August 14, 2007

அன்பு நண்பர்களே!

இந்தியாவின் 60ஆம் சுதந்திரத் திருநாளான இன்று சீனு தாத்தா என்று அன்புடன் அழைக்கப்படு 76 வயது நிரம்பிய அன்பர் நம் நாடு ஆங்கிலேய ஆதிக்கதிலிருந்து சுதந்திரமடைந்த பொழுதுதான் கண்ட கேட்டவற்றை நினைவுகூர்கிறார்.

மஹாத்மா காந்தியடிகளின் வாழ்வில் முக்கியமான சம்பவம் ஒன்றை அவர் ஆங்கிலத்தில் எழுதியுள்ளார். அவ்விவரத்தைக் கீழே படியுங்கள். இதைத் தவிர இந்தியாவின் முதல் துணை ஜனாதிபதியாயிருந்த டாக்டர் ராதாகிருஷ்ணன் மற்றும் முதல் பாரதப் பிரதமர் நேரு ஆகியோர் ஆற்றிய முதல் சுதந்திர தின உரைகளை ஒலிப்பதிவு செய்து அதனை எழுத்தில் வடித்து

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சுதந்திர தின சிறப்புக் கட்டுரைகளாக வழங்கியுள்ளார். அவற்றையும்
படித்து மகிழுங்கள். தாத்தா சீனு எழுதுகிறார்:
Gandhiji's Noakhali Peace Mission (From a speech under the Heading Gandhi's ' Human Touch' by Lecture by Professor Madhu Dandwate I said I will begin from the end and move backwards. I will,therefore, take you now to Noakhali. There were 'brave men' in Indiawho from house tops were saying: "Hindus are being butchered, they aresubjected to atrocities in Noakhali and we must save them." But, therewas only one Gandhi and his peace mission went to Noakhali. TheNoakhali episode and Gandhi's peace March brings out his courage aswell as compassion.
I will give some of the instances which I gatheredfrom no less a person than Sucheta Kripalani, who had accompaniedGandhi on his peace mission to Noakhali. Gandhi went from village tovillage. He carried holy books with him. He went to every village. Heappealed to all the men and women, Hindus as well as Muslims, toensure peace. They offered prayers and Gandhi made them take a pledge that they will not kill each other. But he waited for a few days inevery village to see that whatever pledges that were given were implemented. There was a moving incident at one village. Gandhivisited that village. He asked the Hindus and Muslims to come out oftheir hutments for a common prayer and a common pledge for peace. Noelderly person turned up. He waited for half an hour, not even oneHindu or Muslim turned up. Gandhi was very ingenious. He had carried aball with him and then addressing children from the village he said:"Small kids from this village, your parents are frightened of eachother but what fright you can have? Elderly Hindus and Muslims mightbe frightened of one another. But children are innocent. You arechildren of God. I am inviting you to play the game of ball.
"The Hindu and Muslim children started moving towards the dais where Gandhiwas sitting. Gandhi threw the ball at them. Boys and girls threw itback. He played for half an hour and then he told the villagers: "You have no courage but if you want that courage, induct it from yourchildren. A child belonging to the Muslim community is not afraid ofthe child belonging to the Hindu community and so also, a Hindu childis not frightened of a Muslim child. They have come together, theywere playing with me for half an hour. Please learn something fromthem. If you have no inner courage, try to emulate it from yourchildren." And one after another elders - both Hindus and Muslims -started coming. A big gathering assembled. He made them take a pledgethat they will not kill each other. He stayed there for sometime. Thenhe went from village to village and brought peace to Noakhali. Whattype of human experience he had? Horace Alexander, an eminentjournalist of those days, gave a story to one of the leaders. He saidthat when Gandhi's prayer was going on in one village, all of a suddena Muslim person pounced on him. He caught his throat.
Gandhi almost collapsed. While falling down Gandhi recited a beautiful quotation from the Quran. Hearing the words of Quran, the Muslim, instead of throttling Gandhi, touched his feet and with a feeling of guilt he said: "I am sorry. I was committing a sin. I am prepared to remain with you to protect you. Give me any work, entrust to me any task, tell me what work I should do?" Gandhi had a sense of humour and compassion. He said: "Do only one thing. When you go back home, do not tell anyone what you tried to do with me. Otherwise there will be Hindu-Muslim riots. Forget me and forget yourself. "That man went away with a feeling of repentance.

Jaihind!

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