Gandhi a racist for some historians

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New Delhi: A group of historians have deconstructed the ideology and beliefs of Mahatma Gandhi in their book Gandhi Reconsidered.

Page 30 of the book suggests Gandhi's agitation against the British in South Africa was primarily for the Indians living there and didn't include the native Africans.

On page 33, the authors say 18 out of Gandhi's favourite 20 authors were European, suggesting that he was deeply influenced by Western thoughts.

The authors say that for a long time, Gandhi hesitated to say that men and women are equal.

The authors have claimed that Gandhi was worried by the rising influence of the Socialists and Communists in the Kisan Sabhas.

Page 88 calls Gandhi a Hindu leader. The historians say he could not differentiate between nationalism and communalism.

They claim that Gandhi's concept of India included Muslims, but he didn't see them as a prominent section.

Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR), which comes under the HRD Ministry, has given financial assistance for the book.

But controversy is already raging. Some historians are up in arms, claiming the book portrays Gandhi as a racist. "They are alleging Gandhi of racism," says historian, Devendra Swarup.

Another historian, Arjun Dev, agrees: "It's true. In South Africa, Gandhi's main concern was the discrimination against Indians. I'm not denying that he had sympathy for South Africans."

The ones backing the book say it doesn't call him racist, but insist Gandhi wasn't concerned about native Africans who were also being oppressed by the British rulers.