Bhupinder Singh

The title of mahatma is a symbol given to spiritually enlightened beings who are ahead of others in the journey towards the final destination - Sachkhand. The crowds start to congregate around these pious people as divinity of these great souls becomes known.

Buddha was raised to the status of Mahatma after he achieved enlightenment under the Bodhi tree at Gaya. Initially people considered him a nuisance in orange robes and closed the door on him when he went begging for food while practicing humility. Buddha is known to have gone hungry for days, but he never harbored malice in his heart. Evidentially, Buddha did not enter into and try to justify the Varna (caste) system that promotes differentiating people based on the purity of races.

In my opinion the evolutionary progress of a spiritual person is somewhat like this: 1. Mahatma, 2. Dharmatma, 3. Rishi, 4. Yogi and 5. Guru. In Sikhism, however, Guru has a special meaning. Although Brahmgyani, Gyani, Sant, Sadhu, Mahapursh are in general the stages of spirituality recognized in Sikhism. Sikhs believe that one cannot attain the status of a Guru like the ten Sikh Gurus and Aad Guru Granth Sahib on which the tenth Master bestowed Guruship for ever. The recorded Gurbani is considered as supreme and the holy book is considered a living Guru.

The prince, Buddha, did not take interest in the royal executive duties and adopted the path of Samadhi (spirituality) against the wishes of his father. In comparison, Mohandas K. Gandhi has not known for his interest in spiritual things beyond praying and visiting the temple in his later years. As a matter of fact Gandhi was too busy with his political life to concern himself with the superfluous. No one is sure if he earned even an initial status of a sadhu or a guru, divinity being an infinite distance away.

A logical question arises, therefore, as to the justification of the title of Mahatma for M.K. Gandhi given to him by Rabindranath Tagore, during an emotionally weak moment and in a hurry, perhaps. Deserved or not Gandhi accepted the usage to further progress in his chosen field. It is no secret that the simple and deeply religious masses, in the midst of turmoil created by the World War and freedom movement, raised him to new heights as a result of his newly acquired 'super status' of 'mahatma'. Gandhi was now raised to the level of Gods and Devtas; a status that he may have missed entirely if destiny had not interfered and moved him from South Africa to India.

Neither the world nor the Indian public bestowed this title on him; instead, it was the media that propagated that effectively propagated this title. Gandhi’s own writings, speeches, eyewitnesses and history stand behind the life he led, the philosophy he adhered to, and the political moves he made to the chagrin of the British. Ample evidence is also in existence to prove that he was indeed a human of uncommon political abilities, leadership, and like a businessman had the ability to plan ahead. However, not a hint of divinity is discernable, throughout the course of his life.

If Gandhi is called a mahatama then leaders like Abraham Lincoln, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Ashoka, and other humanitarian and benevolent kings and a host of world leaders of the present and past deserve a similar prefix.

In the late eighties, at a Hindu religious ceremony in a house with its basement walls decorated with beautiful pictures of gods and goddesses, I noticed Gandhi's picture poster alongside that of Lord Rama and Krishna. At the end of the function, and as matter of interest, I enquired of my host (a College teacher) as to the purpose of including Gandhi's picture with that of Hindu gods and goddesses. My host replied that it was due to Gandhi’s popularity with the devotees in attendance, and then hurriedly moved away before I could ask for any further clarification. (At another time someone mentioned, "give it another century and Gandhi will be made into an icon of worship by the admirers in his home country").

I wondered about other gods around the world, who infact belonged to the above category of famous heroes, based on perception, real or unreal. The examination of historical facts is necessary in order to arrive at a point from where we can clearly see the truthfulness of history, and are then in a position to make up our minds freely and with clarity. It must be added that Shri M.K. Gandhi's dedication to the cause for which he gave the best years of his life is to be commended.


Copyright ©2005 Danny Chan. About the author