Larger than life

Recently, I was reading an article about last days of M.K Gandhi. No doubt, he was the foremost figure in independence struggle. Yet, during the final stages of Quit India Movement, his hold on Congress loosened. With the announcement of Nehru as his political successor in 1942, center of power drifted apart from him. Also, this can be attributed to his failing health due to malaria attack while he was imprisoned to contain the Quit India Movement.
When British Cabinet mission proposed to divide India into many dominions, Gandhi saw it as precursor to partition and advised congress to reject the proposal. But the divisive politics followed by INC and Muslim league, prompted Nehru and Patel to accept this proposal. Then onwards, the politics for power became prominent, and the nationalist principles of Gandhi took a backseat. The situation worsened for Gandhi with riots engulfing the nation and his status reduced to a mere social reformer without much say in political decisions.
I feel that his assassination brought about significant changes in Indian politics and played a major role in defining the policies of Congress for a greater good. With his assassination, he provided the nation a God to worship. Nation found the angel in whose name masses can be unionized and controlled. He rose above the linguistic, religious, regional boundaries and helped in coordinating a new-born India under one name. He gained instant popularity as a mahatma and ignited a compunction in general public about the riots which helped in quelling them. Patel used his name to integrate the various provinces into a union.
Also, there was serious conflicts of ideas between Patel and Nehru in the congress which could have led to its division. But Gandhi's death called for both of them to show dearness to Gandhi and show a united front. For many decades to come, congress projected its image in conformity with Gandhi. Even though his idea of India was too idealistic, with no consumerism and called just for minimal sustenance. He was strongly against Industries. and wanted people to remain happy by spinning charkha. Though such ideas of self entrepreneurship were helpful to the rural economy but India had to be at pace with the rest of the world. He was of the view that with industrial revolution, even a small island like Britain has been able to inflict rapacious atrocities on world.
He would have provided a lot of resistance to modernistic Nehru. His death must have helped Nehru in pursuing his visionary dreams.
The remorse and compunction generated from the demise of such a great soul helped India remain united despite of so much diversity. Such was the glory of Gandhi whose life gave birth to India and whose death made India.

go goa!!

Goa has always been considered a place reminding beautiful romances of Raj Kapoor movies, or the fun filled, extremely cozy ambiance depicted in 'Dil Chaha hai'. It has always led India in providing a homely and alluring environment to millions of foreigners with mesmerizing beaches covered with date palms creating a hypnosis. Goa has always been associated with fun, frolic and freedom.
But some recent incident link it with drugs,despoil and death. With tourists becoming the receiving end of protests against the SEZ, with Goa becoming a heaven for drug peddlers, with foreigners being brutally murdered and raped, Goa is no more a reason to celebrate.

Citizens have to understand the long-term impacts of their ethnic mistreatments. Government should provide a good example by maintaining order of law and by punishing the convicts, instead of scaring the incomers by giving them "How to protect yourself in India" brochures. Police has to come up to the situation and should remain vigilant so as to avoid such heinous acts in public places like beaches.

With World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) identifying India as one of the foremost growth centers in the World in the coming decade, such incidents are definitely a matter of both disgrace and concern. India cannot afford to vilify its image of hosts who treat their guests like Gods to an insecure country with crowds of barbarous savages.
Hopefully, with the laid-back, peaceful, warm and friendly nature of the Goan people, the 'pearl of orient' will remain the 'tourist-paradise' in India.