October 2nd, 2007 like every year was ‘Gandhi Jayanti’. When the day started, and when it got over. I have no clue. Maybe I have become one of those people who has no time for anything but for themselves.

When I was in Chandigarh, I used to frequent the Gandhi Bhavan often to pick up books and while away time. I had read his autobiography too. I think it changed my life in many ways. Even now, many times when we are faced with problems, it could be with authority, the state or life. Why do we think of the most violent ways to put forth our reservations?

True, the results using a non-violent approach seem remote but they have been achieved. Our independence is the prime example. On would argue that in the case independence, we were all united and since there were more people for the cause it had more effect. True, don’t you feel there was a reason for all the unity? Yeah, there was. Sanity.

My friends and I often had the discussion about Gandhi. Well there are quite a lot of misconceptions like ‘he slept with his sister’, he always thought more about Muslims and so on. But what is the basis for all this? I could never find reasoning or facts to support the same. Why, Pakistan was formed was perhaps because of tantrums by the Muslim community leaders. One had to give in to salvage what was ours. The whole idea and foundation on which Pakistan was formed was a farce. When Muslims were given the option to either stay or leave why do think so many chose to stay back. India also has more number of Muslims than the population of Pakistan. (Now).

Another major point of contention has been why Nehru was made the Prime Minister over Sardar Patel. I myself wonder about the same, but one must give benefit of doubt to Gandhi over this decision. Unlike Nehru, Sardar was a man of few words and would never openly speak up on such matters. Maybe, Sardar never wanted to be the PM and he knew he would be needed as a the Home Minister especially when so much had to be done and nation had to be built. Maybe, we’ll never know. But the reason we remember his is because of all that he did during his tenure, and unification of a divided country. Only Sardar would have had the guts and resolve to do the same.

After 59 years of his assassination, and after four nominations to Nobel prize (and still not winning the same), we must think for once: For a man loved and cherished world wide, why are his own people not on his side? Worldwide, people would remember India for what he taught to the world. A simple man with high beliefs and he did it with a white cloth, a stick and cart loads of courage, we can only dream of having.