Gandhi Jayanti
For sure there is no doubt about Gandhi’ s contribution to history is unique and is non-violent but after all in a timely matter extremely efficient actions made an end to the Raj. The Nobel price committee now stated in a non official declaration that is was perhaps the biggest error in Nobel price history that this non- violent person did not got the Nobel price for peace. A late but very appriciated statement
Nowadays is custom that on Gandhi Jayanti the kids make a small show in the school or in communities dressed like Mahatma.
But Indian has more strange and less understandable customs related to Mahatma Even in the 139th year of the Mahatma's birth, the country is 'prohibiting' wearing the Gandhi cap inside jails. The prohibition is contained in the Punjab Jail Manual of 1916 which to date is applied for prisons in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. It says "the wearing of political symbols such as the Gandhi cap and black pugree are (sic) strictly prohibited". A colonial relic from the time the British simply is still remaining in the regulations.
But worse the birthtown of Mahatma is a real mess: Porbandar the place where Mahatma Gandhi was born is now known for its crime, mafia dons and corrupt politicians.
The road to Gandhi's birthplace is overrun with unseemly sights. But the rot, residents say, runs deeper.
“Gandhiji and Kasturba's birthplace has been sold. Everyone here is behind money.
Two years ago, it was money and a bullet that killed business Bharat Modhwadiya's father just outside their home just after dinner with the enemy.
Family and business rivalry is the reasons behind many a murder in Porbandar.
And so it is ensured that that police protection and a gun is never too far away from Modhvadiya.
“You don't know when you will be attacked,” says Modhwadiya.
Organised crime has been plaguing Porbandar for over 20 years now, which is evident only in the city’s outskirts.
The crux of what has turned Mahatmaland into mafialand is the mines that are probably a 100km of coastline, which is a 100 km of natural wealth.
About 20 lakh metric tons of limestone are cut out of Porbandar each year. It is the largest depository of high-grade limestone in Asia and other minerals too.
It is this 200-crore industry that has spawned generations of mafia dons.
The original one - Sarman Munja Jadeja and his wife, the notorious Santokben Jadeja’s stories are echoed through the streets.
Today's mafia king Bhima Dula who is behind the Modhvadiya murder, and behind prison now, is as well known in Porbandar as Gandhiji used to be.
“I have a son, I have sent him to boarding school out of town, I don't want even the shadow of Porbandar to fall on him,” says Modhvadiya.
The police insist Porbandar is peaceful now, but residents say police are pawns in the hands of criminal-politicians who run the mining lobby.
At the last Assembly Elections, a quarter of the candidates had criminal records.
And amid widespread allegations of booth capturing, Bhima Dula's brother won.
He will run in the grips of water and power crisis, an ineffective police and gang wars now.
So with seeing satya and ahimsa as forgotten ideals in Porbandar, what would have Gandhi done?“He would have gone on a fast immediately,” says Palan.
