The protest on 21 November 2019 in Manchester (UK) opposing the unveiling of Gandhi statue in the heart of Manchester was a great victory for not only setting a milestone against Gandhism but challenging Manchester Council for choosing to honour a figure like Gandhi who had questionable moral rectitude.
The Gandhi myth was given a blow when the protesters distributed leaflets to the general public in front of the Manchester Council Townhall. Members of the public gave great enthusiastic response and engaged In discussion and conversations exploring Gandhi’s background and relevance during Indian Independence struggle and the role of Gandhi when addressing himself to western audience demanding freedom yet denying equality to people of India in particular victims of caste discrimination by upholding onto obscurantist views in relation to the caste system being its staunchest defender.
The Mancunians proved to very receptive to the harsh truth about Gandhi’s racist attitudes and his sexual experiments that he undertook after his wife passed away in 1944. After which Gandhi began to abuse his authority and began to sleep with his grand nieces Manu and Abha and his personal physician Dr. Sushila Nayyar.
Abha was the wife of Gandhi’s grandnephew Kanu Gandhi . Gandhi had been sleeping with her since Abha was 16 and also continued albeit in limited way during here marriage to Kanu Gandhi.
Manu was a 19 year old grandniece who had lost her mother at 12 and been cared for by Kasturba and in return , when she was 16 , had nursed Kasturba in her final illness. After Kasturba’s death Gandhi, became a ‘mother’ to the girl but later Gandhi slept naked with her during his sexual experiments and trials. Gandhi also slept with Dr. Sushila Nayyar who was his personal physician.
Gandhi was well over 75 years when he was conducting sexual experiments with women within his circle.
During one of the episodes after India gained independence Hindu/Muslim riots broke out. Two weeks after Independence Day an angry crowd of young men bent on violence forced their way into the house of Gandhi where he was staying in Calcutta, smashing doors, windows and ceiling fans . Gandhi was in bed between Abha and Manu.
Gandhi’s racist views and his attitude towards Blacks in south Africa are well documented. .
It is curious why Manchester Council approved the unveiling of Gandhi Statue at Manchester Cathedral. Does the Council feel guilty of British colonialism imperialism and see this as an opportunity to repair the damage of the past or is it sending a signal to the Indian Government to improve bi-lateral relations with India with an eye on trade.
Has Manchester Council lost its moral compass? What answer will it give to school children , young girls and women to justify the decision to install Gandhi statue outside Manchester Cathedral a religious place ?
The protest was a first of its kind to highlight moral dichotomy and fake projection of a historical figure.
Reference: “The Naked Gandhi” by Jad adams
OTHER RECOMMENDED READING:
1. Rangila (kinky) Gandhi by L R.Bali Bheem Patrick
2.”Gandhi under cross examination” and “Gandhi behind the mask of divinity” by Col G.B. Singh
3. What Congress and Gandhi have done to the Untouchables by Dr B.R Ambedkar
4. “Collective Works of Gandhi” available free at http://www.gandhism.org/category/apartheid
