Sunday, August 15, 2010

ಮಹಾತ್ಮ

ಆಗಸ್ಟ್ 15, ನಮ್ಮ ಭಾರತ ದೇಶದ ಇತಿಹಾಸವನ್ನು ಸುವರ್ಣಾಕ್ಷರಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಬರೆದಿಟ್ಟ ಅವಿಸ್ಮರಣೀಯ ದಿನ - ಬ್ರಿಟೀಷರ ಕಿರುಕುಳ, ದಬ್ಬಾಳಿಕೆಯ ಆಡಳಿತದ ಕಪಿಮುಷ್ಠಿಯಿಂದ ಭಾರತೀಯರಿಗೆ ಶಾಶ್ವತವಾಗಿ ಬಿಡುಗಡೆ ತಂದುಕೊಟ್ಟ ದಿನ - ಸ್ವಾತಂತ್ರ್ಯ ದಿನ!!
ಮಹಾತ್ಮ ಗಾಂಧೀಜಿ
'ಸ್ವಾತಂತ್ರ್ಯ ದಿನ' ಎಂದಾಕ್ಷಣ, ನಮ್ಮ ಅರಿವಿಗೆ ಬರುವುದು - 'ಮಹಾತ್ಮ ಗಾಂಧೀಜಿ'. ಇಂದು ನಾವೆಲ್ಲರೂ ಬ್ರಿಟೀಷರ ಗುಲಾಮಗಿರಿಯಿಂದ ಮುಕ್ತರಾಗಿ, ಸ್ವಾತಂತ್ರ್ಯ ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರವೊಂದನ್ನು ಕಟ್ಟಿ-ಬೆಳೆಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇವೆ ಎಂದರೆ, ಅದಕ್ಕೆ ನಿಜವಾದ ಕಾರಣಕರ್ತರು ಮಹಾತ್ಮ ಗಾಂಧಿಜಿಯವರು. ಭಾರತ ದೇಶದ ಸ್ವಾತಂತ್ರ್ಯ ಹೋರಾಟದಲ್ಲಿ ಗಾಂಧೀಜಿಯವರ ಪಾತ್ರ ಇಡೀ ವಿಶ್ವವೇ ಬೆರಗಾಗಿ ಮೆಚ್ಚಿದ್ದು ಮಾತ್ರವಲ್ಲದೇ, ಅನುಕರಣೀಯವೆನಿಸಿಕೊಂಡಂದ್ದೂ ಹೌದು.

ಮಹಾತ್ಮ ಗಾಂಧಿಜಿಯವರದ್ದು ಅದ್ಭುತ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿತ್ವ, ಅದನ್ನು ಒಂದು ಚೌಕಟ್ಟಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಅರ್ಥೈಸಿ ಹೇಳುವುದೇ ಕಷ್ಟಸಾಧ್ಯ! ಅವರ ಸರಳ ನಡೆ, ಪ್ರಭಾವೀ ನುಡಿಗಳು ಇಂದಿನ ದಿನಗಳಲ್ಲೂ ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಸಮಂಜಸವೆನಿಸುತ್ತವೆ. ಜೀವಮಾನದುದ್ದಕ್ಕೂ ಅವರು ತಮ್ಮ ತಾಯ್ನಾಡಿಗೆ ಸ್ವಾತಂತ್ರ್ಯ ತಂದುಕೊಡಲು ವೈಯಕ್ತಿಕ ಆಸೆ-ಆಕಾಂಕ್ಷೆಗಳನ್ನು ತೊರೆದು, ಅಹಿಂಸೆ-ಸತ್ಯಾಗ್ರಹ ಎಂಬ ತಮ್ಮದೇ ಆದ ವಿಶಿಷ್ಟ ಅಸ್ತ್ರಗಳನ್ನು ಬಳಸಿ ನಡೆಸಿದ ಹೋರಾಟವನ್ನು ನೆನೆದರೆ, ರೋಮಾಂಚನವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ.

ಗಾಂಧೀಜಿಯವರ ವಿಚಾರಧಾರೆಗಳ ಪರಿಚಯವಿರುವವರು, ಅವರದ್ದು ಬರಿಯ ಸ್ವಾತಂತ್ರ್ಯ ಹೋರಾಟದ ಮನೋಭಾವವಾಗಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ ಎಂಬ ಅಂಶವನ್ನು ಒಪ್ಪದೇ ಇರಲಾರರು. ಆದರೆ, ದಿನಗಳು ಕಳೆದಂತೆ ಗಾಂಧಿಜಿಯವರನ್ನು ಬರಿಯ 'ಸ್ವಾತಂತ್ರ್ಯ ಹೋರಾಟದ ಪಿತಾಮಹ' ಎಂದಷ್ಟೇ ಪರಿಗಣಿಸಿಬಿಟ್ಟಿರುವುದು ವಿಷಾದನೀಯ ಸಂಗತಿ. ಅವರ ಚಿಂತನೆಗಳು ಸಮಾಜ, ಧರ್ಮ, ಜಾತಿ, ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿತ್ವ, ಜೀವನ, ಪ್ರೀತಿ, ಸ್ನೇಹ, ವಿದ್ಯಾಭ್ಯಾಸ, ಪರಿಸರ - ಹೀಗೆ ಹತ್ತು ಹಲವು ವಿಷಯಗಳಿಗೆ ಸವಿಸ್ತಾರವಾಗಿ ಬೇರೂರಿ ಬೆಳೆದಿದ್ದವು. ಸಮಾಜದಲ್ಲಿ ಮಹಿಳೆಯರ ಸ್ಥಾನ-ಮಾನಗಳ ಬಗೆಗಿನ ಅವರ ವಿಚಾರಗಳು ಎಂದೆಂದಿಗೂ ಅನ್ವಯಿಸುವಂಥವು.

ಮಹಾತ್ಮ ಗಾಂಧೀಜಿಯವರದ್ದು ನಿಸ್ವಾರ್ಥ, ವಿಚಾರಶೀಲ, ತರ್ಕಬದ್ಧ, ದೂರದೃಷ್ಟಿ ಹೊಂದಿದ್ದ ಆಲೋಚನೆಗಳು. ಅವರು ಬರಿಯ ಭಾರತ-ಭಾರತೀಯರ ಉನ್ನತಿಗಾಗಿ ಹಂಬಲಿಸಿದವರಲ್ಲ; ಬದಲಾಗಿ, ಇಡೀ ಭೂಮಂಡಲ-ಮಾನವರ ಉನ್ನತಿಗಾಗಿ, ಒಳಿತಿಗಾಗಿ ಚಡಪಡಿಸಿದವರು; ಮಾನವನ ಸ್ವಾರ್ಥವನ್ನು, ಅದರಿಂದಾಗಬಹುದಾದ ಅನಾಹುತದ ಕುರುಹನ್ನು ತಿಳಿಸಿಕೊಟ್ಟವರು ಎಂಬುದಕ್ಕೆ ಅವರ ಈ ಕೆಳಗಿನ ಹೇಳಿಕೆಗಿಂತ ಬೇರೆಯ ಉದಾಹರಣೆ ಬೇಕಿಲ್ಲ:


ಇಂದಿನ ಹದಗೆಟ್ಟುಹೋಗಿರುವ ನಮ್ಮ ಸಮಾಜವನ್ನು, ಬದುಕನ್ನು, ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿತ್ವವನ್ನು, ಚಿಂತನೆಗಳನ್ನು, ಮೌಲ್ಯಗಳನ್ನು, ಸ್ವಾರ್ಥಗಳನ್ನು ಬುಡಸಹ ನಿರ್ಮೂಲನೆ ಮಾಡಿ, ಇಂದಿಗೆ ದಶಕ-ದಶಕಗಳ ಹಿಂದೆಯೇ ಗಾಂಧಿಜಿಯವರು ಕಂಡಿದ್ದ ಕನಸಿನ "ರಾಮರಾಜ್ಯ" ವನ್ನು ಸ್ಥಾಪಿಸಲು ನಮ್ಮಿಂದ ಅಸಾಧ್ಯವೆಂಬುದನ್ನು ನಾವೆಲ್ಲರೂ ಈಗಾಗಲೇ ತೋರಿಸಿದ್ದೇವೆ. ಆದ್ದರಿಂದ, ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯರಾದ ನಮ್ಮಿಂದ ಸಾಧ್ಯವಾಗದ್ದನ್ನು ಸಾಧಿಸಾಲು ಸಮರ್ಥವಾದ, ಶಕ್ತಿಯುತವಾದ ಮಹಾನ್ ಚೇತನವೊಂದರ ಆಗಮನ ಈಗ ಅತ್ಯವಶ್ಯಕ. ಮಾನವರಿಂದ ಈ ಮನುಕುಲದ ನಿರ್ನಾಮವಾಗಿ ಹೋಗುವ ಮೊದಲು, ನೀನೇ ಕಂಡ ರಾಮರಾಜ್ಯದ ಕನಸನ್ನು ಈಗ ನನಸಾಗಿಸಲು - "ಹೇ ಮಹಾತ್ಮ.. ನೀ ಮತ್ತೊಮ್ಮೆ ಹುಟ್ಟಿ ಬಾ.."

11 comments:

  1. Deepa, when started Blogging, I was discussing with one of my friend about the idea of writing a post bilingual - in English & Kannada. It was like, a paragraph of Kannada followed by its (almost) equivalent English. He, however, thought that would not be a good idea and so, I didn't get the courage to experiment!

    Now, I remember a close friend of mine, who sits beside and make me read every single sentence in my blog written in Kannada, followed by its translation in English. Believe it or not, I feel the translation doesn't have all the 'punch' as its original form in Kannada. Think, it still is a long long way for me to gain such a command over English (that doesn't mean to substantiate my expertise in Kannada though).

    If you have friends who can read Kannada, do ask them to read for you. Anyways, I shall definitely ponder upon in bringing out the English version of it.

    Thanks for your interest Deepa :o)

    ReplyDelete
  2. @Prashanth
    "Kannada Gotilla"...that is all I have learnt after a month in Bangalore :-O
    I asked for a translation as I thought the subject of the post was interesting...gave me a vague idea that it must be something about 'independence' and 'struggle'.
    I do understand that the essence of the native language is lost in translation.
    I look forward to your posts in English, Hindi and/or Tamil (coz those are the only languages I can read)
    Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Deepa, the writeup is all about Mahatma Gandhiji himself rather than the struggle for independence alone.

    The words 'Kannada Gotilla' you learned gives the impression that you are reluctant to learn the local language (actually, may not be so). If you are keen to learn Kannada, do not hesitate, we can teach you.

    I can read and write Kannada & English, but have not much writing skills in Hindi. Tamil would be like Greek & Latin to me! There are many posts (drafts) written in English, hope to hear your comments on those :o)

    ReplyDelete
  4. @Prashanth
    No, it's not reluctance. I'd love to learn another language. In fact, as a result of being brought up in Jamshedpur, a small city in Jharkhand located very close to West Bengal, I can even understand Bengali in bits and pieces. *and I love to flaunt that :-D*
    You said: "We could tech you"
    Who is this "we"?

    P.S. I just updated my blog. Would appreciate healthy criticism and counter viewpoints (if any)
    Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
  5. My WE refers to all Kannadigas!! Am glad that you love to learn Kannada, good.

    Oh! Yeah! I did read your recent 'rant'. But, its too complicated for me to digest. Will read it all again and definitely post my views.

    Thank You!

    ReplyDelete
  6. == Translation of Prashanth's writeup ==

    August 15th, the unforgettable day written with golden letters in the history of our Nation – the day on which our Nation was freed from the strong clutches of torturous, jackbooted ruling of the British – The Independence Day!

    When said 'Independence Day', what first comes to our conscious is – 'Mahatma Gandhiji'. As we know, if at all today we are free from the slavery of British, to build and develop an Independent India, Mahatma Gandhiji is the main cause. The role of Gandhiji in Independence Movement of India was globally appreciated and also was adopted by many too.

    Gandhiji's personality was something extraordinary, which is impossible to understand and explain in a single frame! Even today, his simplicity and most effective sayings are appropriate and applicable. Exciting will be to think about his sacrifices of personal needs & desires throughout his life to get Independence, using his own unique weapons – Nonviolence and Sathyagraha.

    Those who are aware of Gandhiji's thoughts cannot deny the fact that his fight was not for Independence ALONE. But, it is SAD that he now is JUST called the 'Father of Indian Independence'. His unique ideas about society, religion, caste, personality, life, love & friendship, education and nature were put forth in a broader sense. His thoughts regarding the status women enjoy in society are apt even today.

    His fore sighted thoughts were evolutionary, logical and non-selfish. He not only wanted the upliftment of India & Indians, but he craved for the welfare of the whole world and humanity. No other example than the below one is required to show his anticipation about the possible disasters of the SELFISHNESS OF MAN.

    "Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need, but not for every man’s greed" – Mahatma Gandhi.

    We have already proved that it is impossible for us to uproot today's unhealthiness in society, way of living, personalities, thoughts and values to build the RAMARAJYA, which Gandhiji dreamt decades ago. Hence, now there is a need for the arrival of a GREAT SOUL, which can "DO" what we are unable to achieve; before the MANKIND is completely swept away by the greedy Man, "HEY MAHATMA.. COME ALIVE AGAIN.."

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks Dr. A.M. for that translation.

    @Prashanth
    Do you really believe that Gandhian values can still work today?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sir, am really grateful for your precious time for translation in spite of the hectic schedule at work. Thank you so much Sir :o)

    Deepa, just think how Mahatma Gandhiji won the Freedom Struggle.. its by total Non-Violence; it is highly impossible to even imagine!! Born and bought up in the AK-47 age, we can never believe it though.

    Great Personality can always make a difference and win, irrespective of the circumstances. Thats what I personally think :o)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Niice view there. I almost agree. The only point where I depart is when I place Gandhian values in the present context; I do not feel very confident about it...I am not sure if it will work today. Gandhi led the independence struggle with non-violence. It was remarkable, to say the least. But to imagine the same happening today seems nearly impossible to me. may be I am being a pessimist but that's what I personally think :o)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Pessimist?? Deepa, try not to be! I should respect your thoughts though :o)

    ReplyDelete

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