Govind

GD- Deputy of God, PA- Prosecuting Attorney, D.A.- Defence A., The year was circa February 30, 3004.

Though numerous lawyers and advisers were present, none were allowed to interfere in the process and were allowed only to speak through their chosen leaders.

Opening Statements:

'The court is convened today in the trial of Godse (prosecuting) versus Gandhi (defense).

Mr. Nathooram Godse is suing Mr. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi in that he was given no choice (when he resided in the world) to shoot Mr. Gandhi and that he seeks non-specified damages and wishes to clear his name for posterity and his rightful place in heaven next to HIM! The burden of proof falls squarely on the shoulders of either party and the hearing will be impartial and justice served.

Mr. Gandhi will provide defense and I see he has gathered prominent personalities in the form of Mr. J. Nehru, Mr. Patel and many other stars that shone in the Indian Galaxy at one time. However, the jury is directed to disregard the personalities but only consider the fact presented by them.

However, justice is blind and any attempt at obfuscating facts will not go unpunished, and the person committing perjury will be destined to hell where all privileges will be withdrawn, and the victim will spend his/her life in hell in perpetuity.

A victory by one of the parties will even then be a Pyrrhic victory (victory at enormous cost to the visitor).

I wish also to remind you that I am deputized by the great one, and all questions, queries will be directed to me and HE will not be mentioned if at all possible. In the heart of many he is a resident but your restraint is paramount and caution is advised. You have also to know that by means of Teletransporation, the souls of witnesses will materialize and they will appear in their synthesized into their molecular forms. Their memories will be limited to events and their feelings present during those periods and no modifications will be available or possible.

At the end, there will be no pronouncements with regard to guilt or innocence, and there will be no punishment, suffice it to know that punishment or lack of same will be decided by the soul concerned and will itself mete out the punishment or praise as the case may appear to him. It will not be possible to obtain physical atonement as the souls concerned will be essentially in the ether and are in fact acting in cognito.

As terra firma as well as nonterra softa and the heavens, are watching, we are to maintain our dignity at all costs. Hence no consumption of alcohol, no food of any kind and no passing of wind will be allowed. However, if it is noiseless, in small amounts and not smelly, then everyone is directed to overlook it.

Although this court is convened at the direction of the great one, I reemphasize that no reference is to made to him unless absolutely essential.

Reference to or naming any particular religion is forbidden unless it relates to the case in an historical sense.

In following the dictum of silencio at primero, there will be absolute silence in court. If there is any deviation from it, then the court will be cleared and then will proceed in abstentia of the audience and the court will proceed with a bare minimum of the souls.

The noisy ones will be banned for a Yuga- about 60 thousand years (to help you remember, the number is the same as a warranty on buying a new car, which of course is in Kms. They will be put in a quiet room to be along with the Dodo, or stacks of Vinyl Records and 8 Track Players without the Gizmos that can play it. You will remain as dudes and suffer in silence. They may apply for parole after ten thousand years and the guilty persons may be pardoned after fifty lashes with a spiked flogger.

Also, all parties must remember- conscienta mille testes- conscience is as good as a thousand witnesses.

The jury members are to refrain from being fidgety and direct their thoughts to the case at hand, as the thoughtometer is constantly reading your thoughts and even makes you liable to prosecution if the thoughts are very abnormal and leaning towards pornography etc. All members are to refrain from being fidgety. Furtive glances of the opposite sex are discouraged. On completion of their duty, they will obtain appropriate rewards in heaven.

We will now allow opening statements, starting with the prosecuting attorney on behalf of Mr. Nathooram Godse.

P.A. : ‘Me Lord's assistant, and members of the jury.

The directions you just heard are just what they are, directions, and some way lead to a cock and bull story whereby the bull receives the shaft. If found guilty, could we not at least cut off a hand, or, failing that, a finger or two, or, failing that, some flogging for entertainment for all and proper just to prove that justice was served.’

There was a murmur that rose in crescendo and many seem to be in agreement to the very bright PA who hit the hammer on the head and drew immediate blood.

‘Silence, silence’, said the judge. ‘I shall clear the court if there is no silence’.

The noise died down but a titter was heard in one corner, as the area was occupied by a thousand virgins. While they made unhappy giggles, it was obvious that they were disappointed and would be of no use no matter how the verdict went.

The judge banged his gavel hard so much so that it broke. In his rage he announced that the court was adjourned for the day and was to reconvene the next day. He admonished the PA and told him that that kind of behavior was intolerable, and he would be barred from further proceedings and his under study would replace him. He also wanted a special thought monitor to be placed on that individual.

A Translatometer (TM) was also placed in the courtroom, hence it did not matter what language anyone spoke, as it was immediately went into the translation mode. It also incorporated the thoughtometer, making it impossible for any witness to deviate their thoughts.

The next day the court was reconvened.

PA1- the assistant was asked to make the opening statement. His address:

My Lord-GD, and members of the Jury.

We have gathered here today to try a very notable man, a man who resides in the heart of almost a billion people. (This made jury selection very difficult, till some tribes in the Amazon were chosen, as they did not know anybody or anything, thus, being sans prejudice were chosen, although they stared at each other, wondering when the food was served, and which ones were their wives and children).

At this juncture, we would request that due to the very volatile and sensitive nature, putting clients in extreme danger, we request that protection be given for anyone in the witness box with the protons from the Hadron Collider in Geneva, Switzerland, failing which, I would suggest the encircling electron from the unipolar magnetometer pulse generator (UMPG).

He was informed immediately that all those present were not human beings but souls, which cannot be destroyed by heat from fire, nor be drowned by water from the seas, or asphyxiated by depriving from lack of air, or buried under the earth by giant bulldozers. It was pointed out that the Lord himself said that in Chapter one of The Gita. There was a murmur in the crowd as ignorance in the member of the defense was unearthed. The crowd was displeased that already the great one was mentioned, despite orders to the contrary.

PA! - 'Furthermore, we intend to prove that because of his misdirection, one country had to spend over 50 Crore Rupees unnecessarily. Despite that, the country was split. Also, while celebrating their new found freedom, he rejected the rejoicing and took the option of traveling the country barefoot.

Human toll and the number of deaths was unimaginable when freedom was achieved. On midnight, the day of independence had seen 12.5 million people displaced.

The tragedy in terms of human misery, torture, death was overwhelming and extremely agonizing.

'We will now ask the Defense to present their side of the argument'- GD

DA- My Lord's assistant.

The PA has presented it well, but because it was exhaustive, most of my advisers have fallen asleep while some have fallen under the spell and are yawning, while one has left us to join the opposing party.

We reserve the right of summation at the end. I suggest we adjourn until tomorrow.

GD (G's Deputy)- Before we call defense, due to its extreme importance and because a great personality is involved, we will deviate slightly and let Mr. Gandhi say a few words, defensive in nature. Keeping in mind, the Miranda right, accepting the Fifth Amendment that one has a right to be silent, and one has a right to an attorney, the so called certiorari (judicial review), we will give Mr. Gandhi a chance that he can speak in his own defense if he so wishes, reminding him that though he is called Mohan, he is a far cry from the original Mohan, the so called Krishna, who had a thousand or more girl friends, and lived a life in luxury- clothes, palaces, food etc and that he can expect no assistance from him, being engaged in activities that looks after the world and its souls, and that he keeps it brief. although we know that by nature, he does not know what is brief, so we remind him to keep to about a thousand words, and brief is concise and precise, curtailing, nonverbose, unadorned, unpretentious and to the point.

At that Mr. Gandhi struggles up to the podium, assisted by his charming grand daughters. As if the struggle was exhausting, he fell asleep, while one and all waited for words of wisdom from him.

On waking, he had big yawn and asked for a glass of goat's milk, after which he jumped, which some thought was the effect of the milk. He cleared his throat, and spoke, while all were in awe though no one wished to listen to his words. At the site of this, one of the guards went around and pulled some ears, making them were red and sore, but, being Indian, most did nto show the change in color. It was only then they listened.

'I will first start with my objection'- he said and continued- 'First, there was no water on the table, making it impossible for me to speak for some time. Besides, the highest authority to judge me is not his court, as HE himself is absent. But, as an accommodating man, I shall proceed, though, if the verdict is in the negative, then I will only accept punishment fro the Almighty who shall remain nameless.

PA- As witness, we would like to start with Putlibai.

The Bailiff was instructed to call for the great lady.

Putlibai glided on a pathway created by the laying of rose petals all along the way to the witness box specaially for her. This angelic lady in a plain sari and a red mark on the forehead walked gently on the flower petals to the witness box. The crowd was quiet and in owe for the great lady that had given birth to the father of the nation of India.

However, she was asked to swear an oath of telling the truth by laying her right hand on The Gita.

PA- Putlibai, we are all honored today that you have blessed this occasion and graced this courtroom. If you are agreeable, I would like to ask you a few questions.

Is it true that you were the fourth wife of Mr; Karamchand Gandhi of Rajkot. The answer was in the affirmative.

'I believe you were the mother to Mr. Mohandas Gandhi apart from having had other children". Once again the answer was affirmative.

' I believe his childhood was a little difficult and that he was an average student. When he finished school, did he show a desire to go overseas for further studies?'

Once agian the answer was in affirmative.

Putlibai, being of the Bania cast, Is it strictly forbidden for anyone to leave a clan and go overseas'

The answer was affirmative, but with the proviso that despite advice to the contrary, and numerous arguments, he remained adamant and wished to go overseas.'

'So, would it be true to say that he was a very stubborn character, and would not listen even to his parents, who are like Gods in your society, and went overseas.'

'Is it also true that he made friends quietly with undesirable characters? He also ate meat and smoked quietly for a smoke, and would not relinquish these bad habits despite numerous appeals by you and your husband asking him to stop these filthy habits?'

'Thank you. I am done with this witness'.

Address of Gandhi VI to Lock Sabha- in New Delhi -circa 2112, February 12:

Mahatma Gandhi, (my great great grandfather0, the 'great soul' lived in the early part of the 20th Century. He lit a spark that ignited the whole world into action. It formed a blazing inferno that burns bright today, thanks for his efforts and wish to transform a world where chaos reigned.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the third son of Karamchand Gandhi was born to Putlibai on October 2 1869, in the city of Porbander which is on the Kathiawar Peninsula. It was a massive house next door to the temple devoted to Krishna. He had become a disciple of the Lord. Rama The term ' Mahatma' or the 'great soul' was bestowed on him by the great poet of India- Rabindranath Tagore.

Uttamchand Gandhi, even though he was Dewan of the state, led a simple and an austere life. He spent more time at the temple next door. In the courtyard of the temple, while he would peel vegetables for his wife, would also run affairs of the state, sit in judgment,, adjudicate legal questions, fix boundaries of properties, settle family quarrels etc. Described as a heavy set, ponderous man, deep set eyes, large forehead, long arms, he was an example and a role model to Mohandas. Because of his honesty, Karamchand had to endure the wrath of the 'Rani'. although the state was generally at peace and was fertile, it had to withstand the onslaught of Mohamed Gizni and other thugs that descended from Afghanistan, and carried out their usual robbery, murder and mayhem indiscriminately.

While it is imperative to examine the life of the great soul which we shall go into some details later, we have to remember that he said of himself as a humble man, 'simple' and a servant of God. However, he was anything but 'simple', and reached such lofty heights that many men have aspired to but none have achieved so far. But, we even have to envisage this great man's mind and what vision that he espoused to and how far, as mankind, that we might have gone to achieving it. No doubt, if he were alive today, he would look at us with pride for our achievements but would also goad us onto greater accomplishments.

It would perhaps be wise to read his own words for the betterment of our world for now and in the times beyond. As I listen to or read his writings, images of a truth and beauty dance in front of me. If we but listen to what he said, the strife, sadness and treachery that even now persists in man's mind will start to melt away. Herewith are his words:

1. NEITHER SAINT NOR SINNER

I THINK that the word 'saint' should be ruled out of present life. It is too sacred a word to be lightly applied to anybody, much less to one like myself who claims only to be a humble searcher after Truth, knows his limitations, makes mistakes, never hesitates to admit them when he makes them, and frankly confesses that he, like a scientist, is making experiments about some 'of the eternal verities' of life, but cannot even claim to be a scientist because he can show no tangible proof of scientific accuracy in his methods or such tangible results of his experiments as modern science demands. (YI, 12-5-1920, p2)

To clothe me with sainthood is too early even if it is possible. I myself do not feel a saint in any shape or form. But I do feel I am a votary of Truth in spite of all my errors of unconscious omission and commission.

Policy of Truth

I am not a 'statesman in the garb of a saint'. But since Truth is the highest wisdom, sometimes my acts appear to be consistent with the highest statesmanship. But, I hope I have no policy in me save the policy of Truth and ahimsa. I will not sacrifice Truth and ahimsa even for the deliverance of my country or religion. That is as much as to say that neither can be so delivered. (

I see neither contradiction nor insanity in my life. It is true that, as a man cannot see his back, so can he not see his errors or insanity. But the sages have often likened a man of religion to a lunatic. I therefore hug the belief that I may not be insane and may be truly religious. Which of the two I am in truth can only be decided after my death.³

It seems to me that I understand the ideal of truth better than that of ahimsa, and my experience tells me that if I let go my hold of truth, I shall never be able to solve the riddle of ahimsa . . . In other words, perhaps, I have not the courage to follow the straight course. Both at bottom mean one and the same thing, for doubt is invariably the result of want or weakness of faith. 'Lord, give me faith' is, therefore, my prayer day and night.⁴

I claim to be a votary of truth from my childhood. It was the most natural thing to me. My prayerful search gave me the revealing maxim 'Truth is God', instead of the usual one 'God is Truth'. That maxim enables me to see God face to face as it were. I feel Him pervade every fibre of my being.⁵

Faith in Right

I remain an optimist, not that there is any evidence that I can give that right is going to prosper, but because of my unflinching faith that right must prosper in the end….. Our inspiration can come only from our faith that right must ultimately prevail.⁶

Somehow I am able to draw the noblest in mankind, and that is what enables me to maintain my faith in God and human nature.⁷

No Ascetic

I have never described myself as a sannyasi. Sannyas is made of sterner stuff. I regard myself as a house-holder, leading a humble life of service and, in common with my fellow-workers, living upon the charity of friends….. The life I am living is entirely very easy and very comfortable, if ease and comfort are a mental state. I have all I need without the slightest care of having to keep any personal treasures.⁸

My loin cloth is an organic evolution in my life. It came naturally, without effort, without premeditation.⁹

I hate privilege and monopoly. Whatever cannot be shared with the masses is taboo to me.¹⁰

It is wrong to call me an ascetic. The ideals that regulate my life are presented for acceptance by mankind in general. I have arrived at them by gradual evolution. Every step was thought out, well considered, and taken with greatest deliberation.

Both my continence and non-violence were derived from personal experience and became necessary in response to the calls of public duty. The isolated life I had to lead in South Africa, whether as a householder, legal practitioner, social reformer or politician, required for the due fulfillment of these duties the strictest regulation of sexual life and a rigid practice of non-violence and truth in human relations, whether with my own countrymen or with Europeans.¹¹

Mine is a life full of joy in the midst of incessant work. In not wanting to think of what to-morrow will bring for me, I feel as free as a bird….. The thought that I am ceaselessly and honestly struggling against the requirements of the flesh sustains me.¹²

Work without faith is like an attempt to reach the bottom of a bottomless pit.¹³

Shedding the Ego

I know that I have still before me a difficult path to traverse. I must reduce myself to zero. So long as man does not of his own free will put himself last among his fellow-creatures, there is no salvation for him. Ahimsa is the farthest limit of humility.¹⁴

If we could erase the 'I's’ and the 'Mine's' from religion, politics, economics, etc., we shall soon be free and bring heaven upon earth.¹⁵

A drop in the ocean partakes of the greatness of its parent, although it is unconscious of it. But it is dried up as soon as it enters upon an existence independent of the ocean. We do not exaggerate when we say that life is a mere bubble.

A seeker after truth cannot afford to be an egotist. One who would sacrifice his life for others has hardly time to reserve for himself a place in the sun.¹⁶

There are limits to the capacity of an individual, and the moment he flatters himself that he can undertake all tasks, God is there to humble his pride. For myself, I am gifted with enough humility to look even to babes and suckling for help.¹⁷

Fates decide my undertakings for me. I never go to see them. They come to me almost in spite of me. That has been my lot all my life long, in South Africa as well as ever since my return to India.¹⁸

Little Book Knowledge

I admit my limitations. I have no university education worth the name. My high school career was never above the average. I was thankful if I could pass my examinations. Distinction in the school was beyond my aspiration.¹⁹

During the days of my education I had read practically nothing outside textbooks, and after I launched into active life, I had very little time left me for reading. I cannot, therefore, claim much book knowledge. However, I believe I have not lost much because of this enforced restraint. On the contrary, the limited reading may be said to have enabled me thoroughly to digest what I did read.

Of these books, the one that brought about an instantaneous and practical transformation in my life was Unto This Last. I translated it later into Gujarati, entitling it Sarvodaya (the welfare of all). I believe that I discovered some of my deepest convictions reflected in this great book of Ruskin, and that is why it so captivated me and made me transform my life.²⁰

I was living in South Africa then. It was the reading of Unto This Last on a railway journey to Durban, in 1904, when I was thirty-five, that made me decide to change my whole outward life. There is no other word for it, Ruskin's words captivated me. I read the book in one go and lay awake all the following night, and I there and then decided to change my whole plan of life. Tolstoy I had read much earlier. He affected the inner being.²¹

Service of the Poor

The heart's earnest and pure desire is always fulfilled. In my own experience, I have often seen this rule being verified. Service of the poor has been my heart's desire and it has always thrown me amongst the poor and enabled me to identify myself with them.²²

I have always had a love for the poor all my life and in abundance. I could cite illustrations after illustrations from my past life that it was something innate in me. I have never felt that there was any difference between the poor and me. I have always felt towards them as my own kith and kin.²³

I have no desire for the perishable kingdom of earth. I am striving for the Kingdom of Heaven which is moksha. To attain my end it is not necessary for me to seek the shelter of a cave. I carry one about me, if I would but know it.

A cave-dweller can build castles in the air whereas a dweller in a palace, like Janak, has no castles to build. The cave-dweller who hovers round the world on the wings of thought has no peace. A Janak, though living in the midst of 'pomp and circumstance', may have peace that passeth understanding.

For me the road to salvation lies through incessant toil in the service of my country and there through of humanity. I want to identify myself with everything that lives.²⁴

My life is an indivisible whole, and all my activities run into one another; and they all have their rise in my insatiable love of mankind.²⁵

I am used to misrepresentation all my life. It is the lot of every public worker. He has to have a tough hide. Life would be burdensome if every misrepresentation had to be answered and cleared. It is a rule of life with me never to explain misrepresentations except when the cause requires correction. This rule has saved much time and worry.²⁶

I have been known as crank, faddist, mad man. Evidently the reputation is well deserved. For wherever I go, I draw to myself cranks, faddists and mad man.²⁷

Practical Dreamer

I believe in absolute oneness of God and, therefore, also of humanity. What though we have many bodies? We have but one soul. The rays of the sun are many through refraction. But they have the same source, I cannot, therefore, detach myself from the wickedest soul (nor may I be denied identity with the most virtuous). Whether, therefore, I will or not, I must involve in my experiment the whole of my kind. Nor can I do without experiment. Life is but an endless series of experiments.²⁸

I must be taken with all my faults. I am a searcher after truth. My experiments I hold to be infinitely more important than the best-equipped Himalayan expeditions.²⁹

It has been my misfortune or good fortune to take the world by surprise. New experiments, or old experiments in new style, must sometimes engender misunderstanding.³⁰

I am indeed a practical dreamer. My dreams are not airy nothings. I want to convert my dreams into realities as far as possible.³¹

If any action of mine claimed to be spiritual is proved to be unpractical, it must be pronounced to be a failure. I do believe that the most spiritual act is the most practical in the true sense of the term.³²

My Fallibility

I claim to be a simple individual liable to err like any other fellow-mortal. I own, however, that I have humility enough in me to confess my errors and to retrace my steps. I own that I have an immovable faith in God and His goodness, and unconsumable passion for truth and love. But, is that not what every person has latent in him?³³

Those who have at all followed my humble career even superficially cannot have failed to observe that not a single act of my life has been done to the injury of any individual or nation. . . . I claim no infallibility. I am conscious of having made Himalayan blunders, but I am not conscious of having made them intentionally or having even harboured enmity towards any person or nation, or any life, human or sub-human.³⁴

I have made the frankest admission of my many sins. But I do not carry their burden on my shoulders. If I am journeying Godward, as I feel I am, it is safe with me. For I feel the warmth of the sunshine of His presence.

My austerities, fastings and prayers are, I know, of no value if I rely upon them for reforming me. But they have an inestimable value, if they represent, as I hope they do, the yearnings of a soul striving to lay his weary head in the lap of his Maker.³⁵

Kinship with all

Whenever I see an erring man, I say to myself I have also erred; when I see a lustful man, I say to myself so was I once; and in this way, I feel kinship with every one in the world and feel that I cannot be happy without the humblest of us being happy.³⁶

I shall have to answer my God and my Maker if I give any one less than his due, but I am sure that He will bless me if He knows that I gave someone more than his due.³⁷

I am too conscious of the imperfections of the species to which I to be irritated against any single member thereof. My remedy is to deal with the wrong wherever I see it, not to hurt the wrong-doer, even as I would not like to be hurt for the wrongs I continually do.³⁸

I can truthfully say that I am slow to see the blemishes of fellow-beings, being myself full of them and, therefore, being in need of their charity, I have learnt not to judge any one harshly and to make allowances for defects that I may detect.³⁹

Regard for Opponents

Differences of opinion should never mean hostility. If they did, my wife and I should be sworn enemies of one another. I do not know two persons in the world who had no difference of opinion, and as I am a follower of the Gita, I have always attempted to regard those who differ from me with the same affection as I have for my nearest and dearest.⁴⁰

It is to me a matter of perennial satisfaction that I retain generally the affection and trust of those whose principles and policies I oppose. The South Africans gave me personally their confidence and extended their friendship.

In spite of my denunciation of British policy and system, I enjoy the affection of thousands of Englishmen and women, and in spite of unqualified condemnation of modern materialistic civilization, the circle of European and American friends is ever widening. It is again a triumph of non-violence.⁴¹

I cannot intentionally hurt anything that lives, much less fellow-human beings, even though they may do the greatest wrong to me and mine.⁴²

It would be impossible for any person to point to a single act of mine during the past 50 years which could be proved to have been antagonistic to any person or community. I have never believed anyone to be my enemy. My faith demands that I should consider no one as such. I may not wish ill to anything that lives.

It is over one hundred and fifty years since the great Mahatma left this world, life snatched away from him with an assassin's bullet. But the small candle he had lit was already increasing in its intensity, and has got even brighter as the years have gone by. From his lips were the final words, 'Hey Raam', and the servant of God expired while his soul flew away and was welcome by the Lord Ram in the heavens.

Once again, let us hear his own words:

It is a bad carpenter who quarrels with his tools. It is a bad general who blames his men for faulty workmanship. I know I am not a bad general. I have wisdom enough to know my limitations. God will give me strength enough to declare my bankruptcy if such is to be my lot. He will perhaps take me away when I am no longer wanted for the work which I have been permitted to do for nearly half a century. But I do entertain the hope that there is yet work for me to do, that the darkness that seems to have enveloped me will disappear, and that, whether with another battle more brilliant than the Dandi March or without, India will come to her own demonstrably through non-violent means. I am praying for the light that will dispel the darkness. Let those who have a living faith in non-violence join me in the prayer.

Just what has India accomplished since the great Atma bespoke theses words? Maybe we should ask even the wider question as to the what the world has achieved since then, and then we should look at world events to see what direction it has taken and perhaps continue to take.

Even though America and Russia reconciled their differences, it was a disaster when Iran was able was - to be continued