Mahatma Gandhi 47 - 'the Himalayan Miscalculation' Poem by Geeta Radhakrishna Menon

Gandhiji first used an expression
‘The Himalayan miscalculation'
Which not only raised many eyebrows but became
A hot subject of debate and discussion
Amongst the Indians and the British in India!
It referred to decisions taken by Gandhiji on Satyagraha.
This happened when the Satyagrahis of Kheda district
And other places were arrested!
It suddenly dawned on Gandhiji that he had
Committed a grave error in calling upon the people
To launch upon ‘Civil disobedience' prematurely.
Gandhiji confessed this openly in a public meeting in Nadiad.

Though Gandhiji was criticised and ridiculed
For this ‘Himalayan miscalculation',
He never regretted having made that confession.
In his autobiography, he wrote:
" I have always held that it is only when one sees
One's own mistakes with a convex lens,
And does just the reverse in the case of others,
That one is able to arrive at a just relative estimate of the two.
I further believe that a scrupulous and conscientious observance
Of this rule is necessary for one who wants to be a Satyagrahi."
Gandhiji felt that the error lay in the failure to observe
A necessary limitation, without breaking the laws of the society.

A Satyagrahi should consider it
A sacred duty to act intelligently and cautiously,
With awareness of the deeper implications of
Their deeds, preserving non-violence at every step.
He felt he had called upon people to launch upon Satyagraha
Or Civil disobedience before they had qualified themselves!
This mistake Gandhiji thought was of ‘Himalayan magnitude.'
Since then, Gandhiji firmly decided that
"Before re-starting civil disobedience on a mass scale,
It would be necessary to create a band of well tried,
Pure hearted volunteers who thoroughly understood
The strict conditions of Satyagraha."

When Gandhiji reached Bombay, he gathered
A corps of Satyagrahi volunteers,
Commenced his work of educating the people
On the peaceful, non-violent aspect of Satyagraha.
But not many turned up for this kind of education.
The number of volunteers began to dwindle,
That's when Gandhiji realised that the progress of
Training in civil disobedience was not going to be as
Rapid as he had expected. Later, it was the journals!
The weeklies, The ‘Young India' and ‘Navajivan' that
Rendered good service to the people in this hour of trial,
And did their humble bit towards lightening the tyranny of martial law."



Sophia Wadia in her essay ‘The path of Satyagraha' wrote:
"The so-called inconsistencies and impracticabilities of Gandhiji
Are understood when we see him as a Soul,
And when we take into account the fact that
He is one who refuses to make compromises
Between his head and his heart,
Who declines to go against his own conscience,
Who views all events not from the mundane standpoint,
But as an avenue for Soul-learning for himself
And of Soul-service of others."
Gandhiji was a man rarest amongst the rare who was conscious
Of his imperfections and limitations, yet, laid it bare before the world!