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Fasting for religious and spiritual aims is as old as our Indian History. Gautama, before he became the Buddha, tried it and found that absolute fasting didn't lead him to his goal of Enlightenment.
Fasting for social and political aims was perfected in our times by Gandhiji...I mean the Mahatma, not the dimpled one.
Google tells me that he undertook as many as 27 fasts, from a minimum of one day to a maximum of 24 days. It seems he achieved his goals partially by his frequent fasts...at least his Calcutta fast appears to have done it:
http://www.globalwebpost.com/farooqm/study_res/gandhi/gandhi_fast.html
Our British Rulers were often at sixes and sevens what to do with Gandhiji and his fasts. When he fasted they put him in jail sometimes. And at others when they jailed him he went on fasts.
It is an irony of Fate that Gandhiji didn't die of fasting unto death, but of bullet wounds of a chap who perhaps never believed in fasting.
But I was 9 when a gent of our Nellore went on a fast unto death in 1952...and died after 58 days (and nights) of fasting. His name is Potti Sri Ramulu and he was a follower of Gandhiji (wiki):
Potti Sreeramulu (16 March 1901 – 16 December 1952), was an Indian revolutionary. A devout follower of Mahatma Gandhi, he worked for much of his life for humanitarian causes, including support for the Dalit community. Commenting on Sreeramulu's dedication and fasting ability, Gandhi once said "If only I have eleven more followers like Sriramulu I will win freedom from British rule in a year."[1]
This fast of PSR was for the liberation of Andhras from the wicked rule of Tamilians ;)
He died fighting for a separate state for Andhras and his death achieved its goal...Nehruji promised the Andhra State within 3 days of his (i.e. PSR's) dying. Reason was the arson and looting that threatened to follow his death.
On what I now know as the afternoon of 16 December 1952, which happened to be during our Christmas vacation, half a dozen of our school pupil leaders landed up at my place in Muthukur, 12 miles from Nellore, carrying lathis and wearing khaki knickers. And shouting:
"PSR Jindabad! PSR Jindabad! Long Live PSR!"
Father asked them what the matter was and they said that news reached them that PSR died and so they wanted to riot. And Father advised them to just take a procession around the 4 streets of Muthukur and go home...which they did...those were simple days and we were a simple lot.
Our Nellore district has recently been christened: "PSR Nellore District" for reasons I know not.
And then a few years back there was this fast which achieved its goal of liberating people from the rule of Andhras, this time ;)
Fortunately, the gent didn't die...he was promised what he wanted after a mere 10 days.
And then there was this fast unto death by the Gandhian, Anna Hazare, at Jantar Mantar, which went on for '98 hours'...i.e. 98 / 24 = 4.083333333 rec days (wiki):
...On the morning of 9 April 2011 Hazare ended his 98-hour hunger strike...
I guess this fast which was for a strong Jan Lok Pal Bill was a partial success. It was followed by a 12-day long 'fast unto death' at Ram Lila Maidan...no death resulted fortunately but.
The only thing I recall from watching it on TV is the speech by a fairly sozzled ex-TV and Film actor. His speech was hilarious and reminded me of a famously lit-up Augustus Fink-Nottle's matchless effort speaking from the podium of the Market Snodsbury Grammar School's Prize Distribution Ceremony:
...'Now there,' boomed Gussie, continuing to point, 'is an instance of what I mean. Boys and ladies and gentlemen, take a good look at the object standing up there at the back - morning coat, trousers as worn, quiet grey tie, and carnation in buttonhole - you can't miss him. Bertie Wooster, that is, and as foul a pessimist as ever bit a tiger. I tell you I despise that man. And why do I despise him? Because, boys and ladies and gentlemen, he is a pessimist. His attitude is defeatist. When I told him I was going to address you this afternoon, he tried to dissuade me. And do you know why he tried to dissuade me? Because he said my trousers would split at the back.'...
...Posted by Ishani
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Fasting for religious and spiritual aims is as old as our Indian History. Gautama, before he became the Buddha, tried it and found that absolute fasting didn't lead him to his goal of Enlightenment.
Fasting for social and political aims was perfected in our times by Gandhiji...I mean the Mahatma, not the dimpled one.
Google tells me that he undertook as many as 27 fasts, from a minimum of one day to a maximum of 24 days. It seems he achieved his goals partially by his frequent fasts...at least his Calcutta fast appears to have done it:
...Dr. Dinshah Mehta33 had in the meantime hurried away to get orange juice ready. Before breaking the fast Gandhiji according to his usual practice had prayer recited.
"When life is dry and parched up
Descend Thou in a shower of mercy. ..."
Descend Thou in a shower of mercy. ..."
followed by Ramadhun34 filled the air.
http://www.globalwebpost.com/farooqm/study_res/gandhi/gandhi_fast.html
Our British Rulers were often at sixes and sevens what to do with Gandhiji and his fasts. When he fasted they put him in jail sometimes. And at others when they jailed him he went on fasts.
It is an irony of Fate that Gandhiji didn't die of fasting unto death, but of bullet wounds of a chap who perhaps never believed in fasting.
But I was 9 when a gent of our Nellore went on a fast unto death in 1952...and died after 58 days (and nights) of fasting. His name is Potti Sri Ramulu and he was a follower of Gandhiji (wiki):
Potti Sreeramulu (16 March 1901 – 16 December 1952), was an Indian revolutionary. A devout follower of Mahatma Gandhi, he worked for much of his life for humanitarian causes, including support for the Dalit community. Commenting on Sreeramulu's dedication and fasting ability, Gandhi once said "If only I have eleven more followers like Sriramulu I will win freedom from British rule in a year."[1]
This fast of PSR was for the liberation of Andhras from the wicked rule of Tamilians ;)
He died fighting for a separate state for Andhras and his death achieved its goal...Nehruji promised the Andhra State within 3 days of his (i.e. PSR's) dying. Reason was the arson and looting that threatened to follow his death.
On what I now know as the afternoon of 16 December 1952, which happened to be during our Christmas vacation, half a dozen of our school pupil leaders landed up at my place in Muthukur, 12 miles from Nellore, carrying lathis and wearing khaki knickers. And shouting:
"PSR Jindabad! PSR Jindabad! Long Live PSR!"
Father asked them what the matter was and they said that news reached them that PSR died and so they wanted to riot. And Father advised them to just take a procession around the 4 streets of Muthukur and go home...which they did...those were simple days and we were a simple lot.
Our Nellore district has recently been christened: "PSR Nellore District" for reasons I know not.
And then a few years back there was this fast which achieved its goal of liberating people from the rule of Andhras, this time ;)
Fortunately, the gent didn't die...he was promised what he wanted after a mere 10 days.
And then there was this fast unto death by the Gandhian, Anna Hazare, at Jantar Mantar, which went on for '98 hours'...i.e. 98 / 24 = 4.083333333 rec days (wiki):
...On the morning of 9 April 2011 Hazare ended his 98-hour hunger strike...
I guess this fast which was for a strong Jan Lok Pal Bill was a partial success. It was followed by a 12-day long 'fast unto death' at Ram Lila Maidan...no death resulted fortunately but.
The only thing I recall from watching it on TV is the speech by a fairly sozzled ex-TV and Film actor. His speech was hilarious and reminded me of a famously lit-up Augustus Fink-Nottle's matchless effort speaking from the podium of the Market Snodsbury Grammar School's Prize Distribution Ceremony:
...'Now there,' boomed Gussie, continuing to point, 'is an instance of what I mean. Boys and ladies and gentlemen, take a good look at the object standing up there at the back - morning coat, trousers as worn, quiet grey tie, and carnation in buttonhole - you can't miss him. Bertie Wooster, that is, and as foul a pessimist as ever bit a tiger. I tell you I despise that man. And why do I despise him? Because, boys and ladies and gentlemen, he is a pessimist. His attitude is defeatist. When I told him I was going to address you this afternoon, he tried to dissuade me. And do you know why he tried to dissuade me? Because he said my trousers would split at the back.'...
...Posted by Ishani
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