The other day, the RJ on the radio was making a hue and cry about Joseph Lelyveld's book on Gandhi . I don't know much about Gandhi beyond what they drilled in my head in school grade 4 through 10. What has upset people most about the book is that the author claims that Gandhi was gay/bisexuall even leading some states to initiate a ban on the book.
I wont go into the historical accuracy of this nor on the impact Gandhi still has today - because like i said. I don't know enough to comment.
My question is - if he was, then so what? Does it take away from everything he has done, or not done as maybe the case? Does his legacy diminish because of it? Will a century's worth of history making beliefs and acts suddenly become meaningless?
Here's an interview with the author. What's interesting about it is that nothing he says denigrates Gandhi. My take is that this issue is less about Gandhi and more about the Indian attitude to G/B/L. Otherwise why perceive an insult, where none seems to be intended.
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