Controversy : Mohandas - A true story of a man, his people and an Empire

Its highlighted by the book that Gandhi was having some extra attention towards Sarla Devi. That is real about Father of Nation and most of the Gandhiwadi are stunnedhttp://www.imagetor.com/out.php/i10575_mohandas.jpg
Recently I happened to see recently released book at someone's place. I got chance to read it for sometimes and thought to highlight some portion of it which cause it to be in limelight.
Its not really any book review but its about Mahatma Gandhi, Father of Nation .
Book has been written by Rajmohan Ghandhi who belongs to Gandhi pariwar.

In Massacre of Amritsar Gandhi visited Lahore in this concern. It was about 1919 October and Gandhi was 50 years old already. There he stayded at home of Mr. Rajbhaj Chaudhary who was imprisoned at that time with other leaders of Punjab. It said that Ghandhi Ji was attracted to his wife Mrs. Sarla Devi & at that time she was taking responsibility of Hindustan (a newspaper then). She was niece of RabindraNath Tagore.

Gandhi I also happened to see Sarla Devi in 1901 where she sung a song for inauguration of Congress's Seminar at Kolkata. Though there is no significant sights that they had any special talk at that time. But Gandhi ji remembered her & its evident in his autobiography.

On the other hand, Sarla Devi was having impressive personality, she was responsible to encourage Bengalis to fight for nation and she was also follower of Swam Vivekanand for sometimes. She married Rajbhaj Choudhari because of her parents who told her that it would safe if she can live away from Bengal as Bengal police was behind her because of her anti - British activities.
After having some time in Lahore, Gandhiji sent a mail to Anasuya Ben that he is having good nice relation with Sarla Devi and she is taking nice care of him, he added that he can't explain this relation.
In Gandhi's Autobiography he mentioned that he was almost attracted to a woman but he then got himself back to track. He mentioned about attraction in last page of his book. (He is talking about his relations with Sarla Devi).
Gandhiji was man who lived for others but there was his one need too, it is said that Sarla Devi gave him Moral support which on the other hand was ignored by his people who lived with always.

Interesting is that Sarla Devi was always with Gandhi when Ghandi was encouraging use of Khadi in Punjab.
Gandhi mentioned in "Navjeevan"(a newspaper) that he is impressed by this woman who is living without his husband (as he is in prison) and so strong with so much confidence.
Also, when Sarla Devi's son Deepak was sent to Sabarmati Ashram, there was some loosening in rules of Ashram for him, it was a matter of unrest in people of Ashram. Later on Sarla Devi visited Ashram herself and most of the time Gandhi was with her, talking to her.
Gandhi's son other near ones asked that what about Kasturba ? He replied that its because of bond of his family that he is on right path. Later on he sent mail to Sarla Devi saying that this relation can't be taken further, she broke out and sent her a mail asking mentioning - she made a mistake to take Bapu (Ghandhi ji) and his rule in her life because she is on the other hand having normal life and happiness. And she asked Ghandhi for his view on this .

Gandhi replied : "The relation of love between you and me can be defined as a bond which is not dependent on body and this can be also between Brother - Sister, Father - Daughter. This relation of thoughts and words and is possible only between two "Brahmcharyas" (people who have controlled on their body needs) .

Gandhi said to Senger that it was his too personal matter that he never mentioned this in his autobiography.
He is a symbol of strong and firm personality but all this stunned many Gandhiwadi. I too believe that he was with strong belief.
But a worthy topic of controversy .. Sarla Devi and Gandhi ji.

iEditor

Its very interesting...on the same, a very sensitive and controversial issue.

I had read about this controversy before in "The Times of India" some days back.

I would like to add some more text penned down by Rajmohan Gandhi in this book.. He had written.. "But Gandhi’s own reflections aided by very strong words from his son (my father), from his secretary Mahadev Desai and from the future father-in law of his son, C Raja Gopalachari, who wrote a strong letter, only made Gandhi realise that he was on the wrong track. He broke the relationship.”

Gandhi ji had a fantasy that the two together might do something for India, but afterwards he ended that relationship.

In having that relationship he showed humanity and in breaking that relationship he showed his toughness and his Mahatmahood.

The most important part of the story is that Gandhi, himself, did not say anything about that affair in his own biography, My Experiment with Truth.

On this question, Rajmohan Gandhi said that Gandhi did not talk about Sarla Devi Choudhary was because he had already hurt her feelings. He could not possibly write about her in his autobiography, as Sarla Devi was still alive then.

So you remember all this nicely..
See

Quote:

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Gandhi's son other near ones asked that what about Kasturba ? He replied that its because of bond of his family that he is on right path.

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he is saying that because of is family bond he got back on right track.

Also, he clearly mentioned that its too personal so had not added in his autobiography.

But it was also a weaker part of it, it just showed that.. afterall. . he is mere human.

Quote:

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In having that relationship he showed humanity and in breaking that relationship he showed his toughness and his Mahatmahood.

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I do not agree of his Mahatmahood because it was his family who forced him to get back to Kasturba.. Mahatman would be if he had realised all this himself because he is still Ideal for many and was then to too many !

influencial ;)

world over there are lot of story on popular men/women - just all are for commercial purpose.

why should we look at personal life of others (gossiping) - a poor taste of cheap journalism.

Gandhiji had many controversial issues ! India is one of them!!