Monday, January 30, 2012

Book Review

नेल्सन मंडेला " नये युग के प्रणेता "

                                                           
                              - by Dhananjai Chopra



  


Nelson Mandela vanished, aged 44, into reformatory for the next cut up of a century he happen to an ambiguity being, the lost leader. Moreover when he lastly surface triumphant in 1990, there was a pent-up claim to listen from him. Ever since, books about and by Mandela have become an industry, number of books have appeared. Is there really room for another book on the stuffed Mandela mantelpiece? This was the big question which was there in my mind when I saw a new book on Mandela in Hindi Language by writer Dhananjai Chopra.

As Indians we encompass tiny idea about Mandela as he is popularly understood as ‘African Gandhi’. But after reading this book the answer of “Is there really room for another book on the stuffed Mandela mantelpiece?” would be Quite a lot, it turns out. Writer has successfully described the connection between India and Africa. Readers would get the idea of how Indians are connected with Mandela.




The prison years, as one might expect, are particularly moving. "Until I was jailed I never fully appreciated the capacity of memory," says Mandela. Some of the abstracts are taken from his letters to his family and friends, many of which never reached their intended recipients, because they were blocked by the censors. Mandela made copies of some of these letters in a hardback notebook. It includes his speech in Indian Parliament and after receiving Nobel Prize. From Childhood to the days of struggle writer Dhananjai Chopra has got readers interest as write up is not only interesting but new statistics which are not known are inscribed in precisely.

The book is a constructive corrective to our affinity to see history through retro spectacles, to assume that what go off was someway foreseeable. To the prisoners on Robben Island at the era, the overthrow of the once mighty apartheid state was a distant dream, yet still one worth fighting for. In these vivid pages one is reminded. I had already read Mandela’s autobiography so I was confused that might be I would invest my time in reading the same script but I got many new fragile lessons, especially connection between Gandhi and Mandela without a meeting is explained specifically.  



One is reminded, too, of how precipitous in history and the archetypal Mandela is. He was believer of Gandhi’s ideology and even articulated that he took the struggle forward when Mahatma Gandhi left Africa. Mandela we see here can also be abrasively self-critical.

The book is a dear lens onto how Mandela made historic decisions – what he felt about communism, his Christian viewpoint, the armed struggle, and the predictable repercussion by the establishment against the naive bystanders, as well as the perpetrators. It is decisive that, as a role model, he privileged Nehru to Gandhi. He also makes it clear that he only believed in non-violence as an approach and not as an attitude, though he could not say that at his trial. He discusses how he entirely estimated to be sentenced to death, what it's like when you sense a judge "is going to spin to you and tell you now, that 'This is the end of your life'."



When Mandela lost his eldest son, Thembi, was killed in a car accident. Mandela's letter of 13 July 1969 to the commanding officer of Robben Island prison, asking to be present at his son's graveside, makes heartbreaking reading. It was refused. But Mandela expresses no jealousy. And when Winnie is herself jailed, Mandela sends her advice on how to cope. The relationship between Mandela and his wives is inscribed how it helped him to be focused.

There are substantive political insights here, in particular Mandela's account of the negotiations that ended apartheid. When the authorities moved him away from his comrades, isolating him in another prison, he decided to accept the move, as this would allow him to open secret talks with the apartheid authorities, without consulting his comrades. "So what I decided to do was to start negotiations without telling them, and then confront them with a fait accompli." He was taking a huge risk.




One element gleaned from the calendar section which is at the last section of this book is how important the gestures made around the world were to Mandela while he was locked up. The mass petitions for his release and the attempts to make– often dismissed as silly, ineffectual gestures – were all clearly vital in keeping up his morale.

 The language of the book is very accurate it has indubitably helped in bond with the narration of history’s one of important smash. Writer has made the book interesting and inscribed many engraving which made it precise to get the full panorama of Mandela’s history and link with India and M K Gandhi. And lastly the present picture of Mandela and Africa. 

















Prateek Pathak
Student
B.A in Media Studies
University of Allahabad

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Martyr's Day






If I am to die by the bullet of a mad man, I must do so smiling.
There must be no anger within me. God must be in my heart and on my lips.

      – Mohandas K. Gandhi, 28 January 1948, two days prior to his assassination.


‘Hey Ram’… with this final phrase, as it is said, the man of the millennium, the effigy of truth and non violence, a frail figure wrapped in white cotton sheet, our beloved Bapu closed his eyes to amalgamate his divine soul with the celestial power.

It was on 30 January 1948, Friday nearly 5:17 PM; when the sun was about to set and Gandhi ji was going to attend his evening prayers. A multitude of Gandhi’s followers attended the prayer mass. It was when Gandhi ji was ascending towards the platform; the assassinator of humanity Nathuram Godse; a Hindu extremist bowed in front Gandhi and shot three bullets on him from a close range. The darkest moment of Independent India took away the light house of the Indian sailors. Though Nathuram and his companions found their goal achieved but the entire nation was filled with grief. All eyes were wet and the nation was lamenting. The anguish even weakened the pillars of the nation and the Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on this loss said-
"Friends and comrades, the light has gone out of our lives, and there is darkness everywhere, and I do not quite know what to tell you or how to say it. Our beloved leader, Bapu as we called him, the father of the nation, is no more. Perhaps I am wrong to say that; nevertheless, we will not see him again, as we have seen him for these many years, we will not run to him for advice or seek solace from him, and that is a terrible blow, not only for me, but for millions and millions in this country."


Gandhi is not mere a name of someone who unchained India from the shackles of British rule; but is a soul who had power to mesmerize millions and incredible nerves to stand for truth at any cost. He was a pioneer of the new principles where man had respect for another man no matter what caste or creed they belong to. Where dignity of labour glittered as Gandhi believed one should not be dependent on others for their work rather should do it by their own. There are several things apart from active and optimistic participation in India’s freedom struggle that made Gandhi a distinguished figure. The world respects him and follows his ideology as his very remembrance gives every individual the strength to lead a simple and truthful life.


January 30, 1948 was declared as the Martyrs’ Day. Since then every year the Nation pays homage to the Mahatma and other martyrs on this day. The day is observed with floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi’s Samadhi at Rajghat by President, Vice-President, Prime Minister and others.



64 years back we lost a light but still it illuminates our soul. We should pay homage to him and other martyrs by following the virtues and make India a nation which these great people had dreamt of.










Richa Tiwari 
Student
B.A in Media Studies
University of  Allahabad

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Why not C.M Rahul Gandhi before P.M Rahul Gandhi ?




When Congress party personals projects Mr. Gandhi as P.M candidate in coming 2014 national elections, certain objections are put in. Many believe he is not that old to hold that post. Moreover some political pundits even articulate that he is not experience to pilot.


From last few months Mr. Gandhi is working hard on his Mission U.P. Whether its public rallies, meeting commoners and companioning whole day, he is working hard and is way ahead than other political parties. One thing which is lacking from Congress is declaration of C.M candidate. Where we have impressive leaders for C.M post like Mayawati & Mulayam on one side but there is no brunt candidate from the Congress on the other.


When we talk about the rural areas where Congress has its impact they are projecting Mr. Gandhi who will transform ill U.P into healthy U.P. But it’s a known fact that Mr. Gandhi will not become C.M.

Akhilesh Yadav is giving tough fight to Mr. Gandhi. There is obvious reason for it. Apart from youth and foreign education factor which is common, populace are bonding well with Mr. Yadav as regional factor is eminent at this hour. Where people understand that Regional Party’s agenda is only one land but National Party has more land to concentrate too.


There is no doubt that tenure of both Mulayam and Mayawati were horrific. The largest state got lowest rank at every corner compared with other states of our nation. So people want change and development. When they sight other options Congress has merit but a picture which has been created is fully false. C.M Rahul Gandhi is not feasible. As there is a famous proverb about Indian Polity “Members of Nehru-Gandhi family are born to become P.M”. So P.M Rahul Gandhi is likely to happen soon but C.M Rahul Gandhi seems impossible.


Recently when Priyanka Gandhi campaigned in U.P electronic news channels as always compared her with his elder brother and showed she has greater panorama in eyes of commoners and with a Vox-Pop positioned there projection correct. But this is not precise. In my view having identical features and hairstyle would not transform Priyanka into Indira.

Today a song focused on works of Mr. Gandhi in U.P and attacking other parties is released by Congress. Yet again it is communicating identical message i.e. if congress gets numbers this time U.P would site C.M Rahul Gandhi. But as a great poet has once said “Winning Elections is important reasons don’t matters”. The saying seems perfectly precise.  Congress wants to win the biggest state reasons don’t matter.



               “Jai ho Indian Polity ki”









Prateek Pathak
Student
B.A in Media Studies
University of  Allahabad