The play, Mee Nathuram Godse Boltoye (I am Nathuram Godse Speaking) may be the most controversial drama in the history of Indian Drama. Decade ago, Maharashtra State Drama Scrutiny Board had ruled out
the staging of this play due to reason known to all of us. However, few years back during the ruling of BJP-SS in Maharashtra, this play was allowed to exhibit. Its Gujarati version was being staged in Gujarat much before that.
To Indian nationals, Nathuram does not require any introduction. However for the overseas friends the one line introduction is – Person who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi. Nathuram was a great patriot but follower of a very different ideology. He was a Nationalist and very much against the division of the country.
I am from a family where politics is widely discussed and interestingly some are holding high positions in Congress, Communist Parties and also in BJP. Some of them even do not look at each other. However I try to keep away politics in two places. These are my Workplace and Mouthshut.
On 28th Jan, I saw this drama and decided to write about it as a neutral person. I will try my best to remain neutral. Please M2M me about my role in this review – I will answer your M2M.
Nathuram Vinayak Godse (NVG) – Mein ne khun (murder) nahi kya, mein ne badh (assassination seems to be the right word) kiya (I have not killed him, I have assassinated him). Is there any difference between Assassination (badh) and Killing (Khun)? Nathuram Vinayak Godse has something to say about it.
Do you like to continue to read this review?
Better avoid it if you are a fundamentalist, a hypocrite, a lunatic, a nationalist without vision and above all a non-democratic or a person who do not like debate.
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I do not have any intention to hurt anyone nor want to advise to follow some ideology. My intension is different. “Do We Do What We Say?” is my question to me.
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Well guys, let me go back to the topic.
According to NVG there is big difference between killing and assassination. A thin line makes the big difference. He mentioned about the assassination of Ravana in epic Ramayana. Ram assassinated (badh) Ravana in epic Ramanyana – NVG did not considered that as a murder (hatya) or killing. In epic Ramayana, Ravana described as highly educated and powerful king with blessings from heaven. We all may be having a very different impression about Ravana but in fact a very powerful character. However, it was necessary to eliminate Ravan and his associates for the benefit of humanity. As I understood, NVG tried to express the word Badh as a killing for the betterment of the socity.
Case of Mahatma is very different. According to NVG, assassination of the father of the nation is for the benefit of the country. In this drama, the writer Mr. Dalvi tried to portrait the holy (a questioned intention) of NVG behind the assassination of Mahatma. In his (NVG) death speech, he wished, the asthi (remains of the body after a Hindu funeral) to immerse in Sindhu River in Undivided India. This was highlighted in more than one occasion in this drama. Sections of people in this country (mainly the worst sufferers due to the partition of this country) still do not support the division of the country.
In this drama, Dalvi tried to maintain the image of Mahatma Gandhi by highlighting his sacrifice for the country. NVG mentioned role of Mahatma in South Africa and Swadeshi Andolan.
Mahatma, a great soul, portrait as a Father of the Nation and his sacrifice got a mention in many occasion. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Accordin
g to NVG, only two people could have sound sleep on 30th Jan 1948 and rest of the country could not due to the shock. Who are these two?
Mahatma Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and his assassin Naturam Vinayak Godse. Because NVG felt very relaxed after the assignation of Mahatma. This feeling is natural after completing a big task for the nation (?). Out come of this task was also known to him – hang till death – death penalty.
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The script might have gone through lot of changes to suit the political situation of the country. Present script tries to justify the need for such an assassination, which is not appreciated by majority of the forward-thinking countryman. However needs some introspection.
Now let me let you know the questions that hunt me.
NVG is a killer or a terrorist? (As described by a leader of national level).
# - Was he a terrorist?
I personally do not agree with this statement. Because motive behind the assassination was the betterment of the country – may be a totally different philosophy and most of us do not agree with it because we are Gandhian. He did not run way after assassination but surrendered to the police. He did not try to terrorize people. He pleaded his case in court of law and excepted death sentence much before the decision of the court.
He was not believer of mass distraction. He had no intention of destroying any country or community. He never tried to terrorize the mass.
# - Why he was hanged?
We could not even implement Gandhi’s thought in his own case. However we feel great to call him Father of Nation. What a mockery.
# - Do we follow the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi?
It is all in books and lectures.
We blame Nathuram but Gandhi was killed by millions of Indian mainly by the so-called close followers.
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There is nothing much to write about the stage etc. It is a drama to put forward justification of a much questioned assassination so script, dialogue delivery and acting plays the most important role. Acting of NVG and policemen Sawant and Sheikh deserve appreciation.
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Interesting links -
http://www.geocities.com/indianfascism/fascism/media__ghandhi.htm
http:/
/www.geocities.com/indianfascism/fascism/godsays_last_words.htm
http://www.geo
cities.com/indianfascism/fascism/gandhi_last_words.htm