Gandhi was India’s ‘Father of the Nation’ who opposed Zionism in ‘Arab’ Palestine
By Omar Ahmed | Middle East Monitor
The ongoing genocidal war by the settler-colonial state of Israel against the Palestinians in Gaza has recaptured global attention and rejuvenated the Palestinian national liberation struggle. Nevertheless, the issue remains highly divisive, with one side advocating for a free Palestine and the other, smaller but significant, ideologically opposed to it, namely Zionists and their supporters.
In the realm of social media, the latter have found a prominent supportive voice among Indian Hindu nationalists. Their rabid anti-Muslim sentiments place them voluntarily at the forefront of the online propaganda and information war against the Palestinians.
However, this hasn’t always been the case, given India’s anti-colonial, independence leader Mahatma Gandhi’s position on Palestine. As such, there has also been renewed interest in the “Father of the Nation” and his opposition to the formation of a Jewish state in Palestine.
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born into a devout Hindu family on 2 October, 1869, in Porbandar, a coastal town in present-day Gujarat, India. After completing his education in law in London, he embarked on a legal career in South Africa, where he would later become a leading figure in the struggle against racial discrimination there.
Returning to his homeland in 1915, Gandhi emerged as an important figure in the Indian independence movement against British colonial rule. He was also a vocal proponent of religious pluralism in India. However, revisiting his life in contemporary times has not been without controversies, such as his views on caste, race and women’s rights.
Gandhi’s opposition to Zionism wasn’t an isolated viewpoint, but part of his broader critique of imperialism and colonialism.
His philosophy of Satyagraha, which became associated with nonviolent resistance, transcended national borders and emphasised the interconnectedness of struggles against oppression worldwide.
He was also familiar with the emphasis placed on justice and standing up against oppression in Islam, once saying, with reference to the martyred grandson of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), that: “If I had 72 companions like Hussain, I would have freed India in 24 hours, from the British,” and that “I learnt from Hussain how to achieve victory whilst being oppressed.”
For Gandhi, the creation of a Jewish state in Palestine would be inherently unjust and not even justified religiously. As acknowledged by the Jewish Virtual Library, an essay written by Gandhi in 1938 “about the Arab-Jew question in Palestine and the persecution of the Jews in Germany,” states:
“The cry for the national home for the Jews does not make much appeal to me. The sanction for it is sought in the Bible and the tenacity with which the Jews have hankered after return to Palestine. Why should they not, like other peoples of the earth, make that country their home where they are born and where they earn their livelihood?
Palestine belongs to the Arabs in the same sense that England belongs to the English or France to the French. It is wrong and inhuman to impose the Jews on the Arabs. What is going on in Palestine today cannot be justified by any moral code of conduct.
“The mandates have no sanction but that of the last war [World War One]. Surely it would be a crime against humanity to reduce the proud Arabs so that Palestine can be restored to the Jews partly or wholly as their national home.”
As a famous proponent of non-violent struggle, Gandhi even expressed his empathy with the Palestinian struggle:
“I am not defending the Arab excesses. I wish they had chosen the way of non-violence in resisting what they, rightly, regarded as an unwarrantable encroachment upon their country. But according to the accepted canons of right and wrong nothing can be said against the Arab resistance in the face of overwhelming odds.”
Officially endorsing the unviable two-state solution, New Delhi has maintained full diplomatic relations with Tel Aviv since 1992, and under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has strengthened trade and defence ties with the occupation state. The BJP also draws inspiration from Israel, viewing it as a model of a “religious-nationalist state,” offering an alternative vision to India’s founding secular and multi-religious principles.
It is interesting to note that India supported Palestinian nationalists during its own struggle for independence from British rule. In 1947, India proposed a plan for the creation of an independent federal state of Palestine, with constitutional safeguards for the Jewish minority. India’s concerns about the establishment of what was perceived as a settler state in the British Mandate for Palestine contributed to its vote against the UN resolution recommending the creation of Jewish and Arab states in a partitioned Palestine.
On 30 January, 1948, Gandhi was assassinated by Nathuram Godse, a Hindu nationalist and a member of the right-wing Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), due to his perceived favouring and appeasement of Muslims over the interests of the Hindu majority. In today’s Hindu nationalist ruled-India, one can see a further erosion of Gandhian values, both domestically with rising anti-Muslim discrimination and violence, as well as in foreign policy through the strengthening of relations with the last remaining colonial outpost in the Middle East, the apartheid state of Israel.
Source-Credit: Middle East Monitor
Latest
“The Zionists indeed learnt well from the Nazis. So well that it seems that their morally repugnant treatment of the Palestinians, and their attempts to destroy Palestinian society within Israel and the occupied territories, reveals them as basically Nazis with beards and black hats.”
― Norman Finkelstein
Your posts in this blog really shine! Glad to gain some new insights, which I happen to also cover on my page.
Way cool, some valid points! I appreciate you making this article available, the rest of the site is also high quality. Have a fun.
I just couldn’t depart your site before suggesting that I actually enjoyed the standard info a person provide for your visitors? Is going to be back often in order to check up on new posts
Thanks , I have just been searching for info approximately this subject for ages and yours is the greatest I’ve found out so far.
However, what concerning the bottom line? Are you sure about the supply?
Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after browsing through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Anyways, I’m definitely happy I found it and I’ll be book-marking and checking back frequently!
Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wished to mention that I’ve really enjoyed surfing
around your weblog posts. After all I will be subscribing to
your feed and I’m hoping you write again very soon!
Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is an extremely well written article.
I will be sure to bookmark it and return to read more
of your useful information. Thanks for the post.
I will certainly comeback.
казино вулкан
туры в крым из москвы все включено
Witamy w Slottica! Nasza platforma to harmonijne połączenie innowacji, różnorodności i najwyższych standardów bezpieczeństwa, zaprojektowane z myślą o wymagających graczach z Polski. Oferujemy nie tylko szeroki wybór gier – od dynamicznych automatów, przez strategiczne gry stołowe, po ekskluzywne sesje z live dealerami – ale także kompleksowe rozwiązania dostosowane do Twoich preferencji. Dzięki zaawansowanej technologii mobilnej, ciesz się płynnym dostępem do ulubionych rozgrywek na dowolnym urządzeniu, gdziekolwiek jesteś. Slottica Vladimir współpracuje wyłącznie z uznanymi dostawcami oprogramowania, gwarantując najwyższą jakość grafiki, uczciwość mechaniki i regularne aktualizacje biblioteki gier.
26 років весілля картинки
Потолки с фотопечатью делают интерьер уникальным и отражают вашу индивидуальность https://potolki-v-moskve.ru/
На площадке представлен широкий ассортимент травматического оружия https://travmat-kupit.ru/
Если вам нужны окна без брака — доверьтесь «Окна Мастер». Мы производим в Санкт-Петербурге и следим за каждым этапом от профиля до установки.
«Фабрика остекления» гордится своим опытом в производстве оконных конструкций. Мы изготавливаем и устанавливаем пластиковые окна для любых помещений, включая остекление балконов и коттеджей. Наша задача — обеспечить вас комфортом и уютом на долгие годы.
Hello to all, how is everything, I think every one is
getting more from this website, and your views are good for new viewers.
This is really interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger.
I’ve joined your feed and look forward to seeking more of your great post.
Also, I have shared your website in my social networks!
It’s appropriate time to make some plans for the future and it is time to
be happy. I’ve read this post and if I could I wish to suggest
you few interesting things or suggestions. Perhaps
you can write next articles referring to this article. I wish to read even more things about
it!
I think this is one of the most significant information for me. And i am glad reading your article. But wanna remark on few general things, The site style is wonderful, the articles is really great : D. Good job, cheers
Greetings from Colorado! I’m bored at work so I decided to check out your blog on my iphone during lunch break.
I really like the information you present here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home.
I’m shocked at how fast your blog loaded on my cell phone ..
I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyways, wonderful site!