Blood and tear soaked footmarks

Original Source: https://www.jeyamohan.in/6028/

Date: 1-Jan-2010

 

In early July'97, retired IAS officer V. Ramamurthy went to the office of 'The Hindu' newspaper, met with its editor N. Ravi and asked whether he would be interested in publishing as a series, his upcoming work on 'the last 200 days of Gandhi' in his newspaper. Ramamurthy remarked that Gandhi's last days had the makings of a Greek tragedy. Ravi agreed to it.

Half a century back, Gandhi was killed on 30-Jan-1948 - a Friday. Similarly, 30-Jan-1998 was a Friday. The series on Gandhi's last 200 days began on that day with sketches from Keshav - 'The Hindu's cartoonist. The series ran continuously and concluded by 200th day. It was later published as a book.

Bharathi Puthakalayam published in 2007 its tamil translation by K. Ilakkuvan. This is quite an important work among those about Gandhi in Tamil. It provides an experience of co-travelling with Gandhi in those historically volatile days. Though its devoid of any fiction, this book can be read only as a great tragic epic, that chokes our heart.

Gandhi's last 200 days were enormously painful for him, when fate scrutinized whether he was indeed a Mahatma. The Gandhi till then was a deeply self confident soul. His speeches and letters would always be portraying his strength in standing with the truth and his confidence in his belief that truth would triumph under any circumstances. These were the days when that confidence was shaken.

Because Gandhi drew that self-confidence due to his confidence in human altruism. Gandhi firmly believed that human mind can seek only truth and empathy. The 'Satyagraha movement' he advocated was based on this confidence. Trusting that even one's enemy possesses a conscience and attempting to speak to that conscience via ours is Satyagraha. Gandhi saw that confidence being shattered right before his eyes. It befell on him to see by himself through history, the rewards of his ideals.

During that period, like the crucified Jesus wailing as to why He was forsaken, Gandhi too lost his confidence. He was subjected to deep anguish and intense misery. He stood stupefied in front of humanity's barbarism and vulgarity in its extremes. He doubted his spiritual purity and went through voluntary self suffering. Still, even then, with a firm grip in his confidence, he crossed the river of blood. He went through these, holding up the lamp of his truth amidst treachery, calumny, hateful protest and neglect.

Therefore Gandhi's last days showcased to the world who he truly was. Even his fiercest enemies were astounded before the greatness of his sacrifice. For the past half century, world's greatest historians have been discussing about his last days with intense vigor. The events of that period have been cited time and again. Today, historians are writing that it is the story of how an individual's dedication triumphed where a huge army failed.

This book is the direct recording of those two hundred days. On 15th July of 1947, Gandhi was staying in the colony of sanitation workers in Delhi. He had just returned having completed a peaceful march in Bihar, where a massive religious conflict broke out. In Delhi, stormy political discussions were going on. While returning to Delhi his pocket watch that he wears by his waist had gone missing. It was the first ever India-made watch. This event, described in the first paragraph of this book, feels like a novel's opening and an intricate allegory.

In this book, Gandhi does three things every single day. Gandhi meets with common people throughout the day. People throng to his place in great numbers, sans any barriers, complaining and discussing with him. Meanwhile, the Congress leaders, journalists and the political strategists that would be forming the Indian government keep consulting him. In the evenings, he speaks at a prayer meeting without fail. He acts as the bridge between the Indian government formation and the crores of common people. In the evenings, beyond all these dramas, he stands as a prophet preaching about the enduring human values to all of them.

The day before, Gandhi speaks about his agony of the nation being divided. He says that he doesn't like people being divided for any reason whatsoever. Gandhi expresses in anguish filled words about humans nurturing enmity and killing each other, while also preaching to the people gathered there that they must trust in humanity's empathy. He remarks that it is dangerous to focus only on the negative aspects of others.

Perhaps, that was indeed Gandhi's message. The politics till that day was operating on the duality of us x others. To perceive 'others', was the foundation of politics. Destroying that line was Gandhi's accomplishment. The gist of Gandhian approach is that those we are fighting against aren't our enemies rather they too are our people. Gandhi kept insisting throughout his life that one should not perceive his fellow human being as 'the other', and to reject anything that creates the notion of 'the others' via religion, caste or oppression.

Every single day, he kept repeating the same to anyone he saw. Next day, he says that every Indian must get introduced to the languages and the habits of the other sections of people, must reject narrow-minded provincial fanaticism and that true nationalism lies only in these sort of approaches. Another day, he writes in a letter - "Those who endeavor to achieve great things require immense patience".

On August 13, Gandhi stayed in a Muslim colony with the Muslim leader, Suhrawardy, an open communalist and a selfish politician. Under his leadership, Muslims had slaughtered Hindus. But when Hindu youths from the countryside gathered and started revenge attacks, Suhrawardy got caught in the melee along with his kin. He surrendered to Gandhi to save them. In order to save Muslims from Hindu fanatics, Gandhi came there with Suhrawardy and it was arranged that they both would be staying in a dilapidated, odious place called Hyderi Manzil.

Gandhi saved Suhrawardy from an Hindu fanatic mob, that pulled him out of his car and tried killing him. He pleaded with them to listen to him. A slender-shouldered father figure calmed them. But they cursed him, questioning as to where he was when Hindus were being executed by the dozen. They asked whether he would be able to stop the killings of Hindus occurring even then. But he kept insisting to them on non-violence. He advised them to move ahead with patience towards mutual understanding. 

"I shall just surrender myself in your protection. You can turn against me or do whatever you choose to. I have perhaps come to the end of the journey of my life. I do not have a long way left now. But, if you so choose to give way to foolishness, let me not be a living witness to it". They didn't calm down. They were hurt deeply and were seething with rage. Yet, they couldn't disobey him.

Next day, the morning before independence, those ferocious youngsters returned. They swore at him and cursed him weeping. But he again emphasized to them on patience, non-violence and trust towards fellow human beings. It was gradually proved that miracles could indeed happen. The youngsters calmed down before him, shunned violence obeying his words. Calcutta returned to peace completely.

In the prayer meeting held that evening, he asserted that both India and Pakistan have the responsibility to ensure peaceful coexistence among people. He urged that on 15th of August, the Independence Day, people must observe fast and pray for the welfare of India and Pakistan. Suhrawardy presented himself in the prayer meeting, accepted full responsibility for the  mass killings of Hindus under his leadership and pleaded with the Hindus for forgiveness.

On 15th August, the whole nation was hailing Gandhi, while in Delhi Nehru and Patel formed the new Indian Government with the backdrop of Gandhi's picture. But Gandhi was in Beliaghata, the area worst affected by the riots. He was on fast. His call for peace had spread, with Hindus and Muslims undertaking a joint peace procession. As dusk fell, an atmosphere of jubilation and revelry had started to form.

Even as he had woken up at 3 AM that morning, it was almost 11 PM when he retired to bed. After having slept for just three hours, he started spinning his charkha. Later he went for his morning walk. The dilapidated building had been completely sanitized and converted into an Ashram by Gandhi and his followers.

The chapters of this spectacular book develops like the events of an epic. Humanity's cruelties were all sprawled before his eyes. Gandhi is marching ahead purely trusting his spiritual strength. Dark souls get enlightened and bow before his greatness. But he keeps marching as if aiming for an even bigger enlightenment. These are the pages that can be read only with teary eyes by anyone with conscience.

On 25th January 1948, Gandhi wrote this in a letter. "I am a servant of the god Ram. I shall do his bidding till he wishes. If he offers me a death that illustrates the strength of truth and non-violence, I would've triumphed in the goal of my life. If I had followed it wholeheartedly, and had worked with God as my witness, He would bless me such a death. If someone kills me, I must not develop any anger towards him. I should die chanting God's name...". He had been briefed about attempts on his life.

Five days later, on 30th Jan 1948, Nathuram Godse killed Gandhi in his prayer meeting. This book concludes with this crescendo akin to the emotional high provided by an epic novel. This books is an epic where the highest morality of our times radiates in every single line. Books like these that helps us purify our souls with the purest of tears are quite rare.

 

Mahatma Gandhi - The Last 200 Days - V. Ramamurthy. Translated in Tamil by: K. Ilakkuvan. Published by Bharathi Puthakalayam - Chennai.

 

References:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16078358-from-the-pages-of-the-hindu---mahatma-gandhi---the-last-200-days?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=iFOgx02uE5&rank=1

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hindu

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huseyn_Shaheed_Suhrawardy

https://www.google.co.in/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://wbhc.in/gandhi_life_museum&ved=2ahUKEwjUgPfOt6OMAxWqa_UHHbZSADIQFnoECBcQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0uBDe4R7324Isdw5AKXjg5

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beliaghata

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinning_wheel