Leading up to the visit of the Bush visit to India, a number of organizations in Delhi specifically, presented a civic society campaign that protested the Bush visit to Rajghat.

Asha parivar, Lokraj Sangathan, Azaadi Bachao Andolan, Insaf, among other groups pointed out the irony of George Bush, the protagonist of one of the largest offensives in recent times that has caused tens of thousands of deaths, and much violence was going to pay tribute to the epitome of non-violence. Surely there was something wrong with this picture?

Faisal Khan, one of the organizers of this campaign said “We believe that values like Ahimsa which Gandhiji upheld till his last breath are completely at odds with that of Bush. At the same time our contempt of official American policies must not be misunderstood as our lack of respect for the American people".

In Delhi, these protests drew many people – not just activists – who believed that Bush was morally wrong. Unfortunately, most media reported that “Muslim Fundamentalists and Communists” opposed these visits. The subtext was meant to point out that only the radical, the illogical, the anachronistic sections of the population opposed the visit – all other, normal people of India did not oppose it.

Opposition also poured in from around the world. Douglas Loomis wrote “I am too far away now (in Okinawa) to sign one of your petitions
directly, but if it is allowed to sign by mail, please add my name to
your campaign.”

Sunita Singh wrote “I do agree with you and I am shocked that how Indian government is going to entertain this murderer, who took life of thousands of innocent people.”

Sultan Ibrahim wrote “Gandiji's soul would never forgive if Bush enters Rajghat. Shaheed Bahagat Singh had thrown only one bomb in the Assembly to draw attention to the need for the colonialists to quit the country and he was hanged for this. Gandhiji objected a resolution condemning Bhagat Singh's execution. When Gandhiji was so vehemently opposed to Bhagat Singh who was only fighting for the essential human freedom,
how could he accept Bush who is committing massacres across the world
and made the world an extremely dangerous place. Bush should not be
allowed on the land of Buddha and Ashoka. Manmohan singh and Sonia
Gandhi are committing a national sin.”

However, a number of other comments took a significant high ground, perhaps pointing more to the humanity in Ahimsa that George W. Bush might understand.

Shadi Katyal wrote “If we believe in Ahimsa and Gandhian philosphy of
forgiveness than it will be a folly not to let George W. Bush visit and pay his homage to our Father of the Nation. It is quite possible that some inner thoughts might lighten up in him and he may learn the meaning of non violence and become a follower of Gandhi's philosophy.”

Aseem Hasnain wrote “Will W kill someone if he has killed millions of people, let us work to get justice but no blocking. We are not like bush so we need not block him. He is not welcome but we will tolerate his presence, like Gandhiji would have done had he been around. Gandhiji is no more, GANDHISM lives within us, we need to awaken it, be conscious of Gandhian values and live them. Tolerance, love, non-violence are key”

Rohit Tripathi wrote “Stopping Bush, no matter what he has done, from entering Rajghat is unGandhian. Just because Bush doesn't know what civility and justice is doesn't mean that we too suspend it from our outlook. I am in favor of a massive demonstration but no blocking.

It is easy for us to fall prey to hate and anger for this man. But
that is most definitely not the Gandhian way. Not at all. Resist his
policies not him.”

Large rallies held in Delhi, including people who were neither communists nor fundamentalists juxtaposed the humanity of the Indian way with the expediency and practicality of the policies of this government (and an increasingly popular support for such policies). I am not sure that there is a moral here. Beyond these comments that reflected the depth in our humanity.

A friend pointed to a poem by Siyaram Sharan Gupta about an untouchable man beaten up for polluting the sanctity of a temple. “Was my ability to pollute greater than the purity of the Goddess?”, he wonders.

Related Links
Democracy for the Goose, Democracy for the Gander
Ahimsa of a Fish
Leaders, Partners and Clients
The Relevance of Gandhi