‘Corruption,poverty denying India tag of prestigious nation’

He quoted extensively from the writings of and about the Mahatma to reiterate that although India’s place in the league of power seems impending,the nation should also consider the “prestige of the nation”.

“Our economic record is impressive for a section of our people,but is most unimpressive for a large section of the people. Continuing poverty does disqualify us from being a real world power,” he said.

“Not only do we tolerate the fact that so many people involved in corruption are not punished ever,we don’t even think of going to them to see if we can persuade them to change. Our poverty,corruption,unemployment and our worship of wealth! With what face can we go to the poor people of Africa,our own poor people,and the people of Latin America,if we say that making money is our only goal in life? We have profound changes to make before we can be truly respected,loved and honoured as a world power,” he added.

Prof Rajmohan also touched upon topics like Gandhi’s relationships with Sardar Patel and Subhas Chandra Bose,how the former was apparently not picked as the Prime Minister because of his age and ill-health,and how the latter resigned from the post of Congress president owing to ideological differences.

When someone from the audience asked Gandhi why his book on Patel — Sardar Patel; a life — included such little details about his wife Jhaverba,while Kasturba was so well-known,Prof Rajmohan said it was a struggle to even find out her name from Patel’s relatives,partly because their marriage was not entirely accepted as they were from different social strata.

“It was very very difficult to find even the strapping information you find in the book. I think all Gujaratis who love Vallabhbhai Patel should ask themselves why have we not bothered to know more about his wife,” he said.