Modi's Misguided Claims and Gandhi's Enduring Legacy

Fr. Gaurav Nair Fr. Gaurav Nair
03 Jun 2024

Modi's outlandish assertions have been making headlines and eliciting waves of disbelief for some time now. His most recent claim was that MK Gandhi was an obscure figure until the 1982 Richard Attenborough biographical masterpiece. It's truly staggering that a student of 'Entire Political Science' could be oblivious to Gandhi's global influence. It's also worth noting that he's now expressing support for Gandhi, a stark contrast to his party ancestor, Nathuram Godse, who assassinated Gandhi. Some may argue that there's a method to his madness. But could it be that madness is the method instead?

It is well-known that Gandhi inspired many leading figures. Martin Luther, Nelson Mandela, and Albert Einstein, among others, acknowledged the greatness of his non-violent philosophy. There is ample proof of this in historical archives and conspicuous statues bearing his characteristic features peppered worldwide, originating long before his namesake movie. Since the 2024 elections began, Modi and his chums have been making ridiculous remarks. These seem more akin to gimmicks to keep the opposition preoccupied with refuting his words rather than doing anything productive.

At this point, expecting anything logical or substantial from the PM's mouth is insensible. As if in tandem with him, most media outlets and efforts are focused on supporting or digging up proof to rebut his theory as if doing so is worthwhile. As the final phase of the elections ends and the results are declared on June 4, it will become clear how far these antics have helped the BJP.

Many experts speculate that Modi will secure a third term, although it may not be as triumphant as he hopes. Whether his dream of 400 paar ever materializes remains to be seen. However, the opposition has a challenging task ahead. Based on a thorough examination of governance, or rather the lack thereof, citizens can hardly expect 'Guarantees' to be fulfilled. To stay relevant, Rahul and Co. must confront the government, its actions, and policies, rather than simply responding to the BJP's attempts to boost their ratings. If they come to power, they must then rectify all the injustices that have been inflicted upon the nation and its people.

Inadvertently, Modiji may have just reminded us of the tactics that need to be employed. The persistent use of non-violent protest by Gandhi needs to be resurrected if we are to liberate our country from its current state. The British may have departed long ago, and India may have made significant strides (the facts may be contrarian for Modi bhakts); we have yet to overcome our past, narrow-mindedness and gullibility in the name of religion and caste. Let us once again recall and revive the profound legacy that Gandhiji left behind.

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