Gandhiji's true legacy

In a few days from now, famous UK auction house Christie's is going to auction off a bunch of letters written by Mahatma Gandhi just days before his assassination. These letters were written for the journal "The Harijan" and asked Hindus and Muslims to unite and forget their differences. Because they were his last letters, there is a significant amount to sentimental value attached to them. And predictably, many Gandhians and NGO groups are going all over town urging the government to acquire these letters and reclaim the legacy of the Mahatma. The government cannot directly take part in the auction and thus is trying to use diplomatic channels to stop the the auction, though the prospects of this happening look bleak since the seller is a private enterprise and auction is taking place in an open market.

But here, there is an important point to ponder. Do a few letters, represent the true legacy of a man who not only led India to independence, but also helped end the distasteful practice of Apartheid? Is the message of the Mahatma getting lost in midst of mindless symbolism by us Indians?

How sincerely are the Gandhian principles of honesty and non-violence being followed in modern day India?

From the peon in the government offices, to the babus and the netalog, everyone is swimming in the dark and murky waters of corruption which is polluting the lives and minds of a 100 crore Indians. Be it getting a driver's license or a passport or a transfer or even a job, one has to dole out money to people just to make them do the job for which the government and the taxpayer is paying them for. No large building project or tender is awarded until significant kickbacks are promised to the ministers.

Another of Gandhiji's much preached principles is Ahimsa or non-violence. It meant so much to him, that he called off the nationwide agitation Non Co-operation movement because of the stray incidents of violence in Chauri-Chaura. But today violence is become a part and parcel of life. Communal riots take place, many people in the country live under the constant shadow of insurgency and terrorism, a community holds the whole nation to ransom for a week demanding ST status. On the slightest provocation people take to the streets burning buses and damaging public property, despite the fact that these are paid from the very money paid by them as taxes.

WE have countless roads, cities and towns named after the Mahatma. Statues, memorial museums. Every government office has a framed photo of Gandhiji, his image is what appears on the currency note, his birthday is a national holiday and every organization observes one minute silence to honour him on Martyrs day. But what is the use of all this symbolic honour and respect when we fail to follow his teachings and stray from the path he dreamed for our country?

Its about time that we realized that the true legacy of the Mahatma is not in the letters he wrote for us, but rather in his ideology that we are so conveniently ignore while complaining that the government is not doing enough to honour the great soul.