A BOOK ON GANDHI: CAN THE AUTHOR BE CHARGED FOR SEDITION?

A BOOK ON GANDHI: CAN THE AUTHOR BE CHARGED FOR SEDITION?

By

Lt Gen PG Kamath (Veteran)

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I just read the book ‘Catching up with Gandhi’ by Graham Turner published by Penguin Books of India in 2010.? The author, a former BBC correspondent whose friendship with Rajmohan Gandhi lasted forty years in 2010.? The reader may infer a suitable addition to the length of their friendship, the year he reads the book.? To those uninformed, Rajmohan Gandhi is the grandson of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.? Rajmohan accompanied the author to places where Mohandas stayed and worked in India.? Rajmohan also arranged for his visit to South Africa through his cousin Ela Gandhi who resides there.? Hence the grandchildren of Mohandas facilitated the author to write the book on their grandfather.? As I see, Rajmohan travelled with him throughout his visit to India; obviously acting as his mentor.? The author also owns up in the preface that he knew precious little of Gandhi at the beginning. It appears he has written the book basically; what his two grandchildren wanted him to write about. Before you remonstrate, Rajmohan himself has written a biography on his grandfather, Mohandas entitled ‘Gandhi: The Man, His People, and the Empire’, running to over 750 pages.? I have not read it and do not intend to read it either.? All I can say is, Graham Turner’s book on Mohandas Gandhi is one too many as already enough of them are going around.?

The purpose of writing about this book is not for its redundancy but to highlight a certain part of the book that could cause disaffection among a section of our population.? Let me explain: The author is conversing with a Dalit named Babu Lal.? I will quote verbatim two paragraphs on page 306 of the book:

“Were there, though, any jobs which Dalits were actually forbidden to take, I (author) asked? ‘We can now become doctors, engineers, and bureaucrats ‘replied Babu Lal, ‘but on the 26th of January each year there is the Republic Day parade. In that parade, there are camels, elephants, and horses.? If they shit on the road, it is the people from our community who are in the Mathar Regiment – the sweepers’ regiment who have to walk behind and pick it up.”?

Babulal continues: “They were recruited as soldiers, but they can only belong to that sweepers’ regiment, they are not treated like other soldiers.? For example, they can never win any rewards for gallantry, even though we are just as brave as other men.”? The conversation continues; blah blah blah.?

Now let me have a fact check of this ignoramus conversation:? In the Indian Army we have a reputed regiment called ‘The Mahar Regiment’ and there is nothing called ‘The Mathar Regiment’ as referred to by the author.? The Mahar Regiment has soldiers from the Mahar Community of Maharashtra. Currently, it also has soldiers from across India who live by its glorious traditions.? The Mahar Regiment is one of the best Infantry regiments of the Indian Army. The regiment has fought all wars and has displayed unparalleled gallantry and covered itself with glory.? It has been honoured with a PVC the highest gallantry award in the Indian Army; besides it has 4 Maha Vir Chakra, 29 Vir Chakra, 1 Kirti Chakra, 12 Shaurya Chakra, 22 Vishisht Seva Medals and 63 Sena Medals. The figures could be outdated. It is one of the highest tallies among the regiments of the Indian Army.? Besides, the Regiment has the unique honour of having two Indian Army Chiefs, Gen Sunderji and Gen Krishna Rao.? With such a splendid war record of the Regiment, a fool called Babu Lal calls it the regiment that collects shit of the animals on Republic Day.? Never mind; Babulal is not accountable; but what about the Author and the mentor who allow such canards to be printed without verifying their authenticity?? Why did Rajmohan Gandhi also take his statement for granted without verification? The author, as a foreigner, has no love lost for our country or its Army; however, what about the mentor who is the progeny of the ‘Apostle of Truth’? Did it not strike him that the truth should be projected in a book that has been written at his behest?

The contents of the above-quoted para incite disaffection, disloyalty, and feelings of enmity among the Mahar community against our nation and amount to sedition. The author, publisher and printer are liable to be charged under IPC Sec 124A.? I think it is precisely for this reason they have misspelt ‘The Mahar Regiment’ as ‘The Mathar Regiment.’? However, I am sure the Court will infer the intent of publishing such seditious material. I am sure the ADG (PI) of the Indian Army and Centre Commandant of The Mahar Regimental Centre will take legal action against the concerned persons.

Before I toss the book out, let me bring out one more selective portrayal by the author where half-truths are paraded without giving out the whole story.? It is not even a crude attempt at prevarication but shamelessly blatant.? He writes about the Mumbai communal riots of 1993 without giving a prelude as to what happened in Dec 1992 and omitting altogether Mumbai Blasts of Mar 1993.? He talks about the savagery of the Gujarat riots without once mentioning the Godra train burning. It appears that the author aims to parade a divisive agenda of disaffection in our country.

I have seen the disciples of Mohandas Gandhi spread such misleading narratives and misinformation and lament that his ideals have been forgotten by the present generation.? This in turn gives them currency and brings them into the limelight from their anonymity.??

Mohandas Gandhi is history; he did what he did and did not do many other things which he could have done.? He is called the ‘Father of the Nation.’? The Nation is indeed grateful to him for what he did but history is unsparing. ?The jury is not yet out.? The doors of the cupboards have broken down and skeletons are tumbling out.? Satya Meva Jayate (Truth Alone Triumphs) from Mundaka Upanishad was adopted in 1918 by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, President of the Congress, and later it was enshrined for perpetuity in our National Symbol.? ??May the ‘Whole Truth Prevail’ in times to come.? Jai Hind!

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