Mahatma Vs Gandhi By Dinkar Joshi

The one who can’t get over his temptations loses his good sense too. Destroy your temptations before they destroy the truth within you.

Books are always considered a good option when you’re in the process of learning something new in life. At least, this is what I believe.

I happened to read this book by chance. No doubt, my sis recommended this to me several times in the past too. But I guess I wasn’t ready then.

This book revolves around the relationship between Bapu and his eldest son Harilal Gandhi. They both were different in every aspect of life still they didn’t part their ways due to their blood relation. Last year, I saw “Gandhi, My Father” movie and it felt like the director had copied scene to scene dialogues and the plot from this book. I was surprised that all those incidences happened in reality with Harilal. What a terrible poor soul.

I was pondering upon how many times you could offend someone if they have not been supporting your point of view? Is it always necessary to show your superiority by behaving arrogantly or haughtily to suppress the feelings of the opposite person?

Well, don’t be surprised because Bapu was one such kind of person. He didn’t only dismay his eldest son but treated him as an irresponsible and insane moron. Let me shed some light on the plot.

Characters

Gandhi- Better known as Bapu Kasturba Gandhi- As Baa Devdas, Ramdas, Manilal & Harilal Gandhi- Sons of Bapu Gulaab Gandhi- Harilal’s Wife

The Plot

Since childhood, Harilal didn’t get the chance to study and educate himself because of Bapu’s interventions. Harilal wanted to become a Barrister and aimed at leading India towards a brighter future. He focused on all the activities given by Bapu like joining his hands to fight against the Britishers in South Africa. He went to jail many times fighting against Britishers still his arduous work didn’t impress Bapu at all.

Bapu had four sons but he didn’t believe in educating them because according to him, serving the nation and following the path of honesty and integrity was far better than any bookish knowledge.

Bapu used to treat his wife like a mute doll who never stood opposed to any of his flagrant decisions. What could be worse than insulting your wife in front of your children? Bapu, not even once or twice insulted Kasturba but he was destined to embarrass her everywhere.

There was one incidence where Baa got ornaments as a reward and she wanted to keep them for her son’s marriage. Bapu forced her to waive them as if she was committing a big crime by thinking about her children.

Bapu’s friend offered him an opportunity where he could send his son to study in the UK. He preferred to send Chhaganlal to the UK who later came back without completing his education. On his return, he preferred to send Sorabji by degrading Harilal’s talent and faith. Bapu had a queer philosophy of supporting everybody except his own family.

Harilal invited Baa and Bapu in his marriage with Gulaab. Bapu straight-forwardly wrote a letter to his elder brother (with whom Harilal was staying) showing his negative perspective for his marriage. He didn’t want Harilal to marry Gulaab because in his perspective Harilal wasn’t his son anymore. It was intolerable on Harilal’s part to face this injustice and he decided to leave SA and came back to India.

He started his new life by taking admission to the college but as time passed he lost his interest in studies too. The students and teachers didn’t like his behavior and he became the laughing stock of them. He was frustrated and agitated. He joined the hands of a businessman in the textile industry and later on decided to start his own business. It was a major failure in his life and left with no option in his hands and he turned out to be an alcoholic.

While fighting against this turmoil and trails, Gulaab died at her mother’s place, and once again, Harilal was standing in between building and destroying his character. He lost simplicity, hard work, and a positive attitude towards life. His life was coming to an end because the person who used to support him in every dark and worst moments of his life, was Gulaab. And now she was no more.

He joined the hands of Zakaria Khan who baptized him with Islam religion. His name was converted from Harilal to Abdullah Gandhi. He targeted Bapu with his atrocious thoughts and harsh words. On his conversion from Hindu to Muslim, Baa cried and wrote an open letter to him. She was broken and shattered. Baa always stood beside Bapu even if he was wrong. She never supported Harilal and pressurized him to leave the life of a pauper.

Abdullah Gandhi Aka Harilal, became the leader of Muslims but this conversion didn’t remain for a long period. Soon, he realized what Muslims aimed at, and their non-religious activities of destroying temples and killing innocent Hindu’s worked as droplets of water to open up his eyes.

He again changed his name from Abdullah Gandhi to Heeralal Gandhi. He dared to join the hands of Godrej Company for boosting up their sales. He did immensely well for the company but alcohol was his weakness. He left his job and habit of drinking regularly deteriorated his health and financial condition.

In his last days, he went to his son Kantilal (who was married to Sarawati). Kantilal accepted his father in the same way as he was. Saraswati treated him as a father-figure and never misbehaved or ill-treated him. On Jan 31, Bapu was shot dead and after six months after his death, Harilal took his last breath in the Hospital.

My Favorite excerpts

“And yet this son of Bapu and Kasturba remained forlorn, forgotten, and unknown to the world”.

“I am unable to feel any happiness on Harilal’s marriage. These days I have stopped thinking about Harilal as my son”.

“Harilal was unable to understand exactly what Bapu meant by the “character” building”.

‘’The one who can’t get over his temptations loses his good sense too. Destroy your temptations before they destroy the truth within you’’.

‘’It has become imperative on my part to find the fault for a whim I am being penalized’’.

Final Verdict

I strongly detest Bapu in real life. I couldn’t make out anything about his character and philosophies in life. Did somebody force him to impose his will power on his sons?

Bapu completed his studies; he didn’t compromise with his education at all. When it came to making his sons literate, he passed such third-grade statements of serving the society by considering honesty and integrity as the best teacher. What kind of character building he was seeking in his sons?

Was Bapu a virgin? The answer is no. But still he gave a huge lecture of sins and ascetics to Manilal, when he tried to get physical with Chanda, it was queer. He instigated Harilal to commit mistakes and he was responsible for his bad character and failures.

As far as Baa was considered she slogged all day and night to look after his household but not even once she was respected. Wasn’t she fulfilling his desire? Wasn’t it a service? Till her last moment, she remained like a dead person who never dared to vent her suppressed feelings.

If Harilal aimed at becoming a barrister and serving the society, how come it became sin for Bapu? He never praised his family members. He wasn’t concerned about their well being and wishes. What kind of father was he? How come one such person became the Father of Nation? I strongly disagree with his philosophies and so-called character building concept.

One who didn’t have good character kept on convincing others to build a good image? It makes me laugh and angry at the same time. For me, Bapu was an ordinary person and he wasn’t the only person who served India before independence. There were many brave and bold personalities but still, it’s sad that people only think of Gandhi on every occasion.

*Originally written on 4th April 2009

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Gurpreet Dhariwal is the author of “My Soul Rants: Poems of a Born Spectator.” Her eBook is now available at Google PlayStore, Amazon, and Kindle. Connect with Gurpreet on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or Youtube