Dialogues from Lage Raho Munna Bhai

Jhanvi: "Do you walk on the path shown by Mahatma Gandhi?"
Murli Prasad Sharma - Munna Bhai: "Of course! I walk 3
miles everyday on Mahatma Gandhi Street."

Murli Prasad Sharma - Munna Bhai: "What is on 2 October?"
Circuit: "dry day brother."
Murli Prasad Sharma - Munna Bhai: "What is dry day?"
Circuit: "No idea brother."

This is the India of today, remembering Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, as depicted in the 2006 movie Lage Raho Munna Bhaich features actors Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi. People loved the way Gandhiji's ideals were presented and unlike any other 'martyr/freedom fighter' movie, no one yawned throughout the 144 minutes and a long time to come, people would talk about 'Gandhigiri', 'Jadoo ki Jhappi (the magic hug)' and 'bringing the other cheek forward'. Now that the buzz of Lage Raho Munna Bhai has diminished, we did a reality check how does India remember Gandhiji today, a man covered in white khadi or the one who gave Munna Bhai his lines to inspire the younger generations?

Non-violence was the political tool that Gandhi used to perfection in our long fight to gain independence, which was a move the British did not know how to respond to. As reflected in the movie Lage Raho Munna Bhai, 'If someone slaps you, offer him your other cheek as well' was the strategy that Gandhiji employed, had Gandhiji chosen the obvious 'an eye for an eye' strategy, his efforts would have long perished and along it, he would have joined the long list of martyrs whose efforts though noble, were short-lived. In war as in love, it is the end that matters and not the means. He marched fearless with his only weapon – that of non-violence and thus his principle of satyagraha (from Sanskrit satya: truth, and graha: grasp/hold), he influenced both national and international activists like Martin Luther King Jr., John Lennon as well as the 14th Dalai Lama.

The title - 'Mahatma' (Sanskrit term 'mahatman' meaning 'one of great soul') was conferred on Gandhiji in 1915 by Rabindranath Tagore.

Internationally, Gandhiji is honoured with the International Day of Non-Violence, on October 2nd while the Indian nation celebrates Gandhi Jayanti with a national
holiday on his honour.

Contrary to the scene in Lage Raho Munna Bhai wherein Circuit does not know the importance of October 2nd in a dialogue with the protagonist of the movie, Munna Bhai; the youth in India have a fair idea of Gandhiji’s ideals, and thanks to the much dreaded history textbooks, today we know of Gandhiji
and his aphorisms.

When we spoke to professionals across the corporate sector, 38 knew that Gandhi Jayanti falls on 2nd October, while 2 believed it was on 14thNovember and only 18 considered him a role model of today and tomorrow.

D Ravikiran, a graduate from a popular engineering college of Chennai recalls a visit to the Sabarmati Ashram, “The seniors around would tell their children instances from history, but for a group of students like ours, it was nothing but passive viewing. We are grateful to our freedom fighters, but the place did not inspire us to follow the path of ahimsa or nonviolence. Perhaps it is because we were not directly part of the freedom movement.”

“I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man [woman] whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him [her]. Will he [she] gain anything by it? Will it restore him [her] to a control over his [her] own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to swaraj [freedom] for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and yourself melt away.” This was Gandhiji’s Talisman to you and to me. But does this hold well today? It is said that Gandhi’s ideologies of satya (truth) and ahimsa (nonviolence) were influenced by the Bhagavad Gita and Hindu beliefs, the Jain religion and the pacifist Christian teachings of Leo Tolstoy. The concept of ‘ahimsa’ (nonviolence) has a long history in Indian religious thought and has had many revivals in Hindu, Buddhist and Jain contexts. Gandhi explains his philosophy and way of life in his autobiography ‘The Story of my Experiments with Truth’; but what influences the youth of today?

Siddharth S, a 26-year-old financial analyst from Mumbai believes that Gandhiji’s ideologies have become outdated in today’s society. He says, “The British reciprocated with violence and then surrender to Gandhi’s philosophies. Today, we just cannot afford to show the other cheek. It is a different world today. Yes, we may thank Gandhi and other freedom fighters for their tremendous effort in achieving freedom. But, today freedom has different connotations. It cannot be achieved with just non-violence and satyagraha. We need to be smart and look out for ourselves. We have leaders whom we cannot look up to. We live in a different planet now compared to pre-1947.” Last word is “We should have died fighting, not waving flags and showing the other cheek. It would have changed the “chalta hai” attitude of the nation altogether.”

George Raisin sums up his views in one sentence. He says, “I think Gandhiji is just a photo frame for politicians.” Another student who does not wish to be named said, “The media has a big role to play. Today, there is no point supporting Gandhism because until and unless the media supports you, nobody would be interested in your issue or cause.”

But what does one perceive Gandhism today? In Gandhiji’s own words, “There is no such thing as ‘Gandhism’, and I do not want to leave any sect after me. I do not claim to have originated any new principle or doctrine. I have simply tried in my own way to apply the eternal truths to our daily life and problems.” However, K Hariharan, director of LV Prasad Film & TV Academy has his own description of Gandhism. He says, “As a philosophy it is an interesting combination of liberalism as advocated by Adam Smith; socialism as advocated by Lenin and Hinduism as advocated by Sankara. Gandhi’s idea of secularism surpasses any other of his contemporary politicians since it included other agendas such as nurturing deep respect for environment, women and the rural way of living.” He goes on to add that, “Gandhi’s idea of decentralisation and empowering the grass roots are the only two ways that can make our nation come back to sanity! Gandhi is also synonymous with the fundamental idea of compassion as the most important human emotion in order to make progress.”

Dr AA Nambi of MS Swaminathan Research Foundation shares a similar opinion. “Gandhism to me is not just a set of doctrines, rules or regulations, but it is a way of life. It is rooted in the principles of devotion to a life of service, self control and discipline. Four aspects of Gandhism, namely, optimism, activism, populism and holistic approach appeal to me. It is undeniable that our world has entered an age of momentous change - a period of transition in every form on a mega scale. These changes threaten to set us adrift in new and unchartered regions of history. The deeper the chaos that threatens, stronger are the needs to lend our attention to Gandhiji’s principles and teachings.”

For Bublin who has just entered college in New Delhi, Gandhiji signifies patriotism and love for ones country. “Gandhism to me is the power to take my own decisions, being independent, leading a life of contentment without depriving myself of the basic essentials of life.” Definitions today have changed and freedom has taken a different meaning. Whether or not we have witnessed the struggles of the freedom fighters, we still remember Gandhi, one way or the other, even if it takes a dry day for many to remember him.