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Home , Jyoti Basu, Shripad Amrit Dange, Sitaram Yechury

, NEW 10 hindustantimes FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2019

YEARS ON Leading a nation 1869 - 2019

PERSPECTIVE SUDHIR KAKAR L E F T ’ S VIEW Man with mass appeal

Saubhadra Chatterji

n [email protected]

very year, a number of budding com- munists throng the first floor of AK E Gopalan Bhavan in ’s Gole Market to attend master classes by party general secretary and his predecessor , among others. The subjects range from Marxian aesthetics and political economy to ’s freedom struggle, with an emphasis on the role played by MK Gandhi. Indian communists have always had a unique relationship with India’s greatest mass leader. Gandhi’s appeal coupled with n EMS Namboodiripad (right). CPI (M) ARCHIVE his secular ideology has been a convenient recipe for the communists to follow. But dur- fronted when the latter ing the years of the freedom struggle, his phi- came to apprise the Indian students’ commu- losophy was criticised by communists who nity in Britain about the freedom struggle in chose to break ranks with the Indian 1938. “Will India be a socialist country?” Basu National Congress to form their own outfit. asked. “First let it be an independent coun- The (CPI), founded try. Then we can discuss about its social and in 1925, was officially against the Quit India political structure,” Nehru quipped. movement. Today’s generation of communists look up The Indian communists were in thrall of to Gandhi. “We tell our comrades how Russian revolutionary Lenin’s fierce Bolshe- had the intelligence to vik movement and countered Gandhi’s phi- identify issues that could rouse the people. It losophy of non violence, as is evident from required a genius to make a historic move- ’s influential 1921 book ment out of salt and undertake a Dandi Gandhi vs Lenin, which argued that while March (1930). Salt is something so essential to the objective of attaining freedom from impe- everybody’s life and it galvanized an entire rialism was the same for Lenin and Gandhi, movement. He also had a trait that was they differed in the “methods to work out the acceptable to the common people as well as revolution in society”. Witty historians the incumbent Indian capitalist class. He had dubbed as “ minus stayed with Ghanshyam Das Birla [noted violence”. industrialist, freedom fighter, who bought As the Marxists carved out the CPI (Marx- the Hindustan Times]. It shows his entire ist) in 1964, they saw that many of their own purpose was to unite everybody,” Yechury doyens were products of Gandhian values. said. EMS Namboodiripad,a founder member of As the fight between the Leftists and the CPI (M) was a staunch Gandhian — in prac- Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-Bharatiya tise and theory. His protests against Bhagat has intensified in parts of India the story I narrated above, undergirded Gan- n Gandhi at a Singh’s death penalty and support for such as or , Gandhi’s phi- dhi’s great and authentic leadership: sympa- prayer meeting Mahatma Gandhi’s losophy is a key tool for the Left. “He was a thy; detachment from fruits of action; deep at ’s movement led to his arrest in 1932. devout Hindu but espoused secularism. He introspection upon his mission and identity; Juhu beach, In January 1958, EMS published his semi- was assassinated by a Hindu fanatic, because ON AUTHENTIC attentiveness to the inner voice from one’s May 1944. nal work, The Mahatma and the Ism which he didn’t permit India to turn into a theo- unconscious depths; carrying out the deci- NATIONAL GANDHI became a Bible for the Indian Left to evaluate cratic state just as Muslims succeeded into sion reached with fearlessness and humour; MUSEUM Gandhi’s everlasting contribution. In what making into an Islamist state. That and, acceptance of complete responsibility could be read as course correction, EMS can- India became a secular, democratic republic for the consequences that flow from the deci- didly underlined that early communists had much to do with how Gandhi shaped the sion thus made. denounced the policies and programmes of freedom movement,” Yechury said. Authentic leadership combines these six “bourgeois leaders including Gandhi” but It is nearly impossible to find a photo of LEADERSHIP qualities that draw both from a deep sympa- “without participating in these struggles and Gandhi in any of the offices of Left parties thy for all living beings as well as a strong and sharing their bitter experience.” around the country. The CPI (M) headquar- vigorous individuality of the self. While the However, EMS was critical of Gandhism, ters, mentioned above, has a huge portrait of combination of sympathy and individuality as he was worried not just about freedom but Che Guevara, the Argentine revolutionary, WHAT MAKES A GREAT LEADER? Six qualities, all of which may sound paradoxical, it is, in fact, true that also India’s social liberation and liberty from an oil painting depicting Lenin, even a life Mahatma Gandhi possessed: sympathy; detachment from fruits of action; the more vigorous our individuality, the less class bondage. Similarly, a young size photo of . But in the need to encase the individual self in an — who went on to become the chief minister their speeches now, it is difficult to miss the introspection; attentiveness to the inner voice; fearlessness and humour; armour of self-centredness and more the of West Bengal from 1977 to 2000 — con- mention of Mahatma Gandhi. capacity to make it permeable and thus par- and, acceptance of responsibility for the consequences of one’s actions ticipate in the play of what we call the ‘soul’. Sympathy, as understood in the spirit of Gandhi, is the highest manifestation of the S A N G H ’ S VIEW human soul. Accessing sympathy involves freeing the soul from its prison of individual self, guarded by warders of self-centredness. Sympathy is initiated in our love for those Finding common ground who nurtured us when we were children and our love for our own children, friends, and lovers as we get older — wider and wider n MS Golwalkar That’s one part of the story. A senior func- n early 1930, Mahatma Gandhi went begin by breaking British salt laws all over manifestations of sympathy that are the true of the RSS, tionary who did not wish to be named said into seclusion for two months, return- the country and Gandhi would be the first measure of human progress. who met that in 1963, Gandhi found a place in the ing with a decision that became a one to break them. Gandhi’s integration of a sympathy so Mahatma morning prayers recited by the swayamse- defining moment in India’s struggle “Salt!” the Congress leaders were incred- wide that it resonated with the inner voice of Gandhi in vaks (volunteers) because, “Soon after the I for independence. Shortly before, the ulous when he first told them at a hurriedly millions with an individuality so vigorous September assassination in 1948, the RSS leadership had passed summoned meeting. “Are you serious?” You that it facilitated the fearless carrying out of 1947. HT realised that it cannot debunk or demean a resolution demanding full independence expect us to make salt?” But Gandhi’s argu- his decisions, made him, in the words of the ARCHIVE Gandhi; because they would lose support from British rule; the next step in reaching ments and the good humour with which they German philosopher Nietzsche, “a Roman from the people.” this goal had been left to Gandhi. As the days were advanced soon convinced them. Salt Caesar with the heart of Jesus Christ” — a Another senior functionary said that the stretched into weeks, rumours began to swirl was a basic necessity of life. It could be easily hoped for leader of the future. We have had Sangh has kept Gandhi’s legacy alive by around Gandhi’s continuing silence. He is made by Indians, yet the British imposed and continue to have many Caesars who will focusing on issues that were important to retiring from the struggle, says one, the saint taxes on it and imposed strict control on its not be called great because they lack the him, such as rural development, cow protec- who had strayed into politics is returning to production. The letter Gandhi wrote to the heart of Christ. The reverse is also true: a tion, organic farming and swadeshi econ- the real business of saints, the pursuit of sal- British viceroy [Lord Irwin, dated March 2, heart full of compassion but a self that lacks Smriti Kak Ramachandran omy, among others. Has the RSS then, appro-

vation of the spirit. He is endorsing a violent 1930] informing him of the decision rang vigorous individuality also does not have the n [email protected] priated the legacy of Gandhi? movement to drive the British out, says with his characteristic authenticity. follow through required for a great leader. “I don’t think the RSS has ever attempted another; he has given up his faith in non vio- Addressing the viceroy as “Dear friend,” he The measure of a great leader — his or her n August 2017, 69 years after it was first to appropriate Gandhi. They need him to lence and will now exhort the youth of the writes, “My personal faith is absolutely synthesis of compassionate sympathy with banned in independent India for its keep the idea of a tolerant Hindu to remain in country to take up arms. clear. I cannot intentionally hurt anything a strong sense of the self that does not sink I alleged role in the assassination of popular memory so that the violence by Hin- Gandhi was silent for many days. What he that lives, much less fellow human beings, into overweening egotism — is conveyed Mahatma Gandhi, the Rashtriya Sway- dus finds justification,” said Ajay Gudav- was searching for was a form of collective even though they may do the greatest wrong through his or her being, and experienced as amsevak Sangh (RSS) through its think tank arthy, professor at Jawaharlal Nehru Uni- action that would capture the imagination to me or mine. Whilst, therefore, I hold the a felt authenticity that touches the ethical Prajna Pravah organised a two-day meeting versity. He also finds incongruity in the and rouse the spirit of the poorest of India’s British rule to be a curse, I do not intend core in our psyches. The voice of ethics in our at Gandhi Darshan, neighbouring Raj Ghat, Sangh and the BJP leadership’s stance on masses. Many expected that his proposed harm to a single Englishman or to any legiti- psyche, like the voice of reason, is low, some- in the national capital. RSS chief Mohan Godse. For instance, when Bhopal Member movement would follow the time honoured mate interest he may have in India. (…) I times hardly more than a whisper, yet it is Bhagwat was among those present. of Parliament Pragya Thakur chose to glorify path of civil disobedience: a refusal to pay regard this tax on salt to be most iniquitous insistent and demands a hearing even if at Critics of the Sangh fumed at what they Godse as a patriot in the run up to the 2019 taxes to the government; the of its from a poor man’s standpoint. As the inde- times it is drowned out by the roars of desire, saw as insolence to the memory of Gandhi, elections, the party high com- law courts. But Gandhi was looking for some- pendence movement is essentially for the aggression, and narcissism. but the Sangh — accused of mentoring Nat- mand including Prime Minister Narendra thing that touched the life of every villager, poorest in the land, the beginning will be To repeat, it is the perceived authenticity huram Godse, who shot Gandhi in cold blood Modi condemned her comments, yet no disci- and one morning he suddenly announced his made by this evil.” of leaders, of all institutions, that earn them in the evening of January 30, 1948 — stuck to plinary action was taken against her. “The decision: salt. India’s freedom struggle would Today, in the months following India’s the sobriquet of “great”, not promises, plans, its argument. Its relationship with Gandhi is PM will never excuse Pragya Thakur but will 2019 general election, as the nation contem- the language of their vision statements, the wrongly perceived. take no action…this has been the standard plates its newly elected leadership, it is rhetoric of their speeches or the power of Since its first ban was revoked in 1949 (the method of the RSS,” Gudavarthy said. amidst a palpable pining for a great leader their oratory. organisation was banned thrice since Inde- The Sangh for its part draws attention to Sympathy, as understood in the spirit of Mahatma such as Mahatma Gandhi, whose authentic This piece is based on an essay from psychoanalyst pendence, the first in the immediate after- its little-known ties with Gandhi. Gandhi, is the highest manifestation of the human soul voice resonates with the ethical core in our Sudhir Kakar’s forthcoming book, ‘Brotherhood is now a math of the Mahatma’s assassination), the RSS literature is full of references to Gan- psyches. Six qualities functioning together in distant aspiration: Essays on Gandhi’ RSS has tried to disassociate itself from dhi’s interaction with the volunteers at Godse and Mahasabha, an organi- Wardha, his address to the cadre in Septem- sation established in 1915. Senior functiona- ber 1947, and his conversation with founder ries of the RSS contest the claims of those KB Hedgewar, as well as his admiration for who accuse the ideological mentor of the the absence of caste distinction in shakhas. MK GANDHI’S LIFE AS SEEN FROM INSIDE A GLASS BOX (BJP) for being anti- member and author Rakesh thetical to Gandhian philosophy. Sinha said the RSS and Gandhi found com- n The Mani According to Shridhar Damle, who has mon ground on key issues. “They agreed on Bhavan co-authored two books on the RSS with Wal- issues related to Indian culture, value system museum in ter Andersen, including The RSS: A view to and rejected the European model of econ- Mumbai has a the inside, pinning the blame on the RSS for omy. The RSS and Gandhi both believed that set of unique the assassination was a political move. untouchability or any kind of narrow iden- glass displays “When the trial [against the assassins] hap- tity were dangerous to Hindu society and rea- with figurines pened in February 1949, Savarkar was sons for division,” he said. depicting acquitted but the other seven who were asso- Sinha’s assertions are contested by SN incidents from ciated with the Hindu Mahasabha were held Sahu, press secretary to former President Gandhi’s life, guilty; yet it was only the RSS that was K.R.Narayanan. “There is no common such as (left) banned, not the Hindu Mahasabha. The work ground between the RSS and Gandhi. While his meeting that the RSS Svyamasevaks did during parti- Gandhi’s approach towards Hinduism was with the British tion in ; protection of Hindus that broad inclusive and constructively critical, monarch included Jain, Sikh, Arya Samajis, Sanatani, the RSS promotes exclusion and hatred in the George V in , Nirahankari etc, bringing Hindus name of Hinduism. This has been affirmed by 1931 and his from Pakistan, offering them shelter, created none other than Sardar Patel. One should be assassination a lot of goodwill for them. The Congress saw mindful of the fact that Gandhi also looked at in 1948. the RSS as a political threat. In October 1947 Hinduism critically and pointed out its AALOK SONI/HT during a conference of chief ministers, a ban numerous faults by turning the search light on RSS was sought,” he said. inwards,” Sahu said.