Gandhigiri

Last updated

Gandhigiri is a neologism in India which is used to express the tenets of Gandhism (the ideas of Mahatma Gandhi, which include Satyagraha and Ahimsa) in contemporary terms. The term became popular due to its usage in the 2006 Hindi film, Lage Raho Munna Bhai . [1] [2] [3] [4]

Contents

Usage

As a colloquial expression in various languages in India including Marathi, Hindi and Tamil, "Gandhigiri" refers to the practice of the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi. [4] It is a colloquial form of Gandhism. Gandhism (or Gandhianism) is a term which attempts to summarize the philosophies of Mahatma Gandhi. Basic tenets of Gandhism include satya (truth) and Satyagraha : "Truth (satya) implies love, and firmness (agraha) engenders and therefore serves as a synonym for force...that is to say, the Force which is born of Truth and Love or non-violence." [5] Gandhi further noted of the term, Satyagraha,

Its root meaning is holding on to truth, hence truth-force. I have also called it Love-force or Soul-force. In the application of Satyagraha I discovered in the earliest stages that pursuit of truth did not admit of violence being inflicted on one's opponent but that he must be weaned from error by patience and sympathy. For what appears to be truth to the one may appear to be error to the other. And patience means self-suffering. So the doctrine came to mean vindication of truth not by infliction of suffering on the opponent but on one's self." [6]

In this context, "Gandhigiri" is sometimes juxtaposed to "Dadagiri" (bullying) [7] (as it was in Lage Raho Munna Bhai, where Munna Bhai had to learn to give up "Dadagiri" in exchange for "Gandhigiri"). [7] [8]

Popularization of term

Overview

Lage Raho Munna Bhai is a 2006 Indian musical comedy directed by Rajkumar Hirani and produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. Sanjay Dutt stars in this film as Munna Bhai, a local don of Mumbai (Bombay), who begins to see the spirit of Mahatma Gandhi. Through his interactions with the image of Gandhi, Munna Bhai begins to practice what he calls Gandhigiri to help ordinary people solve their problems.

Some have argued that the thematic attention to Gandhi's theories in Lage Raho Munna Bhai has both revived an interest in Gandhism under the new term, Gandhigiri in India [3] and has likewise "made Gandhi suddenly hip. Inspired by the hit movie, Indians are increasingly embracing his philosophy, staging nonviolent protests, starting Web sites, handing out roses to enemies and putting on peaked white caps from the Gandhi era." [9] Indeed, according to reports, Gandhi is now a "new pop icon" in India [10] and as Arunabha Ghosh notes, "Gandhi, the man, was once the message. In the India of the post-liberalisation brand, Gandhigiri is the message." [11] Several websites and internet forums were created, encouraging people to return to the Gandhian philosophy. [12]

Theories for this sudden revival vary. Some have suggested that this phenomenon could be attributed to the film simplifying Gandhi's "lofty ideals" and conveying them "in contemporary, colloquial language. [10] Others, according to The Christian Science Monitor , have noted that the appeal of the film lies in the fact that "Gandhi gets his hands dirty. He appears as an apparition only visible to the wayward gangster, counselling him on how to help others deal with everyday problems." [13] Whatever the reason, a 13 October 2006 article in The Boston Globe , suggests that the revival has had a positive impact in India and states, "What America needs is a film that encourages people to take up Gandhigiri, Kinggiri, or Kennedygiri. If it worked for Bollywood, it could work for Hollywood." [14]

Gandhigiri-style protests

Gandhi leading Salt Satyagraha, a notable example of Satyagraha Marche sel.jpg
Gandhi leading Salt Satyagraha, a notable example of Satyagraha

Since the release of the film, there have been instances where peaceful protests were either dubbed "Gandhigiri" or the protesters have claimed that they have been inspired by the movie. In the United States during July 2007, piles of flowers were sent to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services office by individuals who were legally in the U.S. but caught in a green card backlog. This was an act of Gandhigiri (or nonviolent protest) copied from Lage Raho Munna Bhai. [15] There have been positive reactions to this event. The USCIS shipped the flowers to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Bethesda Naval hospitals. A 15 July 2007 editorial in The Baltimore Sun argued, "let's hope their protest gets results - because Americans are fortunate to have living among them people who are this ingenious, and this thoughtful of others, and this capable of channeling anger into beauty." [16] On July 17, the USCIS announced that "it will accept applications from foreign professionals seeking permanent residency through an expedited process, reversing its earlier decision." USCIS Director, Emilio T. Gonzalez noted of the Gandhigiri protest, "The public reaction to the July 2 announcement made it clear that the federal government's management of this process needs further review [...] I am committed to working with Congress and the State Department to implement a more efficient system in line with public expectations." [17]

In India, farmers stage a protest with flowers in the Vidarbha region, [18] and people who organized a protest in Lucknow claimed to have been inspired by Lage Raho Munna Bhai to use roses to convey their message. [19] In Lucknow students claimed to have been inspired by Lage Raho Munna Bhai to do volunteer work, planting trees "to conserve nature which is bound to benefit public health." [20] Mafia don Babloo Srivastava claimed to have been inspired by Lago Raho Munna Bhai to distribute roses as a "message of love and peace". [21]

See also

Related Research Articles

Bombay Hindi, also known as Bambaiya Hindi or Mumbaiya Hindi, is the Hindustani dialect spoken in Mumbai, in the Konkan region of India. Its vocabulary is largely from Hindi–Urdu, additionally, it has the predominant substratum of Marathi-Konkani, which is the official language and is also widely spoken in the Konkan division of Maharashtra. Bombay Hindi also has elements of Gujarati.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vidhu Vinod Chopra</span> Indian film director and producer

Vidhu Vinod Chopra is an Indian film director, producer, screenwriter and editor. His well-known films as director are Parinda (1988), and 1942: A Love Story (1994). He is also known for producing the Munna Bhai film series, 3 Idiots (2009), PK (2014), and Sanju (2018) under his banner Vinod Chopra Films.

<i>Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.</i> 2003 film directed by Rajkumar Hirani

Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. is a 2003 Indian Hindi-language comedy drama film written and directed by Rajkumar Hirani and produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. The film was the first installment of Munna Bhai film series before its sequel Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006). Released in India on 19 December 2003, the film features Sunil Dutt in his final film role as the father to his real-life son, Sanjay Dutt, who stars as the titular character of Munna Bhai. The cast also includes Gracy Singh, Jimmy Sheirgill, Arshad Warsi, Rohini Hattangadi, and Boman Irani.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IIFA Award for Best Actor</span> Indian film awards

The IIFA Award for Best Actor recognizes leading male actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role. The recipient is chosen by viewers and the winner is announced at the ceremony.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dilip Prabhavalkar</span> Indian actor and writer

Dilip Prabhavalkar is an Indian Marathi actor, director, playwright and author. He has a career spanning over four decades in Hindi and Marathi theatre, television and movies. He was awarded the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Mahatma Gandhi in the 2006 Hindi film Lage Raho Munna Bhai.

<i>Lage Raho Munna Bhai</i> 2006 film directed by Rajkumar Hirani

Lage Raho Munna Bhai is a 2006 Indian Hindi-language satirical comedy drama film written, edited and directed by Rajkumar Hirani, who co-wrote the screenplay with Abhijat Joshi and produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. It is the follow-up to the 2003 film Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. with Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi reprising their roles as Munna Bhai, a Mumbai underworld don, and his sidekick, Circuit, respectively. Vidya Balan portrays the female lead, replacing Gracy Singh from the original, while several other actors from the first film, notably Jimmy Sheirgill and Boman Irani, appear in new roles. In Lage Raho Munna Bhai, the eponymous lead character starts to see the spirit of Mahatma Gandhi. Through his interactions with Gandhi, he begins to practice what he refers to as Gandhigiri to help ordinary people solve their problems.

"Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram" is a bhajan widely popularised by Mahatma Gandhi and set to tune by Vishnu Digambar Paluskar in Raga Mishra Gara.

Murliprasad Sharma, better known as Munna Bhai, is an Indian fictional character who appears in the Munna Bhai film series. The character is created by Rajkumar Hirani and portrayed by Sanjay Dutt.

The Bollywood Movie Awards was an annual film award ceremony held between 1999 and 2007 in Long Island, New York, United States, celebrating films and actors from the Bollywood film industry based in Mumbai, India.

Abhijat Joshi is an Indian screenwriter, film director, producer and editor who works in Hindi cinema. His is known for collaboration with Vinod Chopra Productions and director Rajkumar Hirani, as the screenwriter for Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006), 3 Idiots (2009), PK (2014) and Sanju (2018). He is a professor of English at Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio, since 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rajkumar Hirani</span> Indian film director

Rajkumar Hirani, also called Raju Hirani, is an Indian filmmaker, director, producer and editor known for his works in Hindi films. He is the recipient of several accolades, including four National Film Awards and eleven Filmfare Awards. Hirani is referred as one of the most successful filmmakers of Indian cinema. His movies are often lighthearted but revolve around significant societal issues with humour and emotional intelligence.

<i>Shankar Dada Zindabad</i> 2007 Indian film

Shankar Dada Zindabad is a 2007 Indian Telugu-language comedy drama film directed by Prabhu Deva. Starring Chiranjeevi and Karishma Kotak, the film is a remake of the 2006 Hindi film Lage Raho Munnabhai and a sequel to Shankar Dada MBBS (2005). In addition, Dilip Prabhavalkar reprises his role as Mahatma Gandhi, while Srikanth and Sayaji Shinde play other supporting roles. The music is scored by Devi Sri Prasad and filmed by Chota K. Naidu.

<i>Ferrari Ki Sawaari</i> 2012 Indian film

Ferrari Ki Sawaari is a 2012 Indian sports comedy-drama film written and directed by Rajesh Mapuskar, and produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. It stars Sharman Joshi, Boman Irani and Ritvik Sahore in the lead roles. The film was released on 15 June 2012 with generally positive reviews.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rohitashv Gour</span> Indian film and television actor (born 1966)

Rohitashv Gour is an Indian actor best known for his leading character in the TV sitcoms Lapataganj and Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai! that ranks among the longest running Indian comedy sitcoms.

Munna Bhai is an Indian Hindi-language film series created, written and directed by Rajkumar Hirani and produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra under the Vinod Chopra Productions banner. It consists of Munna Bhai M.B.B.S., released in 2003, and its sequel, Lage Raho Munna Bhai, in 2006. The films share the same characters of Sanjay Dutt as Munna Bhai and Arshad Warsi as Circuit, with different plot elements and settings. Boman Irani features in each film as different characters. Both of the films received widespread critical acclaim and became huge commercial successes of their time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laxman Gole</span>

Laxman Gole is a contemporary Indian Gandhian who has been described as the real-life Munnabhai. He is the 2011 winner of the Zindagi Live National Award given by IBN-7. The 2015 Indian biographical Hindi film Laxman Gole is based on Gole's life and his journey. The film is written and directed by Faisal Hashmi. He is the subject of a documentary film by award-winning documentary filmmaker Madhavi Tangella. Prayaschit, Gunahon Ke Zakhm, a TV show on Sony Entertainment Television, hosted by Tisca Chopra had an episode based on his life.

References

Notes

  1. Ghosh, Arunabha (December 23–29, 2006). "Lage Raho Munna Bhai: Unravelling Brand Gandhigiri: Gandhi, the man, was once the message. In post-liberalisation India, 'Gandhigiri' is the message Archived July 1, 2007, at the Wayback Machine ." Economic and Political Weekly41 (51)
  2. Sharma, Swati Gauri. "How Gandhi got his mojo back." Boston Globe, October 13, 2006
  3. 1 2 Chunduri, Mridula (2006-09-29). "Gandhigiri, a cool way to live". The Times of India . Archived from the original on 2012-10-17. Retrieved 2006-09-29.
  4. 1 2 Ramachandaran, Shastri (23 September 2006). "Jollygood Bollywood:Munnabhai rescues Mahatma". tribuneindia.com. The Tribune Trust. Retrieved 2007-04-28.
  5. Gandhi, M.K (2002). "The Struggle". In Louis Fischer (ed.). The Essential Gandhi: An Anthology of His Writings on His Life, Work, and Ideas. Vintage spiritual classics (Reprint edition (November 12, 2002) ed.). New York: Vintage Books USA. p. 77. ISBN   1-4000-3050-1.
  6. Gandhi, M.K (1961). "What Satyagraha Is: Satyagraha". In Kumarappa, Bharatan (ed.). Non-Violent Resistance (Satyagraha). New York: Schocken Books. p. 6. ISBN   0-8052-0017-7 . Retrieved 2007-05-05.
  7. 1 2 Shah, Mihir (2006-09-28). "Gandhigiri — a philosophy for our times". Opinion, hinduonnet.com. The Hindu. Archived from the original on 2007-11-02. Retrieved 2007-04-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. Gandhigiri inspires young generation
  9. Barker, Kim (2006-10-30). "Bollywood film is a hit - and so, again, is Gandhi". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 2018-10-18. Retrieved 2007-04-24.
  10. 1 2 Rajesh, Y.P. (2006-10-02). "Bollywood gangster comedy makes Gandhi new pop icon". Latest News - Entertainment. scotsman.com. Retrieved 2007-04-24.[ dead link ]
  11. Ghosh, Arunabha (2006-12-23). "Lage Raho Munna Bhai: Unravelling Brand Gandhigiri: Gandhi, the man, was once the message. In post-liberalisation India, 'Gandhigiri' is the message" (PDF). epw.org.in. The Economic and Political Weekly. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-07-01. Retrieved 2007-05-01.
  12. Sharma, Manu (2006-09-19). "Gandhigiri inspires young generation". Features, ndtv.com. New Delhi Television Limited. Retrieved 2007-04-25.
  13. Sappenfield, Mark (2006-10-03). "It took a comedy to revive Gandhi's ideals in India". csmonitor.com. The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 2006-10-10.
  14. Sharma, Swati Gauri (2006-10-13). "How Gandhi got his mojo back". boston.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2006-10-13.
  15. "Gandhigiri works magic for Indians seeking green card". CNN IBN . CNN IBN. 2007-07-19. Retrieved 2007-07-18.
  16. "Flower power". Baltimore Sun. Baltimore Sun. 2007-07-15. Archived from the original on 2013-01-17. Retrieved 2007-07-15.
  17. "'Gandhigiri works! Green Card seekers make US change heart". CNN IBN . CNN IBN. 2007-07-18. Retrieved 2007-07-18.
  18. Ahmed, Zubair (2006-10-12). "Gandhi-style protest by farmers". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 2006-10-12.
  19. Pradhan, Sharat (2006-09-21). "Lucknow citizens go Gandhian on liquor merchant". rediff.com. Rediff.com India Limited. Retrieved 2007-04-25.
  20. "Bollywood's Lage Raho Munna Bhai inspires Lucknow's medical students". sawf.org. Sawf News. 2006-09-27. Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2006-09-29.
  21. Express News Service (2006-09-27). "Munnabhai effect: Guns to roses". expressindia.com. Indian Express Newspapers (Mumbai) Ltd. Archived from the original on 2007-11-14. Retrieved 2006-09-29.