A Tribute to the Mahatma!

"...suddenly a man, who was later identified as Nathu Ram Godse took steps out of the crowd and fired three shots at Mahatma. Bullets hit him on the stomach and chest. Mahatma fell down saying Ram-Ram... "
– Nand Lal Mehta, in the First Information Report recorded on January 30, 1948, at 9.45 p.m.

I am not a Gandhian. But I do respect him.
You need guts to stand up to your enemy, as unarmed and vulnerable as he was. Agreed he made a few controversial decisions.He called off the Non Coop Movt when it turned violent.But how can one advocate something one dissapproves of. Again, Gandhi could have commutated the death sentences of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev. But probably Irwin was a better bargainer than he was. He explains, "It could not be done so. And to threaten withdrawal now would be a breach of faith."

He once said, "Would our women known as the meekest on earth have done the unique service they did, if we had violence in us? And our children - our Vanar Sena; how could you have had these innocent ones who renounced their toys, their kites, their crackers and joined as soldiers of Swaraj - how could you have enlisted them in a violent struggle?"

It is worth pondering over these words. It is the mass support that decides the success or failure of a method of struggle. The people of India chose non-violent means over violent ones so clearly that even after these controversies, whenever Gandhiji gave a call he had millions responding to it.

To say the very least he was way better than you and I !!!