Mahatma Gandhi tops the list of seven people who never won the Nobel Peace Prize “but should have” in the opinion of prestigious Foreign Policy magazine.

Noting that from Henry Kissinger to Yasser Arafat, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has made some controversial picks over the years, the magazine listed Eleanor Roosevelt, Vaclav Havel and Ken Saro-Wiwa among the other deserving but deprived ones.

Gandhi, the magazine noted “was the spiritual and political leader of the Indian independence movement and an advocate of non-violent resistance as a means to effect social change”.

“History’s most famous pacifist is probably the peace prize’s most famous omission, and the Nobel Foundation has even a web page explaining its side of the story,” it noted.

“Gandhi made the Nobel short list three times: in 1937, 1947, and then posthumously in 1948. In 1937, the committee’s advisor criticised Gandhi’s dual role as a peace activist and political leader of an independence movement, writing that ‘he is frequently a Christ, but then, suddenly, an ordinary politician’”

As India and Pakistan achieved independence in 1947, Gandhi’s crowning triumph was tempered by the violence and dislocation that resulted.

“With tensions growing in the summer of 1947, the Nobel committee hesitated to award the peace prize to someone so closely identified with one of the combatants,” the magazine said.

The committee also seems to have been affected by regional and racial biases; most of the prior awards had been given to white European men, it said.

Although the committee considered awarding Gandhi the prize in 1948, following his assassination, Alfred Nobel’s will clearly required that the award be given to a living person.

However, the decision to not dispense any award that year because “there was no suitable living candidate” appears to be an implicit admission that the committee missed its opportunity to recognise Gandhi’s accomplishments, Foreign Policy said.

It is that time of the year when reverence will be paid to Bapu, the ‘Father of the Nation’.   There will be prayer meetings at Rajghat, the national memorial to Gandhi and, in a manner of speaking, his final resting place.  The prayer meetings will be led by the President, Prime Minister, and other dignitaries of the state.  October 2 is Mohandas Gandhi’s birthday, and the politicians, leaders of society, and other well-wishers and do-gooders in India will be lined up to garland statues of Gandhi, utter a few homilies to the great man, and proclaim his (ever-increasing, it will be affirmed) ‘relevance’ to the world.   And then some of these leaders and politicians will head home – home being one place where the laws of prohibition, a cause dear to Gandhi, cannot be enforced on Gandhi Jayanti – to chat on their cell phones, strike a few business deals, and cook up a few new ways of screwing the much-celebrated ‘common man’.

According to some of Gandhi’s detractors, the old man ought more appropriately to have been designated as the ‘Father of Pakistan’.  His assassin was unquestionably of that view, and many others in India have thought the same though in Pakistan it will be impossible to dislodge the Qaid-e-Azam from his pedestal.  Whatever similarities and differences there may be between Pakistan and India, the laudatory and hagiographic view of Jinnah has not yet taken the kind of beating to which Gandhi has been subjected in India, notwithstanding the halo of divinity which surrounds Gandhi in official pronouncements.

The characterization of Gandhi as ‘Father’ of the ‘Nation’ hides much more than it reveals in many other respects.  It has been argued that Gandhi could be ‘father’ to the nation, but found it difficult to be a father, or at least a good one, to his own sons; but perhaps the more interesting way of putting the designation of father into question is to probe whether he was not also a mother to many.  His assassin, and Nathuram Godse’s admirers among some who serve in high office in Gujarat, never doubted that the effeminate Gandhi was not fit to lead an emergent nation-state in a world that shows no mercy to those who are soft.  Gandhi just didn’t have enough manliness about him, a point that Narendra Modi, who fancies himself a ‘Chota Sardar’, seeks to make by flaunting his masculinity and flashing a sword.  There was, as I argued many years ago in the pages of Manushi, too much of the ‘mother’ in the ‘father’ to make Gandhi palatable to the restless modernizing elements in Indian society, and we are not surprised that one of his constant companions in the last years of his life wrote a book entitled, Bapu, My Mother.

In 1998, when India went nuclear, some stalwarts of the Shiv Sena were heard stating with euphoria, ‘We have shown them [Pakistanis and enemies of other varieties, including, one should assume, secular and ‘pseudo-secular’ Hindu liberals] that we are not eunuchs.’  Assuming, then, that the use of nonviolence did not render him into a eunuch, and that Gandhi did not fail his sons at every moment, did Gandhi abide very much by the idea of the ‘nation’?  Architect of the independence struggle that he was, Gandhi continued to harbor much ambivalence about the nation, or certainly about the nation-state.   His presence in Delhi on 15 August 1947 might have sanctified the idea of the nation-state, but Gandhi chose to be in Calcutta where he was attempting to broker the peace between Hindus and Muslims – more ammunition, of course, for those who always thought of Gandhi as too attentive to the needs of the Muslims.  Gandhi presents an extraordinary anomaly of a political figure who, though having led a country to freedom, had almost no emotional, cultural, intellectual, or spiritual investment in the idea of the nation-state.

So, when the prayers are sung and platitudes fill the air at Rajghat, it also becomes necessary to inquire what it means for the samadhi of the ‘Father of the Nation’ to be at Rajghat, the Ghat of Kings.  There is a civilizational touch, no doubt, in the idea that a commoner – for, in the last analysis, Gandhi held no office and was singularly devoid of possessions – alone commands the place of King of Kings.   At least in principle the idea of celebrating Gandhi’s life by inscribing his presence at Rajghat is congruent with the notion that Indian civilization has honored renunciants, and men and women of wisdom, more than kings.   But Rajghat has become a crowded place, and its other occupants are, with one exception, all previous office-bearers, Prime Ministers and President of India, distinguished and otherwise.  That exception is the wannabe King of Kings, Sanjay Gandhi.  One does really begin to wonder how Mohandas Gandhi landed up in Rajghat.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

Today is the 140th birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, Father of our nation. And I pay my deep-felt respects to him on this occasion.

Mahatma Gandhi is my most favorite historical person. I always am awestruck by his ability to lead a nation towards freedom and that too through non-violence. I sometimes wonder, how he even got the idea. Because that’s a feat which has not occurred either before or after him.

And the not so great things I hear occasionally about him never really managed to affect the magnitude of my admiration for that great soul.

I have a guilty confession to make here – though I proclaim that he is my favorite personality and I’m his ardent fan, I haven’t yet even read his autobiography. It is a task, which I have been procrastinating without any apparent reason.  Actually the thought has slipped away from my mind. Now that I discovered it, I can’t seem to wait to lay my hands on My Experiments With Truth.

I also take this opportunity to bring forth my desire, that had slide into the back of mind long ago, to actively pursue my interest in Gandhian Thought (yeah, seriously! At one time, I thought to take it up as a study ).

Vice-President Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today led the nation in paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi on his 140th birth anniversary.

Mr Ansari, Mr Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Leader of the Opposition L K Advani were among the prominent persons who offered floral tributes at Rajghat, the memorial of the Father of the Nation, here this morning.

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, Defence Minister A K Antony, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and

Ministers of State Shashi Tharoor and Krishna Tirath were among others who came to the memorial to offer their respects.

US Ambassador Timothy G Roemer also offered floral tributes at Rajghat.

Leaders of various religions also offered prayers at the samadhi.

A scene spotted before the elections, where they made posters for publicity. The Father of the Nation must surely wonder where we went wrong?

All the images on this blog are protected by copyright. Please do not copy, blog or repost in ANY way. If you wish to use them please get in touch with me through email.

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Governor, Dr. Ishratul Ibad paying their tributes and respect to the Father of the nation by laying wreathes and offering ‘Fetha’ at the Mazar-e-Quaid here, while the entire nation today is celebrating the Pakistan Day.

I have been reading about Gandhi Ji, Father of the Nation in the past few days.

Gandhi Ji is known to most as Mahatma, the apostle of peace. I don’t have any doubt in him being so. He was the person who took freedom movement to masses. He succeeded in doing something that none other could do. I guess in the same process while preaching for ahinsa he gained the status of Mahatma.

Most people also believe that he was the person who got freedom for us. This is something my mind is not ready to accept. A Mahatma got us freedom from the barbaric British with his charm of Non-Violence. Do you really believe that! In my view non-violence could only prolong the British Rule in India. Trust me, if I had been a British General, I would love Mr. Gandhi for his non-violence as he could never be a threat to me. I would have called him for conferences and meetings through out the world, just to assure him that I am indeed looking forward to accept his demands. I would have been the happiest person if the whole country followed his foot steps and accepted his theory of non-violence.

There was this other group of people who wanted to throw British out of India by any means. They were called krantikari. I have great respect to them, but its hard to believe that a small group of armed people could have thrown British out of India either. May be the krantikaries couldn’t make it as big as they wanted. The major reason would have been the lack of mass support; which was with Gandhi Ji. None the less, I salute their dedication, efforts and their sacrifice for Independence.

If there was really a power that could get us freedom, I sincerely believe it to be Azad Hind Fauj. Only an army could have thrown British out of our nation. But they had great challenges in the form of resources for the war. They had a great beginning while entering the country from Manipur. But the fall of Axis Powers (Japan, Germany and Italy) in world War–II was a great set-back for them. They couldn’t arrange for resources after that.

Who were the people behind India’s Independence? It is my firm belief that the Indians didn’t get the freedom as a result of their own efforts. It may be a disdain, but sachhai kadwi hoti hae. India’s freedom was a byproduct of Second World War. The nations involved in the war had exhausted all their power and money. England was also in a crisis. They had already sucked everything out of India and there was nothing more left for them. India was a non-profitable venture for them. Leaving India was a business decision on their part.

Ultimately we got independence in 1947. Congress and Mr. Gandhi had done enough ground work so that they could take over the governance from British when they left. Congress was in power and as we all know that history is written by those in power. Mr. Gandhi was declared Father of the Nation and Congress took all the credit for India’s Independence. Till today Congress is reaping the benefit of Mr. Gandhi’s name, his principles, and his charisma (which was created by Congress while distorting the history). Now I know that the hunger for power is nothing new for politicians. It exists since Independence.

In the end I just want to mention this funny joke that the Congress has put in the history books, the Hey Ram stuff. If I could go back in history, I would go to the instance of Mr. Gandhi’s assassination and hold my ears next to his mouth just to listen to his last words. How can he believe in Ram! I have read Ramayan and trust me Ram didn’t use non-violence to get his wife back from Ravan. He was just another misguided youth like Bhagat Singh, Chandrasekhar Azad, Netaji and many others who took to violence. But if the stuff was cooked up, their must have been a need for doing so. I don’t want to dig into those needs. Still if someone believes in this Hey Ram stuff, it is up to them. Moreover I wonder how much of our history is cooked by people for their own benefit. And I feel sorry for those who blindly believe such stories and get fooled.

Anyway, Mr. Gandhi is our Father of the Nation and Congress is the party who got us Independence, and I have great respect for both. Jai Ho!!!

Now Indian government is trying to interfere in the Gandhi Auction that is happening in New York on march 4 and 5. It is another election stunt by the Congress party of India. Well, there is a huge Gandhi emotion in India and these kinds of things can definitely improve congress’ chance of making those emotions in their favor. Gandhi’s grandson, Tushar Gandhi, was making all kinds of noise earlier about this auction. Now, it seems govt has decided to appeal to the auctioning body to respect India’s national interest and return those items of Gandhiji to India as a mark of respect. But, if that is not going to happen, Indian govt has also approached some organisations to participate in the auction to buy it and present it to Indian government as a gift. Well, I wonder why is government doing all this. Dont they have any other important work ? Government earlier was thinking about bringing a law which bans auctioning things of their past leaders so that those will be protected by Indian government as part of their rich cultural and political history. Anyway, no law has been passed till now on this. I think Indian government should not run behind these kinds of things. Instead they should give attention to improving the life of their citizens. They should try to eradicate those slums and poverty in other parts of the country. A better standard of living will be the perfect gift for the FATHER OF THE NATION…not preserving his age old things  

Remembering Mahatma Gandhi

It was on this day, January 30, that Mahatma Gandhi had been assassinated by Nathuram Godse in 1948.

An ardent exponent of ahimsa, non-violence, who challenged the then mighty British Empire and achieved Indian Independence without a war, paradoxically felled by a violent bullet.

Mahatma Gandhi was an epitome of virtue, a practitioner of nishkama karma and champion of the downtrodden. While leading the non-violent movement for freedom to the country from alien masters, he vigorously advocated social reforms particularly untouchability.

Mahatma Gandhi advocated religious tolerance and sowed the seeds of secularism. He was a saint who proclaimed that all are equal before God and in the world.

In these days, when Satyam,Truth, has been blatantly replaced by untruths, lies. half-truths and true lies, let us all pay homage to the Father of the Nation, who adored Satyam Shivam Sundaram.

Let Truth prevail and let there be peace on earth and happiness all around.

During those good old school days, October 2 used to be a holiday much looked forward to! Gandhi Jayanthi…yay!!

We used to gear up the previous night itself — with little brooms and knives and hatchets and spades and coir baskets. We used to line up on the streets and clear away the grass and papers and plastic. The next day morning, the streets would be NEAT! All this, for those rounds of fresh, cool lime juice and that feeling of “I’m doing something of importance!” And we’d all proudly show it off to our parents and dig out praises from them

It was something we kids used to religiously take part in, every year — and yes, boast about it next day in class. “I covered almost the entire stretch of road from House No. xa to House No. xm!! Was I tired!” The significance of the act was never questioned.

Once that age passed us by and we entered high school, it became a headache…but for a few more years, we did it grudgingly. “Oh, what’s the point? Clearing the road once a year makes no sense! We should, instead, focus on the nation’s development. Motivate people, instill confidence in them…and create a new mindset in the youth!”

By the time we were college go-ers, it became a nuisance. “Damn! Clean the road? I can’t even dream of getting caught doing such stuff! I’ll lose my image! Anyway, what does Gandhi Jayanthi have to do with cleaning the road? Might as well light up candles, cut a cake and party!”

Today, in most parts of the nation, people with the school-kid mentality still do it. Only, there is no more grass to be uprooted…no more plastic to be cleared…no more papers to be burnt. And people surely needs bigger and stronger volunteers (people with exceptional will power preferred!), bigger spades, huge sacks and trucks to carry off the ‘cleaned up’ mess — wires; spent bomb shells; a hand here; a head there; some must-have-been body part elsewhere; debris of buildings and shops and vehicles — and a well-trained mind that can filter out emotions. But this time, parents don’t praise. They beg these volunteers to steer clear and stay indoors!

People with the mentality of the college go-ers think humans are the only grub on earth — and set out with the mission of “cleaning” them off the planet! They make cake-bombs, light it up and have a blast! Yey! Party time! And then the Political Party-s start their merry-making. Oh yea…these volunteers do try their best not to get caught doing such stuff!

People with the high school mentality blog about it! So…

Blog the change you want to see…

Pakistan’s independence day (also known as Yaum-e-Azadi (Urdu: یومِ آذادی)) is observed on 14 August, the day on which Pakistan became independent from British rule within then what was known as the British Raj in 1947. The day is a national holiday in Pakistan. The day is celebrated all over the country with flag raising ceremonies, tributes to the national heroes and fireworks taking place in the capital, Islamabad. The main celebrations takes place in Islamabad, where the President and Prime Minister raise the national flag at the Presidential and Parliament buildings and deliver speeches that are televised live. In the speech, the leaders highlight the achievements of the government, goals set for the future and in the words of the father of the nation, Quaid-e-Azam bring “Unity, Faith and Discipline” to its people.

Last Year :

Pakistani workers fix a cloth over a billboard showing the portrait of founder of Pakistan, Mohammed Ali Jinnah in preparation for the upcoming Independence Day ceremony, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2007 in Islamabad, Pakistan. Pakistani nation will celebrate its Independence Day on Aug. 14, to mark its independence from the British rule in 1947. The word on the board at right reads Happy Impendence Day.’
Photo by Anjum Naveed

Mahatma Gandhi rarely spoke in English. He would address crowds in Hindi, Gujarati and even other Indian languages but never in English. There have been only two instances when he addressed people in English.

A rare recording of his speech in English made 7-8 months before his assassination has been found in Washington DC. This speech was made to a conference of Asian leaders convened by Jawaharlal Nehru.

Hear it.

Journalist Alfred Wagg recorded the speech in New Delhi on April 2, 1947 and produced four 78-rpm LPs that included both Gandhi’s voice as well as Wagg’s own commentary about the man revered as Father of the Indian Nation.

It had been lovingly preserved for 60 years by John Cosgrove, a former president of the National Press Club in the US capital, who discovered the significance of the recording during a chance encounter with Rajmohan Gandhi, Mahatma’s grandson and biographer.

Gandhi sounds very old in this speech as though he has lost most of his teeth. He spoke on same topics that he did over and over throughout his life: the importance of nonviolence, the eradication of the caste system in Hindu society, amity between South Asia’s Hindus and Muslims, and a world united against violence and exploitation.

This speech was made a day after Gandhi had proposed to Lord Louis Mountbatten, the last British Viceroy of India, that Muhammad Ali Jinnah be made the first Prime Minister of united India. It was a surprising suggestion just the way Abraham Lincoln had invited Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederate States of America, to be president of the United States of America in order to avoid the the Civil War. However, a few days after this speech the plan was rejected by the Congress as well as Mountbatten.

“Christianity became disfigured when it went to the West (referring to the violence of the recently completed Second World War and the anti-Semitism that led to the Holocaust). I am sorry to have to say that, but that is my feeling . . . [the] West today is pining for wisdom. [The] West today is despairing of multiplication of atom bombs, because a multiplication of atom bombs means utter destruction, not merely of the West, but it will be a destruction of the world, as if the prophecy of the Bible is going to be fulfilled, and there is to be a perfect deluge…
…What I want you to understand – if you can – that the message of the East, the message of Asia, is not to be learned through European spectacles, through Western spectacles, not by imitating the tension of the West, the gunpowder of the West, the atom bomb of the West. If you want to give a message again to the West, it must be a message of love; it must be a message of truth; there must be a conquest-” Gandhi’s words are cut off at this point by a rousing cheer.

“Please, please, please,” he says. “That will interfere with my speech and that will interfere with your understanding also. I want to capture your hearts, and don’t want to receive your claps. Let your hearts clap in unison with what I am saying, and I think I shall have finished my work.”

“If you really want to see India at its best, you have to find it in the Bhangi cottage, in a humble Bhangi home (referring to one of the lowest and poorest castes). Of such villages, so the English historians teach us, are 700,000. A few cities, here and there; they don’t hold 7 crores [70 million] of people but the 700,000 villages do hold nearly 40 crores [400 million] of people.”

Gandhi’s other speech in English was on religious issues and was recorded on October 17, 1932 at Kingsley Hall in London.

Hear it.

“In my tour last year in Mysore [State], I met many poor villagers, and I found upon inquiry that they did not know who ruled Mysore. They simply said some God ruled it. If the knowledge of these poor people was so limited about their ruler, I, who am infinitely lesser in respect to God than they to their ruler need not be surprised if I do not realize the presence of God, the King of Kings. Nevertheless I do feel as the poor villagers felt about Mysore, that there is orderliness in the universe.”

 My name is Elvira and Madiyar is my great -grandfather.  I wish to know my great – grandfather. Hard times in the country separated him with his family. There is a big sadness about our family. This tragedy happened during Stalin’s ruling. People were frightened to speak, to work, even to live. Rules were so strict that no one could feel free. Their lives were colourless.  My grandfather’s family had a very difficult time, not because of money or food. Nomads always had cattle to feed and dress their families. Also the main feature of my ancestors was the need to feel free all their life, there is no other way. They worked hard. Because it’s not an easy task to look after many cattle.

As my grandfather told me they lived happily in rather big family (4 children). Thus they lived in harmony with each other and with nature.  Nothing bad seemed to happen.  They say “trouble comes without telling beforehand”. My great-grand father was just not lucky to live in such kind or cruel time. Political rules became so strict and people were very afraid of everything. There was a tendency of writing and telling to governmental institutions different bad things about each other in hopes to earn extra conditions or just because of envy and other feelings.

That happened with my great grandpa. Someone told that he said once some bad things about “Father of the Nation  -  Stalin. That was a lie but it resulted in his arrest. He was arrested immediately without any explanation.  No one knew where they took him so hard times began. The oldest child (my grandfather) was 12 years old. He had to say good bye to his childhood and become an adult. Child forced to enter into the cruel world of adults. He was the one, who must replace his father’s place with its huge responsibility .Think it was difficult. He was the oldest child and my father is the oldest one, also I am the first child. So I understand him very well. Being oldest makes you to be an example, a good example to the other children.  It is not an easy task. That’s the destiny of firstborns.

A lot of time passed since that tragedy.  My father wanted to find out any information about his grandfather. All he could know about his great- grandfather that he worked in the chemical factory. There was no information about what happened to him. For every family it is important to know this. It is very sad that we can not put flowers on our great grandfather’s grave.

That’s the story about my great-grandfather, whom I wished to know. I’m so sorry that he became the victim of that terrible time and somebody else’s false words. It was an absurd, awful and inhumane situation. My great grandfather was not only the one.  There were thousands of them. Many families had similar tragedies. How terrible that people’s lives were not of any value at that time.  My grandfather was a very strong and wise man to survive and I love and respect him very much. He never showed his sorrow. I remember when he told something about his father he was surprisingly calm. There was no anger in his voice. As a wise man he accepted everything in his life. Hard times and his father’s destiny did not spoil him. All his life he helped everyone and was respectful to them as a man of a word and as a good friend. He died in 2007. There were a lot of people at his funeral. His friends remembered him with love and respect. I miss him very much and regret that I could not hear all his stories.

Indians love Gandhi, because he is called Mahatma. Indians also love to think him as the father of many things, especially of non-violence. They are ready to fight until death against anyone that questions non-violence. They staunchly follow his teaching of no-cooperation even today. All Indians refuse to cooperate with everyone: professionals with their clients, merchants with their customers, manufactures with their consumers, government officials with citizens. And if anyone insists on getting cooperation, Indians get violent. Non-cooperation trumps non-violence. Violence is the only exception to the principle of non-cooperation: Indians enthusiastically cooperate to promote violence – destroying properties, burning buses, killing people of different religion, inciting communal riots.

To Indians Gandhi is saint superstar. He was the first one that caused hysteria among young girls of India way before the Beatles came along. Wherever he went he was followed, surrounded, and supported by shy young women. Like any superstar, Gandhi experimented a lot in his life, and later wrote a book about it titled The Story of My Experiments with Truth. Due to his popularity, Indians never question weather it was ethical to use truth as a guinea pig, or how much truth suffered during his experiments.

His popularity also cost him dearly: disregarding all intellectual copyright protection, Indian poor stole his style of minimalist clothing which he worked so hard to come up with. The theft is incontrovertible, since before him Indian poor wore elaborate silk dresses with golden jewelry. But the poor never paid any royalty, gave him credit, or even offered an apology.

The love is so deep that Indians regret their lack of biological connection to Gandhi, the father of the nation. In their jealousy, they have decided never talk about his own kids, and let only those with the last name Gandhi that are not biologically related rule the country. As a retaliation, Gandhi’s eldest son Harilal converted to Islam, became an alcoholic and an embezzler, got frequently arrested for public drunkenness, and ended up destitute.

Like any true love, Indians’ love for Gandhi is unconditional. They turn a blind eye to his many indiscretions such as his role in partition, his dislike for democracy, religious intolerance, hunger for power, and superstition. “He did not mean any harm”, Indians say. They forbid the mention of names such as Bhagat Singh or Subhas Bose. “We tell you what, those boys were just trouble makers, and we never liked them anyway.”

Like any pure love, Indians’ love for Gandhi is unconditional. They never blame him for the mess he left behind in his native state of Gujarat. They forgave him for his stance on industrialization that Indians today enjoy so much.

Like any lovesick child, Indians cannot survive a single moment without looking at his image. Indians always carry his headshot in their wallet: on a stamp, on a paper note, or if they are too stingy then on a coin. Indians though genetically incapable of planning, let along planning ahead, came up with a backup plan in the event of a pickpocket, which is prevalent in India. This is a rare case of love over biology. They erected his statues with more extensive coverage and density than all the modern day cell phone services combined. Indians never again have to lose sight of his image. Nor they can.

পঞ্চ পান্ডব, পঞ্চ সতী, পঞ্চ নদীর দেশ পাঞ্জাবের কথা আপনারা অনেকেই জানেন কিন্তু পঞ্চ বাবার কাহিনী কি কেউ জানেন?
তাহলে শুনুনঃ বাংলাদেশের প্রত্যেকের না হলেও অনেকের পাঁচজন করে বাবা আছেন। জীবিত অথবা মৃত নিয়েই পাঁচজন। অনেকের এক বা দুইজন বাবা জীবিত আছেন আবর অনেকের কোন বাবাই জীবিত নেই।
জিজ্ঞাসা করলে সকলেই এক বাবার কথাই বলেন। আমিও তাই বলতাম এবং সেই বলাটা যে সঠিক ছিলো তাতে বিন্দু মাত্র সন্দেহ নেই। নতুন নিয়মে হিসাব কষে দেখলাম কারো কারো মতে পুরানো (সঠিক) হিসাব সঠিকভাবেই ভূল। হিসাব মিলিয়ে দেখুনতো আমার বলাটা সঠিক কিনা?
1। আসল বাবা যার ঔরসে জন্ম। তার পরিচই আসল পরিচয় এবং তার সম্পত্তির ওয়ারিশ সকল সন্তান হয়ে থাকে।
2। শ্বশুর বাবাকে সকল বিবাহিত নর-নারী চেনেন। তিনি আইনের বাবা। ইংরেজীতে যাকে বলা হয় ফাদার ইন ল। এই শ্বশুর বাবা কোন কোন পূরূষ এবং মহিলার একাধিক রয়েছে বিবাহের সংখ্যানুযায়ী। তবে বিষয়টি একান্ত ব্যাক্তিগত।
3। রাজনৈতিক ক্ষেত্রে আমাদের একজন বাবা ছিলেন পাক আমলে। তিনি কায়দে আযম মোহাম্মদ আলী জিন্নাহ।
4। বাংলাদেশের জাতির পিতা হিসেবে শেখ মুজিবর রহমান ছিলেন একতরফা। প্রথম সাড়ে তিন বছর এবং বর্তমানে আবার প্রতিষ্ঠিত করা হয়েছে। তবে বিষয়টি বির্তকিত।
5। পীর বাবা সমাজে আছেন, তাদের প্রভাবও খুব বেশী।
6। মুসলমান জাতির পিতা হলেন হযরত ইব্রাহিম (আঃ)। উনাকেই মুসলিম জাতির পিতা হিসেবে বলা হয়। এবং এটাই ইসলামের চুড়ান্ত রায়।

পৃথিবীর কোন দেশের নাগরিকের বোধ হয় এত বাবা নেই যত আমাদের আছে। 1990 সালের 1লা মার্চ জাসদের আ.স.ম আব্দুর রব বলেছিলেন বাঙ্গালী জাতির পিতা নাকি পাঁচজন। যাই হোক এত বাবার সন্তান হয়ে আমরা আসলে কোন পিতার যে সন্তান ঠাওর করা সত্যিই কঠিন। কারন পঞ্চ জাতির পঞ্চ পিতার পঞ্চ চরিত্রের পাঁচমিশালী প্রকৃতি অনুশীলন করে সন্তানরাও বহুরূপী হয়ে যাচ্ছেন।

অনেক পথে একই সময়ে অনেক মানুষ চলতে পারে কিন্তু একজন মানুষ একই সময়ে অনেক পথে চলতে পারেনা একটি পথেই তাকে চলতে হয়। যাকে তাকে চাচা ডাকা যায় কিন্তু যাকে তাকে তো বাবা ডাকা যায়না। মুসলিম জাতির পিতা একজন (অবশ্য মুরতাদ বা মুনাফিক হলে ভিন্ন কথা অন্যথায় কোন ঝামেলা নেই) সেই সাথে ঔরসী পিতা এবং শ্বশুর বাবাই যথেষ্ঠ।

১০ ই জানুয়ারি, ২০০৬ রাত ৮:৫৩