Mahatma Gandhi

Trust India to throw up surprises when least expected. When it seems the Indian society is finally down and out it rises up like phoenix to soar to new heights on the wings of a new spiritual forces to the astonishment of the rest of the world.
Family tree
17th, 18th and 19th centuries were when India has seen down to the lowest depths of despair, defeat and humiliations. It suffered at the hands of the alien invaders and got trampled upon politically, socially, economically and spiritually. There was no hope. India had lost its self respect and self belief to such a level that it had began to wear the mask of alien cultures and faiths to be able to move around without being jeered at. In 1857 it tried to redeem itself by rebelling against the colonial rulers. The rebellion was quashed mercilessly to tell the Indians that they were incapable of achieving anything, being a bunch of ignorant jokers. It condemned India in to deeper despondency and defeatist mentality.
In such dark period Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi arrived to brighten up the scene for the Indians with the light of an innovative concept, the product of his own experiences of humiliations, insults, injustices and desperations. He snowballed into Mahatma Gandhi through political snow storms.
Gandhi (smelly) family so got its name by trading in incenses, ritual ingredients, and herbal ingredients for local medicines and spices. But the family had given up the traditional business for a couple of generations in preferences to the service of the kings and the politics.
Gandhiji’s grand father, Uttamchand Gandhi was Deewan (Chief Secretary of State) of Porbandar and a nearby state. After him his eldest son, Karamchand Gandhi served as Deewan.
Uttamchand had two wives. The first wife had born him four sons and the second one two sons. Karamchand Gandhi was fifth son among those six who had the fortune of becoming the sire of one who grew into Mahatma Gandhi. Karamchand married four wives. The last of his wives was Putlibai who gave birth to Mohandas. She bore a daughter and three sons. Mohandas was the youngest.
Gandhis had a tradition of honesty, loyalty and courage. So, many of them had to face adverse situations as results.
The grandman Uttamchand was Deewan of the state, a post that was equivalent to the Chief Secretary. In princely state it was a very important and unique post. Being directly connected to the king Deewan was a major power of the state. In a way he was the voice and the right hand of the king. Uttamchand too was a confidant of the king. But he was not a lackey. Whenever required he stood up to uphold the justice and the truth.
Once the queen of Porbandar got annoyed with a merchant over some matter. She wanted to punish the offender. The merchant infact was innocent. He met Deewan Uttamchand and pleaded his case. Deewan assured the merchant that he should not worry as he had done nothing wrong. The merchant went away greatly relieved.
But what could Deewan do in face of a member of the autocratic royal family? Acting or speaking against one could mean treason and immediate dismissal from service. Most Deewans were merely boot lickers of their employers. But Uttamchand was fish of different kettle. He had decided to fight injustice whatever the cost.
He raised his voice against the wish of the queen and forced the judgement in favour of the merchant. He paid the price with his own dismissal from the service. He would not mind or beg for mercy.
His loyalty too was a legend. Once some conspiracy hatched against him made him flee to the neighbouring state of Junagarh. The state was ruled by Nawab. He presented himself to the court of the Nawab. Uttamchand paid obeisance with his left hand which was against the court norms.
When asked to explain his conduct he revealed, “I could not use right hand because it is still in the service of Porbandar court.”
A similar incident happened with his son Karamchand when he was serving as Deewan of Rajkot King. Once British Agent (of the colonial rulers of India) arrived in the court and used some foul language directed at the king. The king didn’t protest because he was helpless against the British Agent.
But Karamchand could not take it. He rebuked the Agent. The Agent raged in fury demanding apology from Karamchand. He refused to apologize. The king asked him to tender apology to the Agent to avoid further unpleasantness. The Agent could create trouble. Karamachand would not listen.
To mollify the Agent the king ordered Karamchand to be sent to the prison. Deewan Karamchand preferred to go to the prison than seek pardon of the British Agent.
Thus, Gandhiji’s father and grandfather also had some unusual streaks.
Gandhiji’s mother Putlibai was an emotional woman. She was deeply religious and believed in rituals, regular prayers and strictly observed fasts. She would not break her routine even in illness. For long periods she would take only one meal a day and for days she would eat nothing. During rainy season her rule was to eat only after paying obeisance to the sun. Sometimes the sky remained covered with clouds for days and Putlibai won’t eat. She would break her fast only after seeing the sun.

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