A movie titled “Why I Killed Gandhi”, set to release on various OTT platforms on January 30, the anniversary of Mohandas Gandhi’s assassination has riled up the entire Congress machinery. The state unit of Maharashtra has gone rogue against its Maha Vikas Aghadi partner NCP, whose MP and actor Amol Kolhe is playing the lead role of Gandhi’s assassin Nathuram Godse in the movie.
Requesting Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to ban the movie in Maharashtra, Congress state unit President Nana Patole said, “If you portray Gandhiji’s murderer as a hero, it is not acceptable. Our country is known for Gandhiji and his ideology. He is celebrated worldwide. Congress will oppose it. We will request Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray not to allow the film to be released in Maharashtra.”
Claiming to represent the rights of cinema workers, the All India Cine Workers Association (AICWA) showed its hypocrisy by writing to PM Modi and demanding a ban on the movie.
The association said, “All Indian Cine Workers Association demands a complete ban on the movie Why I Killed Gandhi which is to be released on OTT Platform in India on January 30, 2022, as this movie glorifies Nathuram Godse the traitor and killer of the father of nation Mahatma Gandhiji. Gandhiji is someone who is admired by the entire INDIA and the world, Gandhiji’s Ideology is a symbol of Love and Sacrifice for each and every Indian.”
Sharad Pawar gives a nod to the movie
Meanwhile, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, antagonizing Congress, supported Amol Kolhe, saying the latter’s decision to act in the movie should be seen as an artist’s choice. Pawar said, “If he played that role, it doesn’t mean he subscribes to Godse’s ideology or views,”
It is pertinent to note that despite being in NCP and previously Shiv Sena, actor Amol Kolhe has played roles like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his son Chhatrapati Sambhaji in the past on television series.
Thus, it doesn’t come as a surprise that he has taken up the challenging role of a complex personality. Although the movie completed production in 2017, it could not been released up until now.
Why eulogies Gandhi, if we are a mature democracy?
The biggest obstacle in the maturity of Indian democracy is manifested in how Mohandas Gandhi, “the father of the Nation” has been eulogised to a God-like status and beyond criticism. He epitomises our obsession with seeking ‘holy cows’ in the larger national perception and then marginalising anyone who dares to speak against such an individual. Therefore, despite all controversies surrounding Mohandas Gandhi, he has been essentially seen as infallible.
Gandhi’s role in the freedom movement has also been exaggerated to an unimaginable extent. While he is portrayed as the one who single-handedly led the freedom struggle, the fact remains that his campaign, or at least a substantial part thereof, was defeatist and lacked purpose.
While he continues to be hailed as the man who freed us from the British, factors like Bose-led Indian National Army’s role, the impact of World War II and the eventual decline of the British Empire have been traditionally ignored despite these factors being the immediate cause of Indian independence.
Let’s debate Nathuram Godse’s civilly
Despite all his shortcomings, and a range of personal and public controversies, Mahatma Gandhi has successfully remained the ‘holy cow’ of India, criticising who is seen as blasphemous. As a necessary corollary, his assassin, Nathuram Godse is constantly vilified.
The consequence is an immature democracy that gets uncomfortable when confronted with the question- Was Nathuram Godse a patriot? After all, the man was an ideologically driven assassin but could he be a terrorist? Was he an enemy of the Indian state?
The historical circumstances in the backdrop of a violent, reckless partition that witnessed crores of Indians die, through no fault of theirs, have often been ignored when judging Nathuram Godse’s side of the story. We cannot simply ignore who pushed the country into such turmoil and left innocent citizens of the country unprepared in the face of one of the most violent events in world history- the partition.
Read More: The Curse of the Surname Gandhi
Congress and its entire existence have been built upon the name Gandhi. Thus, the party does not want any acceptance amongst the masses for Godse. A movie like “Why I Killed Gandhi” is aiming to tackle a sensitive topic and it has ruffled a few feathers in the Congress party.