It is an irony that would make Mahatma Gandhi - the father of our nation and the supreme proponent of non-violence and peace - turn in agony in his grave. But that is what happens when the great man has several admirers but few who actually follow his ideals and path. This is the state of India and its founding fathers.

Last week a group of ardent admirers of Mahatma Gandhi went on a rampage in protest against the installation of a statue of Nathuram Godse, the former’s assasin. This incident took place in Tadepalligudem a small non-descript town in the west Godavari district of coastal Andhra Pradesh.

The yet to be unveiled statue of Godse was demolished by activists of the Gandhi Mandapa Committee.

Violent Protest

The protesters from GMC seemed well prepared to cause disturbance and had brought with them pickaxes, crowbars and other weapons with which they demolished the statue and shouted slogans against what they termed as

Glorification of the Mahatma’s killer.

After the demolition the enraged activists even threatened to intensify the agitation if the statue was allowed to be installed.

But what the protestors don’t understand and appreciate was that their act constitutes to breach of democracy and fundamental rights. The statue in question was slated to be installed in a private property by Gollapudi Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, an advocate by profession and an ardent follower of BJP. Though a native of Andhra Pradesh, he has been named after the founder of Jana Sangh which has become BJP now.

Mukherjee continues to be an active member and follower of BJP and said that he has every right to install the statue in his private property.

I have made the statue with my money and I am installing it on my own land. Why are they objecting to it?

he asked.

Mukherjee had announced plans of unveiling the statue on Thursday on his private plot of land allotted by the Housing Board. But followers of Gandhiji, took offence and felt that it was an insult to the memory of the father of nation and an act of treason and hence went on rampage. Post demolition members of the GMC collected the debris, went to the police station and deposited it there demanding the arrest of Mukherjee.

Appa Rao, a committee member of GMC, said hundreds of local youth had taken part in the freedom struggle and gone to jail inspired by Gandhiji and instead of the great man’s statue his assassin’s idol was being installed in the city.

On the other hand, Mukherjee had planned to unveil the statue on Wednesday in memory of Godse’s death anniversary. He had even distributed pamphlets seeking people’s participation in the event. The pamphlet’s come out vehemently against Gandhiji and accuse the father of nation of being responsible for the country’s partition and its communalisation.

Mukherjee declared that he would approach the court and get the GMC members who ransacked his property punished and also seek his right to install Godse’s statue.

This can happen only in India. Installing the statue of the man who murdered the nation’s foremost icon. On the other extreme are the violent followers of the man who propogated only peace and non-violence.

What a contrast?

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Source: Deccan Herald