30th January of the current year marks the passing of 75 years after the assassination of Gandhi, the father of the nation. 75 years of independence was celebrated. Almost both occurred within a span of 5 months. Gandhi was the unifying force for the formation of India as a country, securing independence from the British.
Only what Gandhi wanted and spoke in public domain during the last few months of his life led to the assassination of Gandhi, as declared in the open court by the assassin, Nathuram Godse, who was groomed by the ideology of the RSS. Many leaders condoled the assassinataion of Gandhi but not the cause for which he was killed. Periyar, who was a close and an ardent follower of Gandhi during the 1920s, later confronted him on his justification of Varnashrama. But during the last phase of his life Gandhi spoke against Brahmin monopoly and justified communal reservation. All along Gandhi was for religious harmony in the country.
Periyar, who was a severe critic of Gandhi’s Varna Dharma principles, was able to find out the changes in his views on the issues connected with social hierarchies prevailing then, that still continue today. Gandhi asked the Brahmins not to aspire for any post or jobs but to render the priestly duties at temples as per Varnashrama. Periyar openly declared the assassination of Gandhi was not to be considered as a standalone deed of the assassin. A dangerous ideology had nurtured the assassin and that ideology had to be opposed and fought, and rooted out. Adequate attention was not paid on these aspects by the mainstream political leaders and their organisations at that time.
But the legacy of the assassin has culminated in various forms at present by the organisational functionaries who had incited to kill Gandhi when Gandhi was alive. After the pistol shot Gandhi uttered ‘Hey Ram’ and breathed his last. The ‘irony’ has culminated as per the agenda of the assassin.
The ironical move was accomplished by placing the Ram idol inside the Babri Masjid at Ayodhya within two years after the assassination. Deliberate disputes were started by fanatic organisations like Hindu Mahasabha, etc. Later, the prime personnel associated with the idol placing issue became the elected representatives of Hindu Mahasabha and Jan Sangh in the parliamentary constituencies of Uttar Pradesh. In 1992, the Babri Masjid was demolished by the saffron outfits, religious fanatics and sadhus, which was witnessed patiently by the prime leaders of BJP who were present at the site of demolition.
The Supreme Court condemned the demolition of the Babri Masjid but approved the construction of Ram temple in the demolition site, fulfilling the wishes of those who demolished. The Prime Minister participated in the foundation laying event in August 2020. The construction is going on rapidly and it is expected to be inaugurated before the 2024 parliamentary elections.
Ironically, Ram temple is being built by the saffron outfits. Moreover, Nathuram Godse has been hailed on many occasions by the BJP’s Members of Parliament and other saffronists. The rulers at the Centre are trying to make Godse’s dream come true by the formation of ‘Hindu Rashtra’ – and Akhand Bharath on his memorial day by oath renewed.
This is undesirable! Gandhi’s advocacy and adherence to secularism has to be upheld and fortified by the people of our country with whom the sovereignty rests.
