Gandhi is still relevant: India has failed him though

I would like to analyse Mahatma Gandhi in terms of three "Ms" - his stand on materialism, modernisation and Gandhi as a model for peace.

(A) Materialism

(1) Rampant corruption began with the Congress government immediately upon independence in 1947, as was pointed out by Sarat Chandra Bose during his election campaign in the summer of 1949. He won the election against his Congress rival with a thumping majority (south Calcutta by-election). Corruption has remained endemic ever since, despite the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. True followers of Gandhiji would join the efforts to deal with this scourge.

(2) Gandhiji was by no means against capitalism and the capitalists, but would have been horrified by the sheer scale of wealth amassed by a few and their conspicuous and tasteless consumerism today.

(3) Gandhiji would have strongly supported the creation of wealth with better distribution, both in India and globally. He would have found the income gap we find today in India and across the globe absolutely unacceptable.

(B) Modernisation

(1) Gandhiji was not by any means against technological progress, and indeed we know from his letter to my father Amiya Nath Bose that he was an advocate for the electrification of the villages of India.

Quote: Letter dated 30 April 1945

Dear Amiyo,

Have you worked out the problem of electricity for every home? What is the cost? My remark quoted by you is a poser for the time being... Since you believe in it I want you to work it out and demonstrate the physical and economic possibility of electrifying every home of the seven hundred thousand villages of India...

Amiya, my father, who had then just returned from England as a Cambridge graduate with an Economics Tripos, did work out a plan for Gandhiji. After nearly 70 years of independence we have not succeeded in taking electricity to those thousands of villages in India. So you see, Gandhiji was not only about the "charkha", he was also for technological progress. Gandhiji would be very disappointed today to find that we haven't provided electricity to all, nor have we provided the basics of a dignified life to our poverty-stricken millions in terms of sanitation and health facilities.

(2) Gandhiji was also a strong supporter of education for all, for a literate population with the ability to organise and fight for their basic rights. Almost seven decades after independence we have not achieved education for all.

(3) One suspects that Gandhiji would have been an avid user and supporter of today's mobile phones (!) now available in the poorest villages and slums which Gandhiji knew so well and which were close to his heart and mind.

(C) Model for peace

(1) As a global ambassador for peace, Gandhi's name resonates to this day. The very word "Gandhian" has entered the languages we speak, to denote a fundamental philosophy of peace and non-violence.

(2) From the iconic Nelson Mandela of South Africa to the nameless Palestinians who protest against the erection of walls and fences through their homes, villages and farmlands by (Israeli) occupation forces, the philosophy and principles of Gandhiji continue to inspire.

(3) Gandhiji's raw courage, fortitude and patience remain immortalised as examples to us all, old and young alike. We all need to read about his days in the midst of communal violence which raged through cities and villages of India just prior to and following the Partition.