Friends,
Leaders of the great Indian legacy have been the guiding light for the welfare of entire mankind.
Mahatma Gandhi too, has been looked upon as a legend by the entire world. Mahatma Gandhi’s life and thoughts are capable of providing solutions to many problems which holds true even today.
Mahatma Gandhi’s life and work have always been analyzed. But recently a foreign author named Joseph Lelyveld has portrayed Mahatma Gandhi with abnormal and outrageous mentality in his book “Great Soul: Mahatma Gandhi and his struggle with India”. I express my rebuke regarding the same.
The freedom of expression and criticism should never be used as the right to deceit and defame anyone’s character. The abnormal analysis about Mahatma Gandhi made by Joseph Lelyveld has hurt the feelings of not only Gujaratis but of everyone in India who possess modesty and wisdom.
Our anger and rebuke are natural.
We take great pride and honor to have such legendary leaders of the Indian legacy and hence the depiction about Mahatma Gandhi made by Joseph Lelyveld deserves to be despised. This shall not be tolerated under any circumstance.
We wish that the author and the publisher of the book accept their mistake and render a public apology.
Government of Gujarat has already decided to completely ban the book.
I believe, considering the agitation of people in India, even the Central Government shall announce ban on the book with immediate effect.
Friends, be it Mahatma Gandhi or any other National leader born on the great land of India, they deserve our respect and honor. And our self respect must come alive against anyone who tries to defame them or the cultural dignity of India.
While I wish that this thought reaches every Indian who takes pride in being Indians, I also wish that they take equal pride and show enthusiasm for today’s ICC World Cup semifinal cricket match between India and Pakistan being played at Mohali on which everyone's eyes are set.
Come and let’s celebrate this cricket match between India and Pakistan as an opportunity towards Indian unity. Sportsmanship is the mother of all games and let us enjoy this occasion with this faith.
