Mohandas Gandhi is NOT really respected and revered, even in India. If there were the case, then would his term "Harijan" have been so callously replaced by the nonsensical term "Dalit"?
Let us pledge to use only the term Harijan from now on. Only then can we say that we respect Gandhi.
I think Gandhi was a decent spiritual man who really wanted harmony but the Hindu militants like RSS disliked his model of peaceful religiosity and communal harmony. Even to this day, Nehru remains the face of a real and only true leader of an India that was sprouting into great nation. As an Indian Muslim I find it interesting that Nehru inspite of represnting a Hindu image also represented a modern and progressive image that is now lacking. People in other countries, be it Pakistan, USA, UK, Egypt, Iran, and China have a larger than life impression of Nehru. They still remember how he visited these foreign lands and people the world over were in awe of everything about him..right from his famous Nehru-cut jacket to his erudite persona and graceful skill of communication. Even India Gandhi was overshadowed by her father. After Rajiv's death India really became lackluster and remains so inspite of all the economic gain when it comes having a great leader. When you see all the nations' leaders at the UN together you just wish that either Rajiv or Nehru were at the helm.
Re: Personality drought!
by hindian on Oct 02, 2008 05:27 PM Permalink
All leaders have good and bad sides but we must not forget that both Nehru and Rajieve were leaders in an era which was dominated by a single party. They were larger than life leaders and we are still paying for thier idiosynchracies. While Nehru was erudite but his legacy of Kashmir continues to fester even today and the same is true for Rajieve. He might have moved us to new frontiers but his bad decisions led to tumultous periods like Anti-Sikh Riots , Bofors , IPKF, Shah Bano Case, Unlocking of Ram-Temple gates etc.. were events that changed the course of the country for ever. His indecision and ambiguity about secularism led to the Rise of BJP to an extent that is now an alternative power to Congress. Particulary SHAH BANO case was a water-shed event that drove a lot of secular minded moderate hindus to the fold of rightist groups. The Nehru Clan's stong desire to be around throne also led to Language Riots in late 60s which was responsible for the southern dislike for the Hindi. What has marked the mindset of Ghandi's/Nehru is lack of ideology , where they took decisions devoid of ideology with the intent of appeasing everyone. They may have been good at PR but their record for country's uplift is really nothing to make an Indian Proud. Their mindset is reflected in the way the Congress party is at present , an undemocratic institution to just keep Ghandi's at the helm of affairs. An institution where a leader like Arjun Singh has to say Madam to be recognized.
must have said some nonsense like this to fleece some money out of gullible Hindus. The fellow has to raise money, so is spreading lies like gandhi is my inspiration, I wear a Hanuman charm, and such nonsense. just as smooth snake oil salesman
Of course the Indian padres and the mullahs will never give money in the name of gandhi. For them gandhi is a useful weapon to attack hindus, some nonsense like "who killed gandhi" or some sich trash.
RE:RE:Gandhiji - truth and non-violence
by Praveen George on Jul 12, 2008 05:11 AM Permalink
I join you, every day life is excellent platform to test gandhis approach to fight injustice, some one abuses you , smile at him.See the difference that makes on him as well as you. Gandhi is the maan.
RE:Gandhiji - truth and non-violence
by kitttigadu on Jul 12, 2008 08:27 AM Permalink
Do you also plan to take Bramhacharya, force your wife to clean your shit with her hands,deny your wife pencillin when she is suffering from pneumonia and allow her to die out of some misplaced trust in god, save your a**se six months later, when you are dying of malaria by taking pencillin, disgust your eldest son so much that he runs away from home, advice Jews to surrender to Hitler and commit race suicide, etc. etc.
RE:Gandhiji - truth and non-violence
by Rajendra Rao on Jul 12, 2008 06:04 AM Permalink
And let me analyze this statement from Sharky:
"I firmly believe that truth will always prevail and no amount of lies can suppress the truth in long run. "
How many mooslems believe that Jewsih holocaust happened? Did truth prevail in this case? And, hoa many mooslems beleive Hindu holocaust happened during Islamic rule of India? If you were to believe mooslems, they talk as though Hindus lived in a land of honey and milk under Moghul rule.
RE:Gandhiji - truth and non-violence
by kitttigadu on Jul 12, 2008 05:51 AM Permalink
True you are also a firm believer that the goat should bend its head, so that you mullahs can eat mutton. Aren't you ??
RE:Gandhiji - truth and non-violence
by Rajendra Rao on Jul 12, 2008 05:34 AM Permalink
Ha! Loan Shark again with deep thoughts.
I think Gandhi did a lot of harm to India, from annointing Nehru to lead india, Muslim appeasement, Kashmir problem, etc.
Non-violence does not change everyone, especiallty terrorist mooslems. Ask Daniel Pearl about it- he was non-violent, pleading for his life, but his head was cut off anyway.
Humans are still evolving from lower life forms, and some just do not understand non-violent methods. Just kill.em, get rid of evil by any means.
As for Obama- sure he will say anything to get votes.
Don't forget that this eventually caused the partition.
And Gandhi gave 550 million rupees to Pak as parting gift.
And the appesement also gave a permenant issue with the muslims that, unfortunetly, remained in India.
Muslims in India enjoy unique proviledges - Muallhas are paid salries by the govt while the hindu temples are taxed...no kidding! And many other additional subsidies and benifits under various laws and incentives.
Its fashinoble to assosicate with Gandhi but it will screw the country....enjoy!
RE:That in itself is a serious problem.
by Loan Shark on Jul 11, 2008 11:15 PM Permalink
RSS waalon ne 80 yo Gandhiji ko prayer ke time dhoke se maar diya
RE:That in itself is a serious problem.
by Loan Shark on Jul 11, 2008 11:25 PM Permalink
Godse was a RSS man, he was a Hindu mahasabha member
No amount of argument, whether with Muslims enjoying benefits or whatever, can justify the killing of Mahatama by RSS, that too when he was doing prayers.
RE:That in itself is a serious problem.
by Praveen George on Jul 12, 2008 05:13 AM Permalink
So still protecting RSS is your concern and not standing up and say Godse is guilty of murdering a practicing hindu in the name of hindu fanaticism
RE:That in itself is a serious problem.
by Rajendra Rao on Jul 12, 2008 05:37 AM Permalink
Loan shark needs a swim in salt water, he is sodium deprived- nothing works in the brain without Na .
RE:That in itself is a serious problem.
by kitttigadu on Jul 12, 2008 05:36 AM Permalink
He did. So what ?? And he was a former RSS, Hindu Mahasabha, and congress member. So the point is ??
RE:Enough with this hanuman monkey god already!
by Amit Ketkar on Jul 11, 2008 11:09 PM Permalink
corpseworshipper = Christian Idolworshipper = Hindu Koranworshipper = Muslim Budhhaworshipper = Buddhist
But wait isn't God omniscient? They all agree God is. Omniscient means he is in the corpse, in the idol, in the koran and in the Buddha. So then by my math:
corpseworshipper = Christian = Idolworshipper = Hindu = Koranworshipper = Muslim = Budhhaworshipper = Buddhist = GodWorshipper
Hmmmmm, this way there appears to be no difference between them. But what do I know :)
RE:Enough with this hanuman monkey god already!
by Loan Shark on Jul 11, 2008 11:20 PM Permalink
who are you preaching all this to?
these RSS wallahs have been taught over their lifetime to hate others and RSS fills you with so much hate that one day when you look yourself in the mirror, you hate yourself too.
RE:Enough with this hanuman monkey god already!
by kitttigadu on Jul 12, 2008 05:53 AM Permalink
what about your desert cult. Does it teach you to love children, comeon, your leader certainly made his love known to a nine year old.
RE:Enough with this hanuman monkey god already!
by Vinay Kumar on Jul 11, 2008 11:38 PM Permalink
Similar reasoning....God is all powerful and all good. If he is all powerful, why can't he prevent evil. If he can prevent evil, but does not want to, then he cannot be all good.
Check out the rationalist international website, or look up Sanal Edamaruku and how he debunked these ridiculous god men of India. It's a great laugh!
RE:Enough with this hanuman monkey god already!
by Amit Ketkar on Jul 12, 2008 12:06 AM Permalink
Well, do your remember what the Bhagvad Geeta has to say. The Bhagvad Geeta is truly an authority, and it says that in this world everything is temporary. Good and Evil are both the nature of duality. But this duality itself is an illusion. So what do you make of Good and Evil, or Hot and Cold ?? They are temporary at best. According to the Bhagvad Geeta the soul is birthless and deathless, all evil in this world is not sufficient to destroy the soul. The only reality in the Universe is the soul, all else is "maya" and bound to be created and destroyed. Until we are in this "Maya" we will feel the duality, i.e. the Good and the Evil. The true path of all religions is to rise above this duality by concentrating instead on the Reality as "Loan Shark" mentioned.
RE:Enough with this hanuman monkey god already!
by Vinay Kumar on Jul 12, 2008 12:37 AM Permalink
The problem in your argument is that you assume that the BG is true and that leads you to believe in the soul, etc. etc. I've heard the same type of wordy nonsense from my bible thumping friends. So far, the soul,ghost,reincarnation thing has never held up to any scientific study (not the pseudo science stuff which lacks any rigor). Seriously, check out the rationalist international website.
RE:RE:Enough with this hanuman monkey god already!
by Amit Ketkar on Jul 12, 2008 01:30 AM Permalink
how about you read the Bhagvad Geeta and try to understand it and I read the rationalist international website and try to understand it. You know like all duality, either you believe in the existence of God, or you don't :) See everything in this world is dual.
RE:Enough with this hanuman monkey god already!
by Vinay Kumar on Jul 11, 2008 11:07 PM Permalink
I'm an atheist. I reasonably certain that all these religions (yes, including Hinduism) are full of childish stories. Silly people.
Obama has to watch out. The USA cannot be vegetarianized like India...it risks partition, more terror bullying, bullying, more tragedies, homelessness from millions of refugees like in India...riots over hair of the prophet, fiasco over alimony from divorce of Shah Banoos...Obama, if you do get elected which I very much doubt at this stage, please be more of a Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln than Gandhiji. Gandhi ji of course you must preach, not practice. Got it???
RE:Gandhiji great inspiration Bad politics
by Amit Ketkar on Jul 11, 2008 10:28 PM Permalink
The power that Mahatma Gandhi wielded was immense. It is sad that you do not consider the Mahatma and his teachings to be of any value. Mahatma Gandhi taught us self reliance and a way to uplift our villages. Ever try a non voilent protest against opression and you will know how much courage and strength it requires. It is sad that Mahatma Gandhi is respected more outside India then within, kind of like Yoga which the west is absorbing like a sponge and India neglects. It is mostly the new generation that reject Mahatma Gandhi, maybe because we never lived in his time.
RE:Gandhiji great inspiration Bad politics
by Calspadeaspade on Jul 11, 2008 10:40 PM Permalink
West needs Mahathma Gandhi not India.THere was more than enough violence there. He was born in a wrong place. India needed Patel, Bose and Bhagath singh.
RE:Gandhiji great inspiration Bad politics
by Amit Ketkar on Jul 11, 2008 11:00 PM Permalink
Oh He was born in the right place. Only in India would we value peace, the kind the Mahatma preached. Can you imagine the whole country following him to make salt in dandi. He knew the pulse of the nation in his time. Ever see that happen anywhere else in the world? So many others take inspiration from him, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Aang Sang Su Kyi to name few.
RE:Gandhiji great inspiration Bad politics
by karthi p on Jul 12, 2008 12:32 AM Permalink
Well they did exist but it was Gandhi's method that appealed and worked. One has to understand that people just followed him voluntarily. They were not forced. I do appreaciate Bose and have high regards for him. But imagine what would have happened if he was successful in getting Hitler to India ?
