Comments on: Reconsidering our ‘Heroes’

By: K Kaur

K Kaur — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 07:17:25 +0000

Sundari

A good book on Gandhi which challenges the PR machine around him is "Gandhi: Behind the Mask of Divinity" by G.B.Singh, who was a Colonel in the AMERICAN ARMY. He spent 20 years researching Gandhi and goes directly to the primary source which are Gandhi's writing. Well worth looking at.

By: Ravinder Singh

Ravinder Singh — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 03:44:17 +0000

Did you know there's a peace award named after Indira Gandhi? Isn't it ironic & sad…
Indira Gandhi Peace Prize – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indira_Gandhi_Prize

Imagine if there was:
Adolf Hitler International Airport
Hitler Peace Prize

I just don't get it…

By: sonny

sonny — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 02:58:27 +0000

thanks for this post! it's definitely high time we start celebrating indigenous people's resistance and right to sovereignty, from the americas to palestine. left turn's last issue focused on indigenous movements in latin america...lots to be inspired by: http://www.leftturn.org/?q=node/1320

By: Sundari

Sundari — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:57:51 +0000

Thanks for your comments, British Sikh. The reference could be relevant to either Gandhi – but yes, in this context it was Mohandas Gandhi. Many people consider Gandhi a hero – and without a doubt, he achieved a lot. In our society, he is regarded a saint – but – not all his actions were saintly. I simply hope that we take into consideration, for example, his treatment of the "untouchables" in India amongst other things. Nevertheless, i would love to read the reference you suggested – please provide it.

By: Gojiberrymama

Gojiberrymama — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:51:44 +0000

Columbus can be held responsible for enslaving, torturing, and robbing the Taino Indians who once saved his life and the lives of his crew when his ship wreck off their coast. Lovely way to repay those who saved them, clothed them fed them and honored them.

By: Rajinder Singh

Rajinder Singh — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:36:11 +0000

The article raises an important problem in developmental economics. The same sort of things have happened in rural areas/adivasi regions of India. For example – A big city needs electricity, so their planners destroy the way of life of a people who really do not care about electricity.

To be fair, Columbus was more of an explorer/adventurer/risk taker. His three little boats cannot be held responsible for all that followed, IMHV (in my humble view ).

We are the ones who are enjoying benefits of sacrifices of all those who came before us, and need to do our share for a better planet.

By: British Sikh

British Sikh — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:10:14 +0000

Interesting article!

Sundri you wrote "and as humanitarians we won’t perpetuate the heroic notions of Gandhi."

Is this in reference to Mohandas Gandhi or Indira Gandhi? If it is reference to Mohandas Gandhi, it would be very good to read a well referenced/documented opinion of him from a Sikh perspective, whether pro or anti Gandhi.

Thanks