“Golden Father of the Nation”: how India keeps the memory of Mahatma Gandhi

Correspondent of “MK” visited the homeland of the famous politician on the anniversary of his death

The main person for India is, of course, about Mahatma Gandhi. The famous political and public figure, who played a crucial role in India’s independence, was killed 75 years ago, but his compatriots still remember his memory. The MK correspondent, who had just returned from a trip to a distant southern country, was convinced of this.

The tragedy of national, and perhaps global significance, happened on January 30, 1948 in the Indian capital. During another public speech, the leader of the country, Mahatma Gandhi, was shot dead by a Hindu fanatic who did not like the state ideology promoted by this “father of the nation.” However, such a desperate act did not help the terrorist achieve the desired result. Even without Mahatma, the country continued to move in the direction determined by him, becoming an increasingly powerful, independent, respected state in the world.

Three-quarters of a century later, the image of Gandhi has by no means faded for the Indians. This was confirmed to the MK journalist by his observations made during a recent trip around the country.

The route of our trip “went off scale” for a thousand kilometers, and in almost every city through which we passed, there were monuments in honor of the Mahatma. A place has been carved out for them even in the densest urban development: in the middle of a small square or on one of the main streets. Most often caught the eye of the gilded (such is the favorite style here) figures of the famous politician mounted on a pedestal. Another characteristic detail: next to the monument, a small tribune and a two-flight staircase leading to it are necessarily built of concrete. During public holidays, public speeches take place here, and the Mahatma, as it were, sanctifies each speaker with his presence.

The memory of Gandhi is preserved in the country and at the everyday, everyday level. Every Indian and guest of the country is reminded of an outstanding person by his portrait, placed on all banknotes – from the smallest 10 rupees to large banknotes of 500 and 1000 rupees.

Among the inhabitants of India, there are many who consider Gandhi a worthy role model in relation to current politicians.

“It is important to note that the Mahatma was able to achieve convincing results in the political struggle for the independence of India from the colonial power of the British Crown in a peaceful way,” explained one of the students of the University of Marashree Nanasekaran in a conversation with the author of these lines. – He believed that violent methods of struggle are unacceptable even in relation to enemies. His main measure of persuading the opposite side was mass marches and rallies, before the participants of which he spoke in speeches and appeals understandable to ordinary people. Hundreds of thousands of participants in such demonstrations in themselves became a convincing argument proving the need to grant independence to India.

We remember well one of the most impressive actions organized by Mahatma Gandhi – the so-called Salt March of 1930, the speaker continues. Then the British colonial authorities forbade the Indians to extract salt on their own in the country. And the Mahatma called on his compatriots to go to the abandoned, empty saltworks and defiantly start evaporating salt there. To give this protest action an impressive scale, Gandhi, with several other associates, went on a “campaign” on foot. Tens of thousands of people joined him on a route of almost 500 kilometers. Newspapers could not help but write about such an impressive event, the rumor went even to remote villages. As a result, millions of Indians learned about the “march for salt”, and many of them supported Gandhi’s idea. It ended with the fact that the British were forced to cancel their unjust ban.