1
Today is the birthday of Abha Gandhi, wife of Kanu Gandhi, nephew of MKGandhi.
While I tried to read more about her, I came across this book
Gandhi - Naked Ambitions.
It will be quiet a long thread & since I don't have access to laptop, the thread will be in bits.
Today is the birthday of Abha Gandhi, wife of Kanu Gandhi, nephew of MKGandhi.
While I tried to read more about her, I came across this book
Gandhi - Naked Ambitions.
It will be quiet a long thread & since I don't have access to laptop, the thread will be in bits.
2
Here are the excerpts from the book.
"abnormal and unnatural" was how Jawaharlal Nehru, described Gandhi's advice to newlyweds to stay celibate for the sake of their souls.
It was no secret that Mohandas Gandhi had an unusual sex life. He spoke constantly of sex and gave
Here are the excerpts from the book.
"abnormal and unnatural" was how Jawaharlal Nehru, described Gandhi's advice to newlyweds to stay celibate for the sake of their souls.
It was no secret that Mohandas Gandhi had an unusual sex life. He spoke constantly of sex and gave
3
detailed, often provocative, instructions to his followers as to how to they might best observe chastity. And his views were not always popular.
Much of Gandhi's bizare sexual history was known during his lifetime, but was distorted or suppressed after his death during the
detailed, often provocative, instructions to his followers as to how to they might best observe chastity. And his views were not always popular.
Much of Gandhi's bizare sexual history was known during his lifetime, but was distorted or suppressed after his death during the
4
process of elevating Gandhi into the "Father of the Nation" Was the Mahatma, in fact, as the pre-independence prime minister of the Indian state of Travancore called him, "a most dangerous, semi-repressed sex maniac"?
Gandhi was challenging that abstinence in his own way,
process of elevating Gandhi into the "Father of the Nation" Was the Mahatma, in fact, as the pre-independence prime minister of the Indian state of Travancore called him, "a most dangerous, semi-repressed sex maniac"?
Gandhi was challenging that abstinence in his own way,
5
He began his first experiments with "sex".
Boys and Girls were to bathe and sleep together, chastely, but were punished for any sexual talk.
Men and women were segregated & Gandhi's advice was that Husbands should not be alone with their wives & when they felt passion
He began his first experiments with "sex".
Boys and Girls were to bathe and sleep together, chastely, but were punished for any sexual talk.
Men and women were segregated & Gandhi's advice was that Husbands should not be alone with their wives & when they felt passion
6
should take a cold bath.
The rules did not, however, apply to him. Sushila Nayar, the attractive sister of Gandhi's secretary, also his personal physician, attended Gandhi from girlhood. She used to sleep and bathe with Gandhi. When challenged, he explained how he ensured
should take a cold bath.
The rules did not, however, apply to him. Sushila Nayar, the attractive sister of Gandhi's secretary, also his personal physician, attended Gandhi from girlhood. She used to sleep and bathe with Gandhi. When challenged, he explained how he ensured
7
decency was not offended. "While she is bathing I keep my eyes tightly shut," he said, "I do not know ... whether she bathes naked or with her underwear on. I can tell from the sound that she uses soap."
As he grew older (and following Kasturba's death) he was to have more
decency was not offended. "While she is bathing I keep my eyes tightly shut," he said, "I do not know ... whether she bathes naked or with her underwear on. I can tell from the sound that she uses soap."
As he grew older (and following Kasturba's death) he was to have more
8
women around him and would oblige women to sleep with him whom – according to his segregated ashram rules – were forbidden to sleep with their own husbands. Gandhi would have women in his bed, engaging in his "experiments" which seem to have been, from a reading of his
women around him and would oblige women to sleep with him whom – according to his segregated ashram rules – were forbidden to sleep with their own husbands. Gandhi would have women in his bed, engaging in his "experiments" which seem to have been, from a reading of his
9
letters, an exercise in strip-tease or other non-contact sexual activity. Much explicit material has been destroyed but tantalising remarks in Gandhi's letters remain such as: "Vina's sleeping with me might be called an accident. All that can be said is that she slept close
letters, an exercise in strip-tease or other non-contact sexual activity. Much explicit material has been destroyed but tantalising remarks in Gandhi's letters remain such as: "Vina's sleeping with me might be called an accident. All that can be said is that she slept close
10
to me." One might assume, then, that getting into the spirit of the Gandhian experiment meant something more than just sleeping close to him.
While in Bengal during Noakhali riots Gandhi called for his 18-year-old grandniece Manu to join him – and sleep with him. "We both
to me." One might assume, then, that getting into the spirit of the Gandhian experiment meant something more than just sleeping close to him.
While in Bengal during Noakhali riots Gandhi called for his 18-year-old grandniece Manu to join him – and sleep with him. "We both
11
may be killed by the Muslims",
Gandhi told her, "and must put our purity to the ultimate test, so that we know that we are offering the purest of sacrifices, and we should both now start sleeping naked".
may be killed by the Muslims",
Gandhi told her, "and must put our purity to the ultimate test, so that we know that we are offering the purest of sacrifices, and we should both now start sleeping naked".
12
Such behaviour was no part of the accepted practice of bramacharya. He, by now, described his reinvented concept of a brahmachari as: "One who never has any lustful intention, who, by constant attendance upon God, has become proof against conscious or unconscious emissions
Such behaviour was no part of the accepted practice of bramacharya. He, by now, described his reinvented concept of a brahmachari as: "One who never has any lustful intention, who, by constant attendance upon God, has become proof against conscious or unconscious emissions
13
who is capable of lying naked with naked women, however beautiful, without being in any manner whatsoever sexually excited ... who is making daily and steady progress towards God and whose every act is done in pursuance of that end and no other." That is, he could do
who is capable of lying naked with naked women, however beautiful, without being in any manner whatsoever sexually excited ... who is making daily and steady progress towards God and whose every act is done in pursuance of that end and no other." That is, he could do
14
whatever he wished, so long as there was no apparent "lustful intention". He had effectively redefined the concept of chastity to fit his personal practices.
Gandhi's behaviour was widely discussed and criticised by family members and leading politicians. Some members of
whatever he wished, so long as there was no apparent "lustful intention". He had effectively redefined the concept of chastity to fit his personal practices.
Gandhi's behaviour was widely discussed and criticised by family members and leading politicians. Some members of
15
his staff resigned, including two editors of his newspaper who left after refusing to print parts of Gandhi's sermons dealing with his sleeping arrangements.
But Gandhi found a way of regarding the objections as a further reason to continue. "If I don't let Manu sleep with
his staff resigned, including two editors of his newspaper who left after refusing to print parts of Gandhi's sermons dealing with his sleeping arrangements.
But Gandhi found a way of regarding the objections as a further reason to continue. "If I don't let Manu sleep with
16
me, though I regard it as essential that she should," he announced, "wouldn't that be a sign of weakness in me?"
Eighteen-year-old Abha, the wife of Gandhi's grandnephew Kanu Gandhi, rejoined Gandhi's entourage in the run-up to independence in 1947 and by the end of August
me, though I regard it as essential that she should," he announced, "wouldn't that be a sign of weakness in me?"
Eighteen-year-old Abha, the wife of Gandhi's grandnephew Kanu Gandhi, rejoined Gandhi's entourage in the run-up to independence in 1947 and by the end of August
17
he was sleeping with both Manu and Abha at the same time.
Questioned in the 1970s, Sushila revealingly placed the elevation of this lifestyle to a brahmacharya experiment was a response to criticism of this behaviour. "Later on, when people started asking questions about
he was sleeping with both Manu and Abha at the same time.
Questioned in the 1970s, Sushila revealingly placed the elevation of this lifestyle to a brahmacharya experiment was a response to criticism of this behaviour. "Later on, when people started asking questions about
18
his physical contact with women – with Manu, with Abha, with me – the idea of brahmacharya experiments was developed ... in the early days, there was no question of calling this a brahmacharya experiment." It seems that Gandhi lived as he wished, and only when challenged
his physical contact with women – with Manu, with Abha, with me – the idea of brahmacharya experiments was developed ... in the early days, there was no question of calling this a brahmacharya experiment." It seems that Gandhi lived as he wished, and only when challenged
19
did he turn his own preferences into a cosmic system of rewards and benefits. Like many great men, Gandhi made up the rules as he went along.
END OF THREAD
#VandeMataram
did he turn his own preferences into a cosmic system of rewards and benefits. Like many great men, Gandhi made up the rules as he went along.
END OF THREAD
#VandeMataram
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
