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As discussed earlier, two processes have been on among
Hindus since the early nineteenth century - modernization
and self-renewal. Of the two processes modernization has
in a sense been stronger,. For one thing, behind
modernization has stood the appeal and power of the
dominant Western civilization, which has been all-
encompassing as no other has ever been. For another, it
has plainly been out of the question to organize the
economy and polity on a non-Western basis. All attempts
to conceptualize an alternative, beginning with Gandhiji
and ending with Jayaprakash Narayan in the 1970s, have
come a cropper. For our purpose, the power and appeal of
modernization is best illustrated by the easy sway Pandit
Nehru acquired in the wake of independence.
Nehru was Gandhiji's lieutenant and heir-designate during
the freedom movement, But he stood for a very different
India from the master's and, as independence approached,
he left the latter in no doubt that he was determined to
have his way. The letters exchanged between them on the
eve of independence speak volumes. Nehru was dismissive
of the Mahatma's approach as outlined in Hind Swaraj
(1908) and the Mahatma acquiesced in it virtually without
protest, though it may be recalled, Gandhiji had taken
the raising the question of what kind of India was to be
built on achievement of freedom, emphasizing that he
still stood by his old vision. Gandhiji did not reply to
the issues raised by Nehru.
Perhaps he realized that he had played his role.
Regardless, however, of whether he realized it or not,
the time was truly up for him. This is not to deny either
his heroic role in the historic importance of his
martyrdom. But, in the final analysis, that only
facilitated Nehru's pre-eminence and the downgrading of
his only potential rival, Sardar Patel,who,
incidentally, was no Gandhian either.
Author : Shri Girilal Jain
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