-- > > http://sotersgoa.blogspot.com/ > > THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2011 > > > > Please Tell me Why Your Anna Hazare is a Gandhian! > > 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’? > > Posted by Soter D'Souza at 10:55 PM 0 comments > > Email This
