Mahatma Gandhi was a staunch Hindu and definitely one of the earliest examples in Indian polity where religion was used for political purpose. Much ahead of BJP in 2014 or AIMIM in state polls.
One may blame the Lynch mobs in name of cow protection on the ruling party today, but the first Indian who propagated cow protection was Gandhi. He smartly interlinked religion to it to create a nucleus around which the independence movement could be taken forward. Gandhi's last utterance ever was "Hey Ram", the same For Ram who is at centre of a bitterly fought legal case in the Supreme Court right now.
But Gandhi's Hinduism was inclusive and accommodative rather than exclusive and reactionary. Gandhi had elaborated his taken Hinduism, "Hinduism is not an exclusive religion. In it, there is room for worship of all the prophets of the world. It is not a missionary religion in the ordinary sense of the term. Hinduism tells everyone to worship God according to his own faith or dharma, and so it lives at peace with all religions."
Gandhis Hinduism was an amalgamation of pragmatic use of religion for independence movement and upholding liberty. Though he was a firm believer of "Gau seva", something he would preach to his followers, he refused to give in to demands for a cow slaughter ban.
When Gandhi was told his preaching had deep effect and around 25,000 letters were sent from across the nation demanding a nation wide cow slaughter ban, he didn't give in. He had famously said, "I have another telegram which says that a friend has started a fast for this cause. In India no law can be made to ban cow-slaughter. I do not doubt that Hindus are forbidden the slaughter of cows. I have been long pledged to serve the cow but how can my religion also be the religion of the rest of the Indians? "
Gandhi's Hinduism was unique. One cannot brand it as black or white but his beliefs lay in the grey.
In 1928, during the First Annual Meeting of Federation of International fellowship at Sabarmathi Ashramam, Ahmedabad, he said, "All religions are almost as dear to me as my own Hinduism... The aim of the fellowship should be to help a Hindu to become better Hindu, a Mussalman to become a better Mussalman, and a Christian to become a better Christian"
In spite of such liberal take on Hinduism, when he had shared a stage with Veer Savarkar in London in the early 1900 on invitation of the Indian diaspora, he ended up agreeing with the Hindutva icon when he had said that all religions have a right to flourish in India but around the core religion which shall remain Hinduism.
Gandhi believed in Geeta but he had its own interpretations, he followed Hindu scriptures but also other religious scriptures. Gandhi saw violence in Geeta. In the columns of Young India, Gandhi's radical interpretation of the scripture started to appear, by 1931. Gandhi's sense of Hinduism made him read and re-reda Geeta but his sense of "ahimsa" or non violence made him allege the author of Geeta used war imageries liberally. Some of his interpretations and beliefs were so radical that it led to his assassination in January 30, 1984. During his trial, Nathuram Godse, who had pulled the trigger on Gandhi had claimed that "Gandhiji's views" had always been "detrimental to the Hindu community and its interests".
But in spite of that, for Gandhi, politics bereft of religion was "absolute dirt, ever to be shunned". Yet, he managed the contradictions that came along with it. Neither did he flash his Janeu like Rahul Gandhi, nor did he announce himself as a nonbeliever in God like our communists. He had balanced both. Gandhi's use of symbolism in politics was unparralel. Yet stayed firm to his beliefs.
The word religion comes from a Latin word ereligare'. It's meaning is eto bind again'. Gandhi's Hinduism was intended to bind a country together and fight in pursuit of independence. Different symbolism helped him bind the nation together.
"I could not live for a single second without religion", Gandhi had famously said. But he would also criticize the same religion to reform it. That was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.
Caption: Visit to the affected area of Ramganj on foot, November 25, 1946. (Photo Courtesy: mkgandhi. org)
India's per capita GDP growing faster than peers, reverses pre-2014 falling trend
Apart from India taking the big leap from the fragile five to the world's top five economies based on GDP in the last 10 years of the Narendra Modi government, an analysis by experts based on IMF data shows that the country's relative performance compared with its peers has also turned better which was not the case earlier.
Congress tried to block quota for SCs, STs, OBCs since beginning, say experts
Congress leader P. Chidambaram’s claim about the grand old party’s support for reservation has drawn flak from various quarters on social media, with experts pointing to the perceived inconsistencies between the party's rhetoric and its actions regarding reservation policies.
Mayor distributes cold water & watermelons to cleaning workers
Amidst the sweltering heat wave gripping Agartala and the wider state, Mayor Dipak Majumder of Agartala Municipal Corporation demonstrated proactive compassion by providing relief to sanitation workers.
Water Tanker Overturns in Khowai District, 9 Injured, 4 Critical
In a distressing incident in the Quicha Bari area under Tulashikhar block of Khowai district, a water tanker truck lost control, leading to a harrowing accident. The vehicle, while taking off, suddenly veered backward, leaving 9 injured while 4 among them are critical.
Three Bangladeshi youths held in Tripura
Tripura Police have arrested three Bangladeshi nationals from the Dharmanagar area in North District who reportedly entered Indian Territory a few months ago with the help of touts.
Returning Officer visit strong room; checks security arrangement, preparation for poll counting
While the state of Tripura preparing for the counting of polls to the 2 parliamentary constituencies, the Returning Officer of the West Tripura Parliamentary Seat Dr Vishal Kumar on Tuesday visited the string room here at Agartala Umakanta Academy and checked the security arrangement.
Those who looted the country will have to pay back: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that action against corrupt people would continue, and those who looted the country will have to pay back.
Congress and INDIA bloc making every effort to save Constitution: Rahul Gandhi
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said that his party and the INDIA bloc are making every effort to save the Constitution while the BJP, PM Narendra Modi and the RSS are bent on destroying it.