Stories
Gandhi Jayanti: 7 Myths About Mahatma Gandhi Debunked
- •The title 'Father of the Nation' is not an official government title, as confirmed by RTI responses, and was first used by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.
- •Gandhi was not always an absolute pacifist; he supported British imperial forces during the Boer War, Bambatha Rebellion, and actively recruited for the British Army in WWI.
- •He did not oppose all modern science and technology, advocating for tools that eased human labor and recognizing the role of heavy manufacturing for public welfare.
- •Satyagraha was a strategic political tactic involving economic boycotts and civil disobedience, not merely a passive, spiritual appeal.
- •Gandhi repeatedly appealed to Lord Irwin for clemency for Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru, despite disagreeing with their methods of armed resistance.
Key Questions Answered
No. The Constitution of India explicitly prohibits conferring titles under Article 18(1), and Ministry of Home Affairs RTI responses confirm no official notification was ever issued. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose first used the term publicly in July 1944.
No. Historical archives confirm that Gandhi repeatedly raised the commutation of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru during the Gandhi-Irwin pact negotiations, personally appealing for clemency and sending a final letter pleading for a suspension of the execution on March 23, 1931.
No. Gandhi was a vocal opponent of partition and declared the country would only be divided over his dead body. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and other Congress leaders accepted partition due to administrative paralysis, forcing a sidelined Gandhi to acquiesce.
