Would Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi have listened to Bapu and spun yarn to free India? She was quick to defend her kingdom against the unprincipled British who refused to recognise the adopted heir apparent to the throne of Jhansi. In defiance she declared, ''Meri Jhansi nehi doongee,'' and followed it up by waging war against the British in alliance with other revolutionary partners in her bid to drive the British out of India.
Lakshmibai was a young widow of 28 years age, of exquisite accomplishments and well-versed in the science and art of warfare. Although a woman, she fought manfully and won the first encounter with the British before losing in the succeeding battles. When surrounded by the enemy soldiers, she killed a few before falling on her sword and giving up her life to protect her dignity and honour. What an example she set before the future revolutionaries of India !
But I was wondering what she might have done had she met Gandhiji. Surely the fabled magnetic charm of the Mahatma would have made her swoon and she would have turned into a votary of non-violence and truth. But wait a minute. Was not Rani Lakshmibai even greater an adherent of truth than Gandhiji? Was she not being true to the spirit of the nation in resisting armed evil with arms? Oh, no, no, no. How can that be? Truth came into Indian politics with Bapu. Till then all were in error, were they not, intent as they were in destroying the enemy with hateful violence instead of winning them over with heart-melting love?
One more thing and here, certainly, Bapu would have had the better of the Rani. The Rani wore expensive cloth for sure. Would she change over to khadi, that too, spun by her own hands put to good use for the first time? Very difficult to answer. But I have faith in Bapu. He is the Father of the Nation and, as such, would surely have convinced this beautiful daughter of his to give up violence and take up the spinning wheel of peace.
P.S. : There is the other fear, though, I have. What if Rani Lakshmibai suddenly started scolding Bapu so heavily for all his professed weakness in principle and in practice that he lost his bearings and jumped off the time machine? What a fall it would be, my countrymen ! Oh God, I can hardly imagine !
Written by Sugata Bose
No comments:
Post a Comment