Our mental faculties have been repeatedly assaulted by the print and electronic media with the use of the prefix ‘Gandhian’ before the name of Anna Hazare. Could someone explain as to what exactly qualifies this activist to be bestowed a title of ‘Gandhian’?
From Anna’s biographies to his utterances and behaviour at Jantar Mantar and Ram Lila grounds, there is nothing really that qualifies as Gandhian ideology or methodology. Is it merely that he stays in a village and sports a Gandhi Topi now christened as ‘Anna Topi’ by fascists who have problems with Gandhian ideology? Is it about terrorizing a village into involuntary submission to abstinence from alcohol and tobacco that makes his methods Gandhian?
He has repeatedly stated that Bhagat Singh and Rajguru are his idols. We know that the path these two nationalists had adopted was in opposition to what Gandhiji was propagating. How is the comment from Anna, that the corrupt should be hanged in public to be classified as Gandhian?
The repeated verbal outbursts of Anna Hazare to humiliate the members of Parliament also do not have any similarities with what Gandhiji has advocated; viz. the path of Non-violence. For Gandhiji, non-violence was not only about restraint from physically harming another or destruction of property, but also involved disciplining one’s thoughts and words. Gandhiji said; “The first step in non-violence is that we cultivate in our daily life, as between ourselves, truthfulness, humility, tolerance and loving kindness.” Has Anna Hazare’s behaviour reflected these values as advocated by Gandhiji?
Does the fasts undertaken by Anna at the drop of a hat qualify as Gandhian Satyagraha? Gandhiji had said: ‘A genuine fast cleanses the body, mind and soul. It crucifies the flesh and to that extent sets the soul free.” So, does this justify the repeated outbursts from a fasting Anna who used offensive speech and instigated the people to march to Parliament and gherao politicians? For Gandhiji further said; “Since Satyagraha is a method of conversion and conviction, it seeks never to use the slightest coercion” Did the behaviour of Anna, since April, bear witness to any teaching of Gandhiji?
What exactly is Gandhian for the India Against Corruption? Is it about hurling abuses at select politicians? Is it about flooding the e-mail boxes with anonymous and unsolicited mails which defame and abuse select politicians? Is it about anonymous and unsolicited SMSs arousing passion and inviting uprisings? Is it about ridiculing those who have diverse views from those of the Anna Team? Is it about cowardice, hide and seek? Please tell me what is Gandhian in your Anna Hazare.
We would sincerely like to know. How does Anna and his movement qualify as ‘Gandhian’?
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