There are always two views.

• But give us your view on that, your nuanced view.

I am annoyed because they allowed Partition. That Gandhi is gone. But even today, we have a Gandhi — Sonia Gandhi. For everything you have to visit Delhi. Gandhi remains in the form of Sonia Gandhi today. Everyone had to go and pay tribute to Gandhi... if you watch Attenborough’s movie Gandhi, it shows Gandhi wanted Jinnah to become the prime minister. But Nehru wanted to be the PM. So Gandhi had no say. Once Jinaah realised that he would not be allowed to rule, that the Hindus will not allow him that, he demanded a Muslim nation. Of course, the British were there to play their own game.

• But do you then agree with Godse’s belief that if Gandhi had lived longer — 10 more years — he would have done harm to India?

Who knows? As he had done with one action — paying Rs 55 crore to Pakistan. It all depends on one’s temperament — which way one leans, this way or that.

• As a non-Gandhian, do you think many of his actions harmed India?

OK, I am not a Gandhian, but why did the Congress not listen to his advice that after India achieved freedom the party should disband itself? They are they still enjoying the fruit of (his work, freedom). There is a huge gap between what is said and what is done, and that gap is more important. People talk about generation gap, but there is no generation gap here.

... contd.