Walden provides a balanced view of the Mahatma. The world did not understand Gandhi during his time and still hasn't. Walden partly explains this when he says that Gandhi cannot be understood in terms of political craft rather he is better understood from a moralistic standpoint. The problem with (if one can call it a problem) Gandhi is he defies our compartmentalizations of roles - Lincoln was a great statesman, Christ and Buddha were great saints, etc but what was Gandhi. He was a prophet, politician, leader of the masses, idealist, reformer, etc all rolled into one. I am personally convinced of the following: If Gandhi doesn't appear good to you, you have a lacuna. Try to search for it and elevate yourself to a point where you can gain the capacity to understand this great man. Following his ideals comes next.
People are so keen to elevate themselves by having a contrary view - they waste time on foibles. Or, they miss the point - yes, he may have had some utopian views that were practically unworkable (e.g on economics). But he wasn't an economist. He was a moral visionary who attempted to put that vision into practice in the real world, and to lead by example. In doing so he added greatly to the good in the world.
@@robin231176 In one letter from 23 July 1939 he addresses Hitler as 'friend' and then begs his 'forgiveness' if he offended Hitler by writing,. He claims Hitler is the only person who can "prevent" war, failing to mention that only Hitler wanted war. It was a creepy crawly letter. He wrote again in December 1940 after Hitler's attacks on Poland, Scandinavia, and France etc and still called Hitler "Friend" in which he covered his tracks and was more critical of Hilter but also spent most of the letter complaining about the British. Of course Ghandi also told Londoners being killed in their thousands during the Blitz to turn the other cheek to Hitler.
