HAUNTED SOULS STILL HOVERING

HAUNTED SOULS STILL HOVERING

Dr K Prabhakar Rao

The moral side of any action is a function of the period, time, era, nation, society and even murder committed in retaliation by some men against those of an occupying nation are passed off as heroic deeds and patriotic acts and such men are called martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the cause of the nation. They are innumerable examples to quote. They are highly glorified and memorials are erected too in their memory.

Its is widely known that the entire family of Russian Czar Romanov was summarily shot dead after the Russian revolution in 1917 at the behest of Vladimir Lenin who subsequently became the Russian supremo of USSR. No one has raised finger against Lenin. He was worshipped as Hero and was never convicted. He continued to be the great grand hero till USSR broke up and collapsed . Subsequently Lenin’s statues were thrown in dust bin and broken too. Now every one has almost forgotten him. Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev were convicted for throwing bombs in Assembly hall of Punjab during Indian freedom struggle and were sent to gallows. They were also accused for the murder of Police officer Saunders whom they shot dead after Lala Lajjpat Rai the lion of Punjab succumbed to blows during a lathi charge on a crowd demonstrating against Simon commission. To day these men are martyrs to Indians while for the Englishmen they were just criminals and hence were hanged. We are no doubt are very proud of their sacrifices and achievements. Scores of women, men and children were shot dead by troops ordered by Gen Dyer at Jallianwallah bagh in Amritsar during Indian freedom struggle when they collected at an enclosed garden to protest against Rowlat act that was draconian. There was great national indignation. However British officers were rewarded with promotions and awards. Shaheed Uddham singh Alias Mohammed singh Azad of Punjab took revenge after 20 years for this act. He was a child during the massacre and he grew up, went all the way to England, planned and waited for the opportunity and shot dead Michael O Dwyer the former governor of Punjab at Coxton hall in London. Lord Zetland was severely injured. Uddham singh was arrested, tried and hanged at Pentanville prison. He has gone down the Indian history as a great patriot and Martyr while in English records he remains a convict and assassin. His remains were brought back to India some time ago and were cremated with great honors. A district has been named after him in Punjab.
Similarly we remember Chandrasekhar azad, Ramprasad Bismil, Madanlal Dhingra, Surya sen and many more who cheerfully laid down their lives. Netaji and his associates were great patriots and we honor them. In British records they are considered criminals who waged war against the crown. Netajis disappearance is a great mystery and they are many rumors including his death at the hands of British agents, Russian hand, air crash after WW II. Some claimed that he lived in India in the guise of a Sadhu. Netaji would have been tried for war crimes and waging war had he been captured.INA officers were however were tried at Red fort after WWII for waging war. They were of course were let off..Netaji has not been given due credit in this thankless nation after independence and it is only after fall of congress power he got some recognition. His photo was kept in Parliament and his state was erected in Parliament.

Bhiderwale abetted Khalistan movement and the Sikh militants killed many intellectuals in Punjab including Sant Longowal and many innocents too They waged war against India in the form of terrorism.Finally an army action was required to flush out the fugitives from the holy golden complex and scores were killed in the action including Bhinderwale and Retired Gen Shabeg singh who infact turned the temple complex into a fortress. To day Sikh militancy is over and has been wiped out mostly due to the strong actions of Ex DGP Gill. But many Khalistanis are taking shelter in Canada, Pakistan, Germany and UK. For Indians Bhinderwale was a terrorist who master minded the war against India while for the Sikh militants of Kahlistani movement he remains a great hero and is worshipped..

In south India Polygor Veerapandya Kattabomman of Panchala kurichhi of Tamil nadu waged war against the East India company much before 1857 war and was defeated and was hanged with his associates. He is highly revered by us and is glorified. We have rebuilt his fort and worship him. For Englishmen he was a rebel and criminal.Rani chennemma of Kittur in Karnataka took up the sword to fight off Esat Indai Company and rebelled against their power and refused to surrender her kingdom afte her adopted son was not accepted by the governor. She fought bravely and even killed governor Thackeray the governor in Kittur battle during early 19 century. She was defeated, captured and put in prison at Bailhongal fort where she passed away. She is a great patriot for us while for Englishmen she was a rebel. Velu Thambi the PM of Travancore Cochin state in south India led a revolt against East India Company in early 19 century and was defeated after many battles and he committed suicide to avoid capture. He is a great patriot for while English men teat him as a rebel.

Alluriseetha Ramaraju of Andhra coastal agency areas revolted against The English government in last century and was defeated, captured and shot dead summarily. He has become a great martyr for Indians while for English men he was a just rebel and criminal. Adolf Hitler was most hated who shot himself when allied troops occupied Berlin during WW II. It has been learnt that in an African country his statue has been erected. Even to day in Germany there some sections that worship and glorify him.

In Andhra Pradesh Kondapalli Seetha Ramiah was once a terror to police and he led the Naxals very effectively. He became a legend in his own life time. Police men were after him as the most sought after criminal while for Naxals he was the grand leader and hero.( In the end he surrendered to police in old age and sickness and died in course of time). Komaram Bheem in Adilabad district waged guerilla war against former Nizam and was killed in exchange of fire. He is considered as a great martyr and his memory is being revived today.

During 1857 war at the end Major Hodson of a cavalry regiment shot dead Mughal princes, sons of Last emperor Bahadur shah Zafar at Delhi Khooni Darwaza ( Gate) after they were captured. It was a summary execution. The military officer was decorated and escaped any criminal action. He was glorified. A Regiment of cavalry was named after him called Hudson’s horse. Indian Army shamelessly continued with the name even after independence celebrating raising day of the regiment. In fact, Major Hodson deserved hanging after committing the crime. But Englishmen glorified him. Probably it has been renamed now. Many heroes of 1857 war were captured and hanged by the East India Company. Tantya Tope the Maratha commander was one of them.

Thus we see that certain murders and assassinations committed by some men who we call as patriots were mere criminal actions in the eyes of others when they were rulers. Thus these actions become debatable. For one section these would be criminal acts while for others i.e. for the aggrieved section the same acts would be patriotic. All the above examples given above fit into this category.

Coming to assassination of MK Gandhi, father of Indian nation, Nathuram Godse editor of Marathi news paper Agrani was hanged for committing the crime of gunning down the old man during a prayer meet at Birla Mandir at Delhi on 30 Jan 1948. His friend Narayan Apte was also hanged along with Nathuram for procuring the pistol from Dr Parachure of Gwalior with which the act was committed. Madan lal Pawah, Gopal Godse, and Vishnu Karkare were sent to transportation for life. Dr Parchure, Kistiah, Badge ( approver) and Veer Savarkar were acquitted. Gandhis murder was widely condemned by all sections, probably many would have anticipated. The partition, Communal riots, Murders, rapes during population exchange put great strain on the society in those days. The tensions and anger were very high and Gandhi was mostly blamed for the appeasement of minority community during all his actions and even after partition. The anger was very high. Statement of Nathuram was banned by the Indian government. It was got published after a legal battle by his brother Gopal Godse after his release in 1964. The tempers cooled partly by that time and memory of partition faded into past. A generation almost changed by that time.

In view of Nathuram Godse, M K Gandhi although sacrificed greatly for the freedom struggle he had no right to vivisect the country and he thus lost his right for a natural death. He charged that MK Gandhi deceived the nation. The members of Hindu Sabha were highly critical of Gandhian policies of Muslim appeasement. In his statement Godse said:-

“If devotion to ones country amounts to sin, I admit I have committed sin. If it is meritorious I humbly claim the merit there of. My confidence about moral side of my action has not been shaken even by the criticism leveled against it on all sides. I have no doubt that honest writers of history will weigh my act and find the truth there of some day in future” ( From the published statement of Nathuram Godse).

Above statement shows his conviction that one day in future people living in that period view his act differently. Assassination of MK Gandhi was a tragic event in the world history. This was the outcome of bitterness as a result of partition, exchange of populations, murders, rapes, lootings, burning houses during those eventful days. Gandhiji fast to pay Rs 55 crores to Pakistan against the advice of Patel precipitated the situation and Nathuram Godse the editor of Marathi paper Agrani and a member of Hindu Mahasabha decided to put an end to Gandhi and he shot Gandhi dead on 30 Jan 1948 at Delhi at a prayer meeting near Birla Mandir.He did not appeal for mercy and also requested others not to appeal on his behalf. He was steadfast throughout the trail and climbed gallows without any remorse.. In any country views would be divergent and the situation in India was extremely volatile., Gandhis assassination was not committed for any personal gain and purely was an individual act. Nathuram in his will sattaed that his ashes be immersed in Sindhu river once it flows freely in Akhand Bharat. His ashes were preserved with Gopal Godse at Pune awaiting the creation of Akhand Bharat.. Time only would tell whether Nathurams wish would be fulfilled one day. No one can say what awaits subcontinent in future. Many dynasties have vanished. Emperors have gone to dust. Nations have disintegrated and civilizations have disappeared. Views change, Loyalties change with time, and changes are sure to occur. No one ever thought that Lenin would meet doom and USSR would disappear. No one ever thought that sun would set over the mighty English power. Who imagined that Saddam Hussein of Iraq would disappear? The mighty Chaing Kaishek of China also vanished. No one ever imagined that Shah of Iran Shah pehallvi would also disappear from Iran. To day Gandhian philosophy is seen as inaction, helplessness, weakness, withdrawl and to an extent as impotence or and cowardice. Even statues of Gandhi have dwindled all over the country. At many places they are damaged and broken. Rise of nationalistic forces could lead to dwindling of Gandhian thought and his grip over Indian politics. In the melee of Ambedkarization all over the country Gandhi is relegated to back seat. Many people in India today believe that the present trouble with Pakistan is thec result of Gandhian policy during freedom struggle and it is the gift of Gandhi to the nation. His followers in ahurry to grab ppower had no inclination to adjust with Jinnah. Thus in future axe could fall on legacy of Gandhi who no doubt led nation to independence and in the process unity has been destroyed.

Times change, Politics change, views change and concepts change and we can not prevent changes. Will the souls of the patriots who laid down their lives rest in peace. At present they are restless. They will be at rest only when India is again united. We have fought four wars with Pakistan and could not settle Kashmir. We could not liberate Kashmir. Due to our incompetence Pakistan became nuclear. We allowed it to become nuclear. We frittered away all advantages gained during the four wars with Pakistan and cut a sorry figure. We let off one lakh PW after 1971 without making any demand. India is considered as a country of corruption, inaction, inefficiency, timidity and laziness. We are being brow beaten by tiny Bangladesh. In a short war with Pakistan it would be impossible to force that country to surrender. Pakistan makes no bones about using nuclear bomb if it is seriously threatened. However we have voluntarily accepted tat we would not be the first one to use the bomb. India and Pakistan can only fight a war all the time hoping for some one to demand ceasefire. The cracker display would be over soon. Both the nations would economically suffer seriously. With the scamsters governing at Delhi money is squandered away all the time. Guys are only busy ensuring dynastic succession all the time and there is no other past time. Leaders appear happy with Very big garlands around their necks making mockery of democracy and its spirit.
In such situation will the souls of those who laid down their lives most willingly for the nation rest. Probably the answer is NO. Their poor souls would be hovering over Delhi all the time cursing the leaders for the misrule, partition, exploitation of masses and practicing pseudo secularism while river Sindhu flows calmly in Pakistan un aware of the dirty gamers played during partition and afterwards.

Souls of patriots hover still in the sky
While the Cheats and scamsters rule India all the time
Crores of money are swindled by these rascals and cheats
While kids are pushed into the high chairs before reaching their prime


Dr K Prabhakar Rao