Non-violence has a lot of opportunity in today's world

"Non-violence has not been proven in every case. But the failure of violence has been proven in a few thousand cases," said Rajmohan Gandhi at the launch of his book "Mohandas — A True Story Of A Man, His People and an Empire," here on Monday.

In reply to a question by a member of the audience, Mr. Gandhi, grandson of the Mahatma, said that non-violence had a tremendous opportunity in today's strife-ridden world.

It is said that history is full of ifs and buts and it reflected in the questions fielded to Mr. Gandhi. To a question whether India and Pakistan would have been different countries had Mahatma Gandhi's assassination not taken place, he said: "There is a possibility, a likelihood that India-Pakistan relations might have taken a better turn," adding that he [Gandhiji] could have helped the people of the two countries shed their suspicion and resentment.

Earlier, as an introduction to the book, historian Ramachandra Guha termed it "a major book by a major scholar" and said that "the book breaks new ground". Choosing to question Mr. Gandhi on the themes of family and politics from Gandhiji's life, Mr. Guha asked Mr. Gandhi on the Mahatma's interaction with his wife and children, often perceived as harsh and cruel.

Because the Mahatma had taken up such a large undertaking for the nation, he had little love left for his family, Mr. Gandhi opined.

Giving his account of the Mahatma's decision to choose Jawaharlal Nehru as India's first Prime Minister, Mr. Gandhi said, "He [Gandhiji] instinctively felt that in the hands of Jawaharlal Nehru, the Indian state, in relative terms would be a gentle state," Mr. Gandhi said that the Mahatma realised the Indian people's innate tendency for violence and oppression over the meek and felt that under Nehru it would be least harsh and most gentle.

When asked on the Mahatma's transformation from a shy person to a charismatic figure, he said: "Gives hope to all of us, doesn't it?" As his parting shot, Mr. Gandhi said: "Gandhiji was great and effective not because he had no fear but because he acted despite his fear."