there was nothing really in your scriptures that we have not got in ours, and that to be a good Hindu also meant I would be a good Christian.'
How does he reconcile his statement of "Political calcluation" with the second statement. The second statemet clearly concludes that Gandhi did not convert because he came to the conclusion that Hindu philosophy was superior.
