From: gnreddy@cbnewsf.cb.att.com (G.Narotham Reddy)
Subject: Men like Gandhi and J.P : Era of Herosim
Organization: AT&T
Date: Sat, 22 Aug 1992 21:33:18 GMT


Era of heroism

When the British Government in a fell swoop in the small hours of
aug 9, 1942, had Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and the other leaders
of the INC arrested in Bombay, it would hardly have believed that
almost exactly five years later it would be doing just what it was
asked to by these heroic freedom fighters - Quit India.  
	Winston Churchill would also not have known when he declared
with all the arrogance of an imperialist that he had not become the
King's First Minister to preside over the liquidation of the British
Empire that Clement Attlee and the others who had taken over from him
at the end of the II World War would be doing exactly that in 1947.
	The man who, Churchill had called with revolting rudeness a
'half-naked fakir' had made history in a manner beyond his
comprehension.  The amazement felt by those around the world over the
achievement of a frail old man and the men and women he had led in
persuading a mighty power to give up an empire it had ruled for a
century and a half was expressed by Albert Einstein with striking 
aptness when he said that generations to come would scarce believe that
a man like Gandhi had walked on earth.
	The state of political values behaviour in the country 50 years
later makes a sternous demand on the capacity of those who had
witnessed the heroism of 1942 to retain their composure and sense of
detachment and restrain themselves from sinking into despair.  There
has been anguised writing along with some introspection on the ways of
power and the political species which they have bred and which has been
perpetuating itself.  A comment about the 'tame end' of British rule in
India attributed to one of the leading lights of the then Congress
Socialist party seemed to reflect a sense of deflation over matters
ending with handshakes and smiles instead of with a bang.  While the
freedom movement did extract a heavy price from those who had dedicated
themselves to it and rose to heights of courage and sacrifice, the end
of the British rule in India did not wholly end the old order which
was sustained by the privileged and the predatory few who would be
faring the well in the years ahead as the new establishment, which
would breed and nourish the 'power brokers' who were denounced by Rajiv
Gandhi in the centenary year of the Indian National Congress.  The
question which is agitating the sensitive minds of today is that of
visualising and articulating a new idealism 50 years after the
stirring heroism of 1942.
	
	The fervour generated under the leadership of Jayaprakash
Narayan and its success in restoring freedom and democracy which were
derailed by the Emergecny regime of 1975-77 raised hopes about the
country returning to its lost greatness.  Unfortunately, however, the
euphoria was shortlived and the hopes collapsed quickly as the
politicians only returned to their old ways.  The promises held out
under the leadershop of the youngest ever Prime Minister after the
country had recovered from the trauma of the assassination of Indira
Gandhi did not last long either.  The succeeding dispensations that
were bereft of a broader vision proved disastrous and only now is there
a feeling of the country getting back on the rails.
	Those in power and those who are forever aspiring to grab it
should not forget that the disillusionment brought about by unkept
promises and the most unedifying rat race the country has been
witnessing will eventually sweep them away unless they mend their ways.
The old adage that while it is possible to fool some people for all time
and all people for some time, it is not possible to fool all people for
all time is particularly relevant to the breed which has been basking
under the sunshine of a self-stultifying personality cult which has
become distressingly familiar in recent years.  [ Hindu, Aug 10, 1992 ]

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