Forgive and Forget, That’s the Way Forward.

South Africa’s Mahatma, Nelson Mandela, Madiba (reconciler) as he was fondly known among his people, left this world on 5^th December and when the news reached us in India the date was 6^th December, the saddest and darkest day in the history of India. That day, the highest ideal for which Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Jawarlal Nehru fought, the idea of a secular India was butchered by the fascist forces and a wide chasm of hate and distrust was created among different sections of the Indian people.

                        When he was released after 27 years of incarceration as prisoner No. 664 in Robben Island Prison off the coast of Cape Town, Nelson Mandela came out of prison gate leaving all ill-feeling and hate behind him.  I quote his own words, “As I walked out of the door toward my freedom, I knew that if I did not leave all the anger, hatred and bitterness behind,  I would still be in prison.” He kept within himself no hatred or desire for revenge against the white minority who suppressed and oppressed the majority black people and put him in jail through the prime time of his life for fighting for the freedom and equality of his people. His ability to forgive and forget the atrocities perpetrated by the white minority against the black majority paved the way for a free united democratic South Africa where the colour of the skin of the people is not a criterion for discrimination to deny the democratic rights of the people and the former tormentors, the whites also get equal rights as the black people. He says, “I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”

                        His words are a guidepost for the Indian people if we are to survive as a united progressive nation. We have to forgive and forget a lot. Let us forget the bitterness and subsequent bloodbath of 1947 partition. Let us forgive and forget 1984 Sikh massacre, 1992 Babri Masjid demolition and subsequent Bombay blasts, 2002 Godhra carnage and Gujarat pogrom against innocent people that followed Godhra. That’s the way forward for India. Let us have no bitterness and hate against any section of Indian people. Let us march together as one people and one India united for the progress of the poor and the downtrodden. That’s the message I have to give to the Indian people at the time of the sad demise of the Second Mahatma.