Gandhi smeared as ‘Indian...

He says in the book that Gandhi was not fit to be called a Mahatma (meaning great soul), adding he was “not even fit to be called an ordinary soul”.

The book questions how South Africans can allow “memorials of this sick man in Durban and Pietermaritzburg”.

“Gandhi was once thrown out of a train compartment which was exclusively reserved for the whites. It was not that Gandhi was fighting on behalf of local Africans that he broke the rule in getting into a whites’ compartment. No! that was not the reason.”

It says Gandhi had no concern for Africans and took up the cudgels on behalf of Indians because he was furious that “he and his merchant caste Indians were treated on par with the local Africans”.

The book also describes Gandhi as a “regular Gunga Din, who volunteered to organise a brigade of Indians to put down a Zulu uprising (the 1906 Bambatha Rebellion)”.

It says Gandhi was in favour of white domination and the oppression of blacks.

Gandhi is quoted as having said that an African’s sole ambition was “to collect a certain number of cattle to buy a wife, and then pass his life in indolence and nakedness”.

A comparison is drawn between Gandhi and Adolf Hitler, saying the Germans respected him as they did the Nazi leader.

Deedat said certain South African Muslim businessman had funded the distribution of the book.

“They feel that it is very balanced in what it is trying to portray about Gandhi. I’m afraid to say he did not speak out for the African people. It is time that we give a different perspective of Gandhi,” he said.

He said he decided to the distribute the book to encourage debate and educate people about “what Gandhi was truly about”.

He was not concerned about denigrating one of the world’s peace icons.

“It’s not an issue of denigration ... it’s an issue of truth against falsehood. I have come to learn that Gandhi never stood by the African people. Maybe this is a dimension the leaders of South Africa are unaware of and need to be educated about.”

The book has not angered the Mahatma’s granddaughter, Ela Gandhi.

“Every individual has the right to make their own conclusions and judgments. Good luck to Deedat if this is his feelings towards my grandfather,” she said.

She added that readers should be able to discern “what is the truth and what is not the truth”.

“All I can say is that the person who throws stones has to look at himself ... what he has done.”

She said the family was unlikely to oppose the distribution of the book.

“We are not like that. There are hundreds of books that have come out. Let people say what they want to say. Today the writing is on the wall. The question is: do we believe in non-violence or not? People who propagate this sort of thing, how non-violent are they?”

She said the Deedats had a history of inciting people. “They have criticised Christians, they have criticised Hindus. Why would they appreciate what Gandhi said? Gandhi respected all religions and all people.”

Rugbeer Kallideen, a trustee of the Phoenix Settlement Trust, said the book seemed to be riddled with untruths.

“Deedat is spreading a distorted view of Gandhi in South Africa. Yes, he had stayed in South Africa to address the problems of the indentured labourers, but he did not at any time denigrate the African community. To Gandhi, everybody was equal and he was not a racist,” said Kallideen.

“This book is a misconception of Gandhi and sending out the wrong message. It won’t do any damage to Gandhi’s legacy, because his place in world history has already been established.”

He said the comparison between Gandhi and Hitler was “nonsense”.

“Gandhi was a pacifist who believed in the welfare of all, peace and non- violence. He was never a dictator. It’s hurtful that Gandhi is being painted with same brush as Hitler.”

[ Fonte: Sunday ]