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Gandhi vs Jinnah

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9 years ago

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Gandhi vs Jinnah

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Sheela Reddy’s book on his traumatic personal life is also a revisionist look at the man better known as the Mahatma 

By Binoo K John

In India’s nationalistic narrative Mohammed Ali Jinnah never got the place he deserved which was totally usurped by Mohandas Gandhi. Few nationalist historians have dared to cast a cynical look at Gandhi’s life and machinations and almost all of them have  chosen to paper over the many warts in Gandhi’s personal, professional and nationalistic  life.

In that sense senior journalist Sheela Reddy’s recently-published Mr and Mrs Jinnah (Penguin) is a welcome relief and offers a daring and clinical insight intothe life of two of the national movement’s biggest stalwarts. The book’s focus is on Jinnah’s traumatic married life to Ruttie, the teenaged daughter of a Parsi upper class family of Mumbai but often the author casts a bright light into deliberately darkened areas of Gandhi’s life which we opted not to see or dwell upon for long. Such acts of Gandhi might be worth a relook.

After all that we have read about Gandhi’s conciliatory attitude towards minorities in the later part of the national movement, his early hatred and suspicion of Muslims is shocking even now as we read it in this book. When Motilal Nehru’s elder daughter Nan fell in love with Syud Hossain, an aristocratic and dashing young Muslim who was editor of Independent and thus had free access to Anand Bhawan, all hell broke loose. In that chaotic and liberal household, where Muslims were considered part of the family, it is no wonder that the beautiful Nan and the attractive Syud fell in love and were almost living together. Motilal espoused liberalism and modernity but when it came to his daughter marrying a Muslim he wavered.  Unlike a liberal Motilal had betrothed her to another Hindu aristocrat’s son when she was just 12 or 13  but Nan, the carefree daughter of a liberal household, had other ideas. She thought that marrying Syud wouldn’t pose any problems in that ‘modern’ household.

After their affair became known, Nan was promptly despatched to Gandhi’s ashram for a cleansing ritual and for dissuading her from marrying a Muslim. Gandhi ran the ashram like a prison and had “bizarre and primeval” rituals. Ashramites lives in utter fear of Gandhi. Gandhi had by then brutally punished a young lady who had fallen in love with another ashramite (not a Muslim) and personally cut off the girl’s beautiful long silky hair, an act which can today be considered criminal.

As part of Nan’s cleansing and ‘cultural reorientation’ Gandhi lectured the sister of the future prime minister about the evil nature of Muslims. She wrote: “He told me when I was at the ashram that this event (Syud affair) had shaken his belief in Mussalmans… what right had you to allow yourself even for a minute to look with love at a Mussalman.” Then later. “Out of nearly 20 crores of Hindus couldn’t you find a single one who came up to your ideals—but you must needs pass them all over and throw yourself into the arms of a Mohammeddan!!!”  Nan who  was nonplussed by all this  wrote: “Poor man! To him  it is inconceivable for a Hindu  and Mussalman to  marry and live happily.”

This statement by Nan about Gandhi’s real beliefs about Muslims can still shock us. Gandhi later confronted Syud and asked him how he dared make love to a Hindu girl who he ought to have looked upon as a sister. Syud, rather flummoxed, said: “Well, I did look upon her as a sister in the beginning.” Neither Syud nor Nan was ever taught to look at people as Hindu, Muslim or Christian. It was Gandhi who tried to ingrain this thought into them.

In fact, Reddy points out in detail that all the characters in the early part of the anti-colonial movement were brought up in extremely liberal, modern atmospheres and most of them rebelled against brahmanical social mores. Aghorenath Chattapadhyay, father of Sarojini  Naidu, for instance, flung his sacred thread into the Ganges at 14, to  rebel against caste. Brought up in an entirely cosmopolitan atmosphere, Sarojini claimed proudly that theirs “was a home of Indians and not of Hindus or Brahmins”. Compared to all this, Gandhi’s ashram was a patriarchal heaven, a medieval, casteist monastery where ashramites were regularly chastised on moral, religious grounds.

Compared to Gandhi’s overtly Hindu and monastic attitude infused with vague notions of celibacy and vegetarianism, Jinnah was completely modern, secular, liberal and had a worldview which now looks similar to that of Nehru.  Jinnah completely ignored or rebelled against his own Muslim Khoja orthodoxy and superstitions. “He not only defiantly dressed like a British gentleman but openly smoked, drank, ate pork and, more seriously, insisted on putting his sister into a convent boarding school despite opposition from his community”, Reddy writes.

Jinnah’s later move towards the Muslim right was largely due to the opposition he faced from Gandhi within the Congress and, of course, other pro-Hindu factions like the Hindu Mahasabha, etc. Jinnah, as is known, had made various attempts to bring the Muslim League close to the Congress but was rebutted by the government and also by Gandhi on various occasions. In 1915, for instance, Jinnah brought the Muslim League close to the Congress by holding the session at the same time as the Congress’s in Bombay, but the proceedings were disrupted.

All details of the Gandhi-Jinnah conflict are known but Jinnah’s role in trying to bring together a Hindu-Muslim political conciliation has been underplayed. Jinnah’s Delhi Proposals were accepted by the Congress but was fiercely opposed by the Hindu Mahasabha at the all-party conference. “Jinnah’s personality dominated both the issues in the Assembly and in the All Parties Conference. Never have I admired him more than now. What dignity and courage in the midst of suffering—what patience, persuasion and real statesmanship he showed during the most trying period of the prolonged conference,” Sarojini Naidu wrote in February1928 when she was in the inner circles of the Congress.

In contrast, such glowing references to Gandhi by senior Congress leaders are rare to find. In fact, during the early phase of the struggle it was Jinnah who had the guts to take the British head on while Gandhi was extremely conciliatory. Once Jinnah joined the anti-Rowlatt agitation led by Gandhi, he resigned from the assembly and plunged headlong into it. “It was Jinnah whom the government feared, considering him a far more dangerous power centre than Gandhi. Unlike Gandhi who sent out mixed signals about his approach to the British government, even volunteering to recruit Indian soldiers for the War effort without placing any conditions, Jinnah took on the British frontally,” Reddy writes.

Gandhi saw in Jinnah both a threat and a rival, so treated him with disdain. Once when Jinnah wrote him a nice letter from abroad asking Gandhi for news about political developments, Gandhi gave him gratuitous advice suggesting that he learn Gujarati and Hindi and asking Ruttie be sent to spinning classes!

Reddy’s book is evidence that in our nationalistic pride and hurt about the formation of Pakistan we failed  to properly understand the role that Jinnah had played in trying for a united Muslim-Hindu  political unity, before he was pushed to a corner and went the other way. Reddy’s book is a serious attempt to look dispassionately at the role that Jinnah played and for once keep Gandhi aside in the narrative of the national movement, so that a we can get a better view of Jinnah the man and leader, minus the blinkers.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Heavy rain disrupts flights, triggers flood alerts as monsoon intensifies across India

Heavy monsoon rainfall disrupted flights in Mumbai, prompted an orange alert in Delhi and led the IMD to issue heavy rain warnings for several states as a Bay of Bengal depression intensified.

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July 6, 2026

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Monsoon

Heavy monsoon rainfall continued to affect several parts of the country on Sunday and Monday, disrupting air travel, inundating roads and prompting weather alerts in multiple states. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that a depression over the Bay of Bengal is likely to bring widespread heavy to very heavy rainfall across eastern India over the next 24 hours.

Mumbai bears the brunt of heavy rainfall

Mumbai experienced one of the most severe impacts of the ongoing monsoon spell after heavy overnight rain and strong winds temporarily halted runway operations at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport for around an hour.

The disruption led to the cancellation of four IndiGo flights, while 13 incoming flights were diverted before operations gradually returned to normal. Flight tracking data also showed significant delays, with nearly 90 per cent of departing flights delayed by more than an hour on average and almost half of arriving flights running behind schedule.

The IMD maintained a red alert for Mumbai after several areas recorded more than 200 mm of rainfall within 24 hours, with some locations receiving close to 300 mm.

IMD forecasts widespread heavy rainfall

According to the IMD, a well-marked low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal has intensified into a depression and is expected to cross the north Odisha coast within the next 24 hours.

The weather system is expected to bring widespread heavy to very heavy rainfall across eastern India, while several other regions continue to remain under rainfall alerts due to active monsoon conditions.

Delhi under orange alert after hottest July day in two years

The IMD has issued an orange alert for Delhi, forecasting a generally cloudy sky with moderate rainfall across the national capital.

The alert comes after Delhi recorded its hottest July day in two years on Sunday, with the maximum temperature reaching 38.6 degrees Celsius. Despite the heat, moderate showers provided temporary relief in several areas of Delhi-NCR.

Chhatarpur recorded the highest rainfall in the region, receiving 49 mm of rain by Sunday afternoon. However, waterlogging was reported in parts of the locality, affecting commuters and residents.

Heavy rain forecast for Tamil Nadu

The IMD has also forecast heavy rainfall at isolated locations in Coimbatore and the Nilgiris on Monday.

According to the Regional Meteorological Centre in Chennai, multiple weather systems, including a trough extending from south Gujarat to Kerala and the depression over the Bay of Bengal, are expected to support widespread rainfall across parts of Tamil Nadu. Other districts along the Western Ghats are also likely to receive moderate rainfall accompanied by gusty winds.

Rain-related incidents reported in Maharashtra

Heavy rainfall also led to several rain-related incidents in Maharashtra’s Thane and Palghar districts.

A 17-year-old boy drowned in the swollen Kamvari River in Bhiwandi, while two people were injured after part of a second-floor balcony collapsed in Navi Mumbai’s Vashi area. Authorities said continuous rainfall also triggered structural collapses and tree-fall incidents in several locations.

With active monsoon conditions continuing across large parts of the country, authorities have urged residents in affected regions to remain cautious and follow official weather advisories.

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Ram Mandir Trust to hold key meeting today amid donation theft investigation

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is meeting in Ayodhya to deliberate on key resignations, review the ongoing donation embezzlement investigation and discuss the temple’s future administrative structure.

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July 6, 2026

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The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is scheduled to hold an important meeting on Monday in Ayodhya as investigations into the alleged embezzlement of temple donations continue. The deliberations are expected to focus on the resignations submitted by the Trust’s general secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra, along with other administrative matters.

The meeting will be held at Mani Ram Chhawni, the monastery of Trust president Nritya Gopal Das. It will be the Trust’s first formal gathering since allegations related to the alleged theft of donations came to light.

Trust treasurer Govind Dev Giri has invited all regular and ex-officio members to participate in the meeting. The ex-officio members include Union Home Ministry Additional Secretary Prashant Lokhande, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister’s Additional Chief Secretary Sanjay Prasad, Ayodhya District Magistrate Shashank Tripathi and former Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Nripendra Mishra.

According to sources, Trust president Nritya Gopal Das is expected to attend the meeting after recently being discharged from hospital. The 89-year-old had been admitted in Lucknow on June 29 due to a urinary tract infection and breathing-related complications before being discharged on Friday.

Senior trustee K Parasaran, who is unable to travel because of age-related health issues, is likely to participate through video conferencing, according to sources.

Administrative changes may be discussed

The Trust is expected to consider the resignations of Champat Rai and Anil Mishra, who stepped down after their names surfaced in connection with the donation theft controversy. If the resignations are accepted, discussions may also take place on restructuring the Trust’s administrative setup.

The role of special invitee Gopal Rao is also likely to come up during the meeting. Besides leadership issues, trustees are expected to receive a briefing on the interim findings of the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is conducting an administrative inquiry into the alleged embezzlement case.

The Trust may also review its future management framework, including the possible appointment of a chief executive officer to oversee the administration of the Ram Temple.

Financial statements to be placed before trustees

Sources said the meeting agenda also includes the presentation of the unaudited income and expenditure statement, balance sheet and other financial documents for the 2025-26 financial year for approval.

Speaking to reporters, special invitee Gopal Rao said all 14 trustees had been invited for the meeting and expressed hope that every member would attend. He added that Trust treasurer Govind Dev Giri had informed all members about the scheduled deliberations.

At present, the Trust has 11 regular members, including president Nritya Gopal Das, Vasudevanand Saraswati, Vishwaprasannatirth, Parmanand Giri, Govind Dev Giri, Krishna Mohan, Dinendra Das and K Parasaran.

Following the resignations of Champat Rai and Anil Mishra, along with the recent demise of trustee Bimlendra Mohan Pratap Mishra, the Trust currently has no vice president to chair meetings in the absence of the president.

Two parallel investigations underway

The meeting comes while two separate investigations into the alleged donation embezzlement are ongoing. The Special Investigation Team is carrying out an administrative probe, and its tenure has been extended until the end of July.

Meanwhile, the police are conducting a criminal investigation after an FIR was registered on the Trust’s complaint.

According to sources, statements of Champat Rai, Anil Mishra and special invitee Gopal Rao have been recorded by both the SIT and the police. However, no FIR has been registered against any of the three Trust functionaries so far.

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PM Modi says India managed Hormuz crisis with minimal impact on citizens through energy diversification

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India successfully navigated the Hormuz crisis by expanding energy imports, reducing the burden of rising fuel prices on citizens and strengthening the country’s refining capacity while inaugurating Rajasthan’s first integrated refinery.

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2 days ago

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July 4, 2026

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PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said India successfully managed one of the world’s most challenging energy crises by expanding its energy sourcing, strengthening diplomatic partnerships and shielding citizens from the impact of rising global fuel prices.

Addressing a public gathering after inaugurating the country’s first greenfield integrated refinery-cum-petrochemical complex in Pachpadra, Rajasthan’s Balotra district, the Prime Minister said India adopted proactive measures during the recent Middle East crisis that helped maintain energy security despite global uncertainties.

According to PM Modi, India significantly diversified its energy imports as tensions disrupted global fuel markets.

“When the crisis began, India was importing energy from around 25 to 26 countries. During the crisis, we expanded imports to more than 40 countries,” he said, crediting India’s diplomatic outreach for ensuring uninterrupted supplies.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the financial measures taken by the government to cushion consumers from soaring international crude oil prices. He said public sector oil companies absorbed losses exceeding Rs. 75,000 crore between April and June while the Centre reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs. 10 per litre to prevent a steep rise in fuel prices for consumers.

PM Modi added that despite attempts by some groups to spread rumours and create panic during the crisis, the government’s efforts ensured stability.

He said those who expected India to struggle during the crisis had been proven wrong as the country successfully overcame the challenge.

India strengthening refining capacity

Speaking about India’s energy infrastructure, the Prime Minister said the country has become the world’s fourth-largest refining hub and continues to expand its refining capabilities to meet future energy demand.

He also said the government’s long-term planning helped India deal with disruptions in fuel and fertiliser supplies triggered by the conflict involving Iran and the US-Israel alliance.

Pachpadra refinery inaugurated in Rajasthan

During the visit, PM Modi inaugurated India’s first greenfield integrated refinery-cum-petrochemical complex at Pachpadra, marking Rajasthan’s first refinery project. He launched the facility by remotely activating the project after inspecting the refinery complex.

The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for several development projects in the state.

Highlighting the government’s approach towards infrastructure development, PM Modi said the BJP governments focus not only on announcing projects but also on ensuring their timely completion.

He also remarked that work on the Pachpadra refinery had remained largely stalled during the Congress government’s tenure in Rajasthan between 2018 and 2023 before gaining momentum again.

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