MUSING

The one issue Gandhi would have taken up…

Mumbai: What is the one issue Gandhi would have taken up today? Answers differ from displacement to education to female foeticide and decentralization. Sudarshan Iyengar, Gandhian and Vice Chancellor of Gujarat Vidyapith said, “Gandhiji would have gone on Satyagraha to protest against the enormous control that the state exercises over natural resources in the country.” Rajni Bakshi, author of ‘Bapu Kuti’ agrees with Iyengar. “I think Gandhi would have chosen to protest against massive displacement that is taking place today under so-called government projects and schemes,” she says.

 Protesting against violation of women’s rights came next. “I am sure Gandhi would have protested against female feticide that we see happening now more than ever before,” says Bakshi. Ramesh Oza, Gandhian and founder of the Sandipani Vidyaniketan School in Porbandar says that Gandhi would have been sure to protest against exploitation of women as commodities through advertisements and other mediums.

Considering the deplorable state of literacy in the country, it is no wonder that education makes it to this list too. “We have not been able to provide education to every citizen even 60 years after independence,” says Bakshi. “Commercialization of education is rampant in the country. Gandhiji would have definitely protested against education turning into a money making business in our country,” says Iyengar. He hastens to add that the battle would be against commercialization of education and not privatization.

Social activist Mayank Gandhi who is a key member of the non-violent India against Corruption movement says that Gandhiji would have campaigned wholeheartedly against decentralization of power. “Gandhiji worked all his life against concentration of power in the hands of a few. That is exactly what has happened today.” He says that it is because of power being concentrated at the top that villages are in such a very poor state. “Through decentralization of power, Gandhiji would have worked towards empowering the villages in our country which have been forsaken since a very long time.”

Gandhi also says that there is no doubt that Gandhiji would have protested against corruption in all spheres. “But he wouldn’t have wasted so much time on discussion as Gandhians now do. He would have jumped straight into the battle against corruption and led by example,” he adds.

Tushar Gandhi, great-grandson of Mahatma Gandhi is of the same opinion as Mayank Gandhi. “He would have campaigned against abuse of power that is so rampant today,” says Gandhi.

“That would have an automatic effect toward changing society as a whole for the better,” says Gandhi.

Chaitra Redkar, a professor of political science at SNDT College says that Gandhi fought inequality when he was alive and that is what he would always continue to fight against. “Inequality is so ingrained in our society. Gandhi would have not only fought inequality but also integrated different people’s movements so that there wouldn’t be so much fragmentation in movements,” she says.

Asghar Ali Engineer, Chairman of Centre for Study of Society and Secularism says that it is pointless having roads and buildings and colonies named after Gandhi when we don’t respect and follow his principles.

“Non-violence is fundamental to his philosophy and we don’t practice non-violence. Gandhi would have gone on Satyagraha to have a different development model – a model that would have its foundations in non-violence and truth and not hypocrisy,” he asserts.