Gandhi double stand on Mahashya Rajpal vs Ilamdin: Question raised by Veer Savarkar

 

Gandhi double stand on Mahashya Rajpal vs Ilamdin: Question raised by Veer Savarkar

Dr Vivek Arya

Gandhi remained silent when murderer of Rajpal, Ilamdin, was hailed in his community as a Ghazi or martyr. But when Rajpal was praised as a Dharamveer (Religious Hero) as he allegedly published the controversial pamphlet in protest against a Muslim slogan ‘Kishan teri Gita jalani padegi' (Krishna, we will need to burn your Gita), Gandhi was upset about it. Writing in this piece dated 30 November 1929, Veer Savarkar said:

'But while the two lakh Muslim Ghazis were making a martyr out of Illamuddin, how has all that noise not cracked out Mahatma Gandhi's a meditative pose even a bit? If it is unbreakable, then when Rajpal’s body was taken out in a procession and people were shouting 'Dharamveer (Religious Hero) Rajpal ki Jay' this memorial came out lashing and like the bellows of the blacksmith forged ahead to bite the procession like a snake. Rajpal's body was not being released, but the Hindus undeterred by the lathi charge of the Police got hold of the body. The vhole of the Hindu Lahore was showering flowers on Rajpal’s body and shouting ‘Rajpal ki Jay', the Muslims imitated the same and called Illamuddin Ghazi'. Out of these both shouts, actually Illamuddin was a murderer and he had actually stabbed and killed, seeing this any nonviolent person should have felt disgust towards this procession; but no! Mahatma Gandhi did not feel any disgust towards it. He did not accuse the Muslims of anything or write a single word against them other than calling him a Ghazi; but when Rajpal was given the title Dharamveer (Religious Hero), his meditation and peace was shattered so much so that he could angrily abuse the Hindus. He said, the readers of Maharashtra may not know this but I will tell you a story that may hurt the Hindus of Punjab—Gandhiji angrily said, Rajpal is just a bookseller. He printed a book that would hurt the Muslim mentality. That is why he was killed, what great religious bravery did he show in that? The books he had printed were all sold out, that means he suffered no loss, then what selfless act did he do? ... As Rajpal's book was being sold, even if he was dying for his religion, you should not call him a Martyr. Then when all of Gandhiji's books are sold and especially the Young India' is running on subscriptions then why should we call him Mahatma? The shameless comment of Rajpal died due to his business, tomorrow will go ahead and say that Tilak also was imprisoned, punished due to his business—of Kesari Newspaperthen why call him Lokmanya?

[Reproduced from book on Veer Savarkar by Vikram Sampath]