Gandhi in The Handmaid’s Tale

All interactors:

These are a couple of final janitorial comments on this board.

First the pictures are from the public domain, and a simple link would have been sufficient to direct the seekers to the source.

But we are talking the chowk crowds – not seekers. They need to have the facts brought face-to-face – and they need those pictures right here – not selected ones – but ALL the pictures – staring right into the face!

This crowd is good with words – the strength of a picture is not that it is worth a thousand words (which I honestly do not buy – I know I have a tough time coming up with a thousand of ANYTHING) but that the pictures are much more difficult to weasel out of by using fast talking techniques and lubricious words.

So let the article tell whatever its author wishes to tell – those pictures will be there – these are unable to be countered through selective misuse of available information or with made-up information from the wackiest of sources. The pictures tell a different story – they tell the real story – and perhaps it is because the pictures can not be countered that some of those people appear so frustrated. One needs pictures to counter pictures – and guess what – there just aren’t any!

The picture forces you to look at the truth – straight in the face – and that can be disconcerting for some – if it runs counter to a life-time of conditioning. I understand that!

The question on whether Gandhi was made-up or genuine, woman basher, and all those choice expletives – are not new ones – the Mahatma was very open with his thoughts and always discussed them out loud. He was always trying to better himself and always trying to identify faults in himself to correct – so as to touch the OTHER person – sacrificing himself if necessary – so the OTHER person would feel something inside himself. Impractical idea perhaps, but it seemed to work at the time – at least for a while!

The Mahatma is dead – he does not care any more!. Godse took care of him – had he not, the one sharing the first three letters of that name would surely have by now!

The Mahatma indeed rocked when he was around. The world knows it. It is immaterial what a couple of individuals or any “behind the scene” individuals – for all of whom the objectivity is highly suspect and motives very suspicious – would say on that count

And the Mahatma indeed rocked when he was around. It is well-documented. Not through these pictures alone – but in countless other ways – the most concrete being some of his results! Like with everything else in life when all is said and done – only the results count!

He is no more around and no more rocking!

Can we rock like he did? Somehow, I doubt it.

First of all, we are the type of people that specializes in talking – not rocking!

Secondly, we need to have the desire to accept the truth – a desire that is highly lacking in our culture in general – but especially so on the Pakistani side (sorry Pakistanis, the janitor always calls it like he sees it)! The various manifestations of that problem have been the subject of countless discussions – and in keeping with our cultural traits – are likely to stay exactly that and little else!

So, we will always be looking for a scapegoat! We would rather find a scapegoat than a solution!

Therefore, if we are NOT rocking, we will always find somebody else to blame! The Pakistani crowds have become EXTREMELY well-versed at that game at the national level! The Indian crowds are only recently starting to catch up – trying to make up for the lost time using a regional approach! The trend is not going away any time soon – and certainly not through using underhanded sneaky manoeuvres.

Accordingly, let us leave the merits/demerits of this pathetic article or even this writing pair aside for a minute – if this pair (or perhaps the trio) needs a dead Mahatma to help pull it out of a quandary or its country out of the hole it has willingly climbed down into – let it!

I’m sure the Mahatma would have happily made himself available for that! That’s the type of person he was and that’s why he used to rock!

Sincerely,
Beej.

Netizen,

Manto miya still doesn`t see despite 600+ posts by Beej with Gandhi in pictures... how any of this proves anything otherwise...

Thanks for looking at the pictures!

Sincerely,
Beej.

Re: # 1016

kaalchakra:

behram, unfortunately, has made his conclusion even before looking at the facts

i initially thought he was ignorant but now realise he just hates gandhi. he has not come back with his views on jyostnas article.

i don`t think there is any point discussing with him.

Re: # 932

jinnah from being an ambassodor of hindu-muslim unity to ``hindus and muslims are two different nations``

according to your definition, jinnah too is out of integrity, isn`t?

#932 by behram1

``Just as an example, he suggested that India would not be partitioned, yet he lived to see its parttion. Now according to my definition this put Gandhi out of integrity.``

Behram akalband
Are you a complete idiot? Did Gandhi partition India? Gandhi tried his best to avoid partition. What were you expecting? That he should kill himself? And what was guarantee that your Jinnah would have stopped demanding his sultanate even after that.

Can I cite an example? Jinnah stated that Kashmir will fell into his lap as a ripe fruit. That didn`t happen. So that puts Jinnah out of integrity.

Behram baba, do you really know what integrity is? When you are trying to attribute those ``jews hated Gandhi`` and ``parsis hated gandhi`` statements, can you quote even one example? I will be able to quote 5 times examples to the contrary and then will check if you have any integrity left.

Man, if Richard Attenborough knew you had all these pictures, he would have saved himself all that trouble!

You may want to hold some for a later date. Or, are you punishing Chowk editors for publishing this article? :)

Consider saving some pictures, in case Chowk editors don`t learn from this experience. LOL

Beej

Even a vegetarian cat likes to play a little with an authentic little mouse.

I am almost done, for a while anyway :)

---

Where on earth did you get those pictures?! That`s authentic (in the world of men, not mice)!

Dear Respectable Mr. Behram1

Did everyone miss your answers, or has some inauthentic enemy of yours gotten hold of your computer?

I was concerned about your physical safety. But this is spiritual harakiri :(

Hopefully, you will regain your very authentic cool. (Is it still overly hot in your nook of the woods?). I am disappointed that you let inauthentic scum of the earth Gandhi and his minions spoil your loveable mood. Don`t allow that to happen again.

Your most respectful friend

P.S.: You are using up even my share of respect! You have to start earning at least a part of your share.

Dear Respectable Mr. Behram1

In our obviously-not-great country love is given to friends and respect is given to respectable people. I assume you are both a friend and respectable.

First you assigned Gandhi divine powers to look into the future. Then you opined that he possessed magical abilities to single-handedly prevent India`s partition. Now you are suggesting his Jesus-like Resurrection!

Do you know what some of your countrymen (and women) may do to you if your opinion of Gandhi`s prophethood spreads in your friendly neighborhood?

Kindly don`t delay the answers too long. As a friend, I obviously wish you a long life, but life is inherently hazardous.

Respectfully sending you some dark dresses that may come in handy should you have to suddenly leave your home and hide from your neighbors.

Your deeply worried but still curious friend

PS.: Do you neighbors respect you enough to pardon your authentic words of blasphemy?

Re: # 952

Dear kaalchakra:

Now that it has been proven beyond a shadow of doubt that Gandhi was inauthentic. Bringing Parsis into the conversation, or jain, or kathiawari, or any other ethnic background shows how corrupt your thought is.

Respectfully submitted,

Behram B. Atashband

Re: # 946

Dear kaalchakra:

Please allow me to answer your last para first..
[It`s probably too soon to inquire if you need addtional bags of respect for yourself. But as a friend, I would be remiss in not asking. Do you?]

I wonder if your people in India sell bags of respect. If you do then why don`t you get some for yourself, and some for sridhar, and of course some for beej. His picture posting is asking for bags of respect.

As for myself, I would never buy Indian respect.

All of the questions you ask is for Gandhi to answer before his stupid actions.
No, the world does not call him a saint [The world calls the man a saint].

Most of us on this site called him a failed politician. I called him an inauthentic person.

Respectfully submitted,

Behram B. Atashband

Dear (hopefully still) Respectable Mr. Behram1

A man as deeply authentic as you must have authentic explanations of his valued opinions. We are eagerly awaiting your answers. Do you have some private information that Gandhi went around calling Parsis ``Parsee idiots.`` May be when he was a little kid in Gujrat? For many people that should be proof enough. (Not that I would have strong opinions regarding the alleged idiocy of Parsees, but you are not me - you are an authentic man.)

Don`t let the scum of earth, Gandhi and his minions, get to you. You focus on following better leaders, so you can remain full of self respect and respectable (you would agree, you do have some distance to cover).

As respectful as ever,

I remain your alarmed friend

P.S.: It`s not just respect, I can also send some medicine, if you have the Doctor`s prescription. Or, we can call Dr. Sridhar`s office.

Re: # 930

Dear kaalchakra:

Thank you for being kind and using the word ``respect`` constantly in your posts. It appears that someday you will like it and will make yourself available for people to show you some respect.

Since you chose to be Sridhar`s minion, please convey my best wishes and check to see if a good paki sugar cane has reduced the [atash] in his [gaand]. Maybe we could ask a ``jarrah`` to help diagnose his other diseases.

Please be assured, I know how to deal with scums.

Respectfully submitted,

Behram B. Atashband

Dear Respected Behram1 Ji

``(Gandhi) suggested that India would not be partitioned, yet he lived to see its parttion. Now according to my definition this put Gandhi out of integrity.``

Much appreciate your perceptive words. Are you suggesting that were Gandhi an authentic man he would have committed suicide when India was going to be partitioned (so he would not have lived to see it)? Or that he should not have suggested that India would not be partitioned? The world calls the man a saint, but you are also giving him divine power to see the future? Or that he should have invoked some strange power to frustrate the designs of those who wanted to partition India?

It`s probably too soon to inquire if you need addtional bags of respect for yourself. But as a friend, I would be remiss in not asking. Do you?

Respectfully and lovingly waiting to learn your opinions.

Re: # 927

Dear kaalchakra:

My reasoning for suggesting Gandhi as a person out of integrity is from my definition of integrity. To me integrity is to do what I say. Obviously Gandhi remained out of integrity most of his lfe. As such, he is not authentic.

Just as an example, he suggested that India would not be partitioned, yet he lived to see its parttion. Now according to my definition this put Gandhi out of integrity.

Respectfully submitted,

Behram B. Atashband