Lage raho Munnabhai
I recently read a news story that tirelessly applauds the latest bollywood flick lage raho munnabhai. The story also explains the movie's effect on general indian public. I was surprised that the movie received a lot of praise from people who hadn't watched a movie in years; from management institutes; from school headmasters and from parents. Free tickets were being given out at management schools, high schools and even software companies.
The state government in andhra Pradesh has decided to waive the entertainment tax for the movie. Cinema theater managements are getting ready to screen special shows at reduced prices.
The reason: The movie shows Gandhian principles in a fresh light and it is important for today's youth and children to realize the importance of believeing and following them. The principles of satyagraha and nonviolence, the art of offering the other cheek when you receive a blow on the first one, the point in being truthful all the time and probably many more that I am ignorant of.
First off, who verified these principles?
Do these principles work? Can the basic human nature of retaliating and seeking revenge be curbed? Did somebody prove that curbing basic human traits is safe emotinally and psychologically? For example, (and i might be wrong here) the way priests turn pedophiles and gay just because they curb their sexual desires? Do we really know that Gandhi's principles have brought us freedom? If so, why was he assasinated. What is the assasin's defence?
Did the British just leave the country for reasons other than satyagraha like the second world war or maybe subhash chandra bose or maybe because there was nothing left of India?
Are Gandhian principles India's saving face?
Lage raho India.
3 comments:
I do agree that the movie got more than its share in the limelite jus becoz they have used Gandhi - though i feel what they have shown is nothing more than a caricature, it has atleast brought him back in the nation's memory. However, i cannot agree with what you have said about him. He is much more than that.
I agree he had his own eccentricities and frailities, yet he was able to overcome that and unite a nation that is as diverse as ours. It has also become fashionable not to like Gandhi and blame him for everything that is wrong in our society....I request everyone to read his autobiography, you will get know the person behind the Mahatma we see in the movies and in our history books (thats wat i am doing now).
Trying to remember Gandhi and bring him back into nations memory is like a disease; a periodic dose of peace loving outlook that is injected into the blood of every indian which will oprobably lead this country to its grave.
Comparing Gandhi to the other freedom fighters of this country is a sin. there are so many great fighters that no one has even heard of. I was talking to my roomate today and was surpised to learn he has never heard of alluri sitarama raju. He surrendered to the British to stop them from torturing innocent tribals of AP for his whereabouts. Gandhis's fast unto death to stop the hindus from killing muslims in calcutta(to be noted carefully, he was nowhere to be seen when muslims were killing hindus which was a precursor to this incident. is this because the muslims dont give a damn about him?) does not actually show any self sacrificing nature.
About autobiographies, I will definitely read it soon, but I guess I will take it with a pinch of salt. Afterall, if anybody would read my autobiography, they would probably worship me too.
"if anybody would read my autobiography, they would probably worship me too."
that tells the difference between us and him (i am nt telling that he was God....), but if you read his book you will atleast appreciate his honesty.....
As for his ideas being "utopian", well it depends on how you see it....i for one don't think it was utopian.
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