THE BJP and the RSS have been trying to appropriate Gandhi for quite some time. After demonising Gandhi and all that he stood for, the outcome of which was the dastardly assassination of Gandhi by the Godse brothers, the BJP-RSS have been systematically striving to appropriate all the national figures from Gandhi to BR Ambedkar.

Now the next step has been taken. From appropriation to displacement. The Khadi & Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has published a calendar that has a photograph of Narendra Modi sitting with the charka, a posture associated with Gandhi, who was an ardent advocate of the swadeshi fabric.

The calendar picture conveys a graphic message. Gandhi is passé and Modi is the new messiah. The calendar art of the KVIC understandably drew reactions of outrage and condemnation. But the Hindutvawalas were not fazed. We should be thankful to the Haryana health minister, Anil Vij, who declared that Modi is a much bigger “brand” than Gandhi and that Gandhi’s association with khadi had drowned the khadi industry. According to him, Gandhi’s portrait on the rupee notes had led to the devaluation of the currency. So here we have the real reason why the demonetisation of the Rs 500 and 1000 notes were effected!

Already we have heard Modi being lionised as the greatest Gujarati after Gandhiji. It appears now the time has come to knock Gandhi off the pedestal and put Modi in his place.  Given the narcissistic and authoritarian personality of Modi, he should be secretly pleased with this usurping of the Mahatma’s role.

(January 18, 2017)