Certainly he is not.
A certain MP Sakshi Maharaj made a controversial statement recently. It
created a lot of ruckus in parliament and outside. It put the government on
embarrassment situation floating a fleet of apologies and PM warning BJP MP s
to better behave etc.,
This controversy is certainly uncalled for. But this controversy in
India is alive since it happened, and will live on for long. There are people
who defend Godse. There is a play on Godse, there are books and materials
available on this which basically state the facts. The facts as stated, creates
opinions in people’s minds. And they take sides.
But my opinion is: taking sides on Godse is harmful for the society.
Giving him such a title like Patriot is obnoxious for our society. Bharath has
no dearth of brave Patriots who have laid down their lives for the good of the country.
We must choose right icons for country to become a beacon of light for righteousness.
Who is Godse?
Nathuram Godse killed Mahatma Gandhi in point blank shoot out when Gandhi
was going to his evening prayer meeting. Godse had high regards for Gandhi. His
statement in court is available in public domain. His statements are clear and
unambiguous.
Then why he killed Gandhi?
Gopal Godse wrote a book on why his brother killed Gandhi. Gandhi took
some actions which are seemingly Muslim appeasing during the 1947 bloody
partition.
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The Hindu’s from Pakistan side were coming in
hordes and occupying the Delhi outskirts in shanty sheds. The cold winter was
punishing them severely. Their hatred for Muslims was burning. They pushed them
out of their dwelling and occupied their houses and mosques. Gandhi took to Satyagraha
in support of the Muslims in India to be protected and not be sent to Pakistan.
The authorities listened to his appeal and arranged for their protection and
retention in India. While they scrambled for providing decent dwelling for the
Hindu victims thrown out from Pakistan. Due to Gandhi’s intervention, this
happened throughout the boarders in Punjab and Kolkata apart from Delhi.
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The financial partition was done on paper. In
the meantime, the Pakistan irregular army invaded the Kashmir against the spirit
of the Kashmir accession accord. This angered the Indian authorities. Sardar Patel
argued, the money of partition is spent on war rather than rehabilitation by
Pakistan. So India withheld the money to be given as part of partition to
Pakistan. Mountbatten in typical British style approached Gandhi. Gandhi took
up Satyagraha again for the release of the money.
These were the major tipping points for Godse to take up such heinous action.
Of course there are other Muslim appeasing actions by Gandhi in the history.
Like when Kolkata was burning due to a call of “Direct Action” by the Jinna’s
Muslim League to butcher Hindus on the streets, Gandhi was pleading Hindu’s in deep
Bengal, Naokhali to give up hatred. Similarly his stand on Cow Slaughter,
Partition based on religion, supporting Khilafat movement, giving up NWFP to
Pakistan when it was Hindu majority ruled by Khan Abdul Gafar Khan willing to
join India etc., While we as a nation worship our Motherland in our song Vande
Mataram, the educated Muslims opposed it in Congress to adopt it as national
song. And Gandhi supported their ‘Sentiments’ instead of honoring our
indigenous roots & culture. All these actions by the Mahatma developed strong
sentiments against Gandhi amongst many Indians at that time.
Gandhi was supporting Muslims who were killing
our Nations’ roots and culture? Then may be Godse did the right thing?
No. He was wrong. Gandhi was doing it all in peace through dialogues
and debates. He took majority into his stride. People who opposed should have
made a mass appeal as he did to become a big force to reckon with Gandhi. There
were no political opponents at all. Veer Savarkar & Hindu Mahasabha made
several appeals to the Congress and Gandhi on several of these issues. RSS made
several delegations. There was a lot of dissent within Congress against Gandhi
on some of these decisions. But none prevailed. The majority accepted his
accord. Why? Was he a messiah? Or was he right? Or majorities Indians are
stupid? I know the answer but you must explore it yourself.
But one thing is sure. If Gandhi was winning his decisions through
democratic peaceful means, one must counter him through peaceful means only. If
he was gun totting dictator then one must counter him by gun.
Having shot him by gun did not do any good for the country nor makes
Godse a patriot. He was a coward. He was an eccentric. Patriot is not a synonym
with these characters.
But Godse loved his country. His statements, writings give ample evidence. So he is a Patriot?
Everyone calls oneself a Patriot. But who do you call a Patriot? Sitting
in one corner and thinking about India will not make one a Patriot. A patriot
should be an Icon for kids & youth. They should be able to bravely and
convincingly choose his laden path. Godse might have had great thoughts and few
good deeds, but creating havoc by killing an Icon of the country makes him a
dangerous person to follow. Making him a patriot for our Kids and Youth will take
our country to disaster. It will be filled with hatred and develop gun culture.
It will lead to Pakistan/Iraq way only.
Did his action create any adversity?
Oh Yes! It created a disaster for decades to come. In the short term violent
mobs hit and killed many of his Brahmin community in Maratha region. They were
caught clueless.
The long term worst thing it created is the Nehruvian Secularism
on to the Indian masses. Nehru strongly believed that National Pride, Cultural
Pride is the cause of hatred and violence. He did everything from then on to
bring out his version of Secularism to suppress everything that brings out any
national, cultural pride in the masses.
The killing of Mahatma up surged Nehruvian Securalism which created
some of the following:
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The first victim is the primary education.
Our ancient education system was fully value based education. The skill
development like Maths for commerce, Science for exploitation was secondary. But
that is primary and only thing taught in school now. Ramayana, Mahabharatha was
taught in schools. Those who don’t go school learnt it in their family
profession. Be it a sculpture, artisan, jeweler, potter, farmer, home maker, he
was completely rooted to values through simple ballads, plays, rituals based on
Ramayana & Mahabharatha. But now the education system corrupts every child.
Every parent thinks, school education is final and all pervasive. That, they don’t
need to give any further education. That is sufficient to develop a child to
stand on his legs. But is that building values to becoming good human? No one
cares.
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Second victim are the Intellectuals.
All who denigrate the Hindu or ancient culture are given rewards, awards,
recognition, university heads, committee heads. They decide what grants to
research, where to research. Anything to do with ancient science, sociology,
culture, will create National Pride and Cultural Pride which create hatred
& violence. So no grants for it. UR Ananthamurthy before he died wrote a
book called Hindutva. I thought finally he came to senses. But that book on
Hindutva is only about vilifying Modi and Savarkar. Is that Hindutva? Such
people easily get Gnanapeeth puraskara. Because such thinkers only have
pervaded all universities and committees now.
Now although there is a change in central politics, the rot created
over 6 decades will take that many decades to clear, provided the Hindu pride
comes back & stays for long with sensibility & not hegemony. So let’s
identify and worship right Individuals as our Patriot sons of the Nation.
