Question

Local newspapers in the United Provinces recorded many of the rumours that circulated at that time. There were rumours that every person who wanted to test the power of the Mahatma had been surprised: 1. Sikandar Sahu from a village in Basti said on 15 February that he would believe in the Mahatmaji when the karah (boiling pan) full of sugar cane juice in his karkhana (where gur was produced) split into two. Immediately the karah actually split into two from the middle. 2. A cultivator in Azamgarh said that he would believe in the Mahatmaji’s authenticity if sesamum sprouted on his field planted with wheat. Next day all the wheat in that field became sesamum. There were rumours that those who opposed Mahatma Gandhi invariably met with some tragedy. 1. A gentleman from Gorakhpur city questioned the need to ply the charkha. His house caught fire. 2. In April 1921, some people were gambling in a village of Uttar Pradesh. Someone told them to stop. Only one from amongst the group refused to stop and abused Gandhiji. The next day his goat was bitten by four of his own dogs. 3. In a village in Gorakhpur, the peasants resolved to give up drinking liquor. One person did not keep his promise. As soon as he started for the liquor shop, brickbats started to rain in his path. When he spoke the name of Gandhiji, the brickbats stopped flying.

You have read about rumours in “Rebels and the Raj” and seen that the circulation of rumours tells us about the structure of the belief of a time: they tell us about the mind of the people who believe in the rumours and the circumstances that make this belief possible. What do you think these rumours about Gandhiji reflect?

Answer 1

1. The rumours show that many people had developed a deep faith in Gandhiji and believed that he had extraordinary powers.
2. Some people believed that Gandhiji could perform miracles, such as making a pot split or changing one crop into another.
3. Others believed that those who opposed Gandhiji would face misfortune or punishment.
4. People were ready to believe such rumours because Gandhiji had become a very popular and respected leader among ordinary people.
5. Many villagers did not know Gandhiji personally, so they understood his power through stories, rumours and local beliefs.
6. The rumours also grew because people were living in a time of political excitement, protest and hope for change.
7. These stories reflect the way ordinary people sometimes mixed politics with religious faith and belief in miracles.
8. They also show that Gandhiji had become more than just a political leader in the minds of many people; he was seen as a protector and almost a saintly figure.

Thus, the rumours about Gandhiji reflect the strong trust, hope and emotional attachment that ordinary people had towards him. They also show how popular beliefs and local traditions shaped the way people understood the national movement.