Hitler or Gandhi - You Have Hardline Followers For All

While in public perception there can be no comparison between Hitler the dictator and Gandhi the saint there is a lot common in their staunch followers and rigid ideology and stubborn attitude.

I watched the two movies- almost back to back - made on these two larger-than-life individuals and was wondering how people think, follow and worship other humans who present themselves as saviors of a group of people or a nation.



Let me deal with the Bunker first. The film stars Anthony Hopkins as Adolf Hitler and Richard Jordan as Albert Speer as the main characters.

Directed by George Schaefer, is a depiction of the events surrounding Adolf Hitler's last weeks in and around his underground bunker- Führerbunker- below his chancellery, in Berlin before and during the Battle of Berlin till his last day. Hitler widely acknowledged as a mad man who threw a fit for anything that was not done according to what ‘he thought’ was right, was a terror for his followers especially his generals, who were sh*t scared of him.
 
Nobody had the guts to face up to him and challenge him for even the most irrational ideas he wanted to be executed. This was well depicted in the movie. Albert Speer a civilian, who was his blue eyed boy an architect who dreamt of making Germany of Hitler, a model country was aghast when Hitler ordered for ‘scorched earth’ policy in wake of Russian victory being almost certain. It meant destroying every German building, equipment, food, grain and killing all Germans including civilians.

Hitler’s idea was that the Russians and Allies should get nothing when they reach Berlin and ‘losers have no right to live’, so kill all Germans. No general had the guts to oppose him though Speer did meekly resisted to no avail. He wanted to kill Hitler by pumping in poisonous gas in the bunker but last minute his ‘sheepishly revered or whatever sense’ prevailed and he dropped the idea and suddenly started praising Hitler for his brilliant idea. He didn’t joined with him but never opposed him. This is most intriguing.

Hitler was so tiny, physically weak, frail and even unwell in his last years that you didn’t even require a weapon to kill him. Any two generals could have taken him down in his office and strangulated him to death. But no one- no one- dared to.

On the other hand Goebbels his right hand man, moved his wife and kids to the bunker as if to die with him. His wife and children adored Hitler and as Russians were a few hundred meters from the bunker the mother gave poison to the children and made them go to bed to die! What Loyalty!

Hitler ordered dismissal of his top generals like, Heinz Guderian, Heinrich Himmler and Hermann Goering as the Russians encircled Berlin. Hitler knew that all was lost and did not want to be captured by the Russians for obvious reasons and planned his suicide and even disposal of his body by burning outside the bunker. Yet everyone was a mute spectator to this ghastly act. Hitler married Eva Braun in these circumstances who was happy even if death was eminent. He had asked his secretaries to escape but they refused. His two women secretaries stayed happily with him and preferred to die with their Fuhrer. Hitler asked his doctor to get two cyanide pills to let Eva Braun commit Suicide. To ensure that the poison was genuine and would work, he gives a capsule to his own dog ‘Blondie’, killing her in front of his eyes, whom he loved immensely! He gave a cyanide capsule to Eva Braun and shot himself through his head. He had ensured that Blankets and gasoline (200 liters) was arranged and two pits dug beforehand to burn their bodies outside the bunker.

All the death and destruction around the bunker, the chancellery and in the bunker was being witnessed by all his ‘mad followers’ who eventually perished along with their nation and hero. Some did escape.

This film clearly establishes the fact that most Indians worshipped Gandhi ji and addressed him with respect. A halo was built around him. The film is a dramatized version which for the sake of conveying to the audience the thoughts of Godse who had actually killed Gandhi, keeps Gandhi alive after assassination attempt so that a dialogue can be established between the two.

The film does two things. First it conveys that Gandhi ji was a strong willed person and he used his fast unto death stance to get his point of view accepted or even bulldozed - in the eyes of Godse. Second it conveys that in case of a nation a saintly philosophy may not work- one has to be practical, pragmatic, realistic and open to listen to others. Nation first is most important in policy formation and not spirituality first. It can neither work in international relations, nor in addressing intra nation issues. Godse, holds Gandhi responsible for the partition and misery of Hindus.

Historical films leave a lot to the imagination of the audience. I would like to quote Thomas Hardy who said about the Bunker saga "While much is too strange to believe, nothing is too strange to have happened." Could Gandhi Godse movie earn the same tag?

A bias against Hindus and a soft approach of giving INR 55 Crore (a huge amount then) to Pakistan was reflected well by the film maker.

Nehru and other Congress leaders were meekly putting forward their point of view even when Hindus were asked to move out of shelters on to the streets in Cold Winters on behest of Gandhi. While Hindus were being massacred in Pakistan Gandhi was telling Hindus to show restrain and do not hurt Muslims! When there is ‘sloganeering against Gandhi, as Gandhi is on fast till the money is given to Pakistan, he is told by the coterie that they were chanting pro Gandhi slogans- ‘How Murdabad was made to Zindabad’ was reflected clearly and Gandhi’s demands met in full. Just to please Gandhi and get around him this was done.

He is shown as one man who was above the government and the nation. He never shouted like Hitler but his Generals were equally overpowered and seemed powerless- Nehru being the Field Marshal.

"I have been known as a crank, faddist, mad man. Evidently the reputation is well deserved. For wherever I go, I draw to myself cranks, faddists, and madmen." MK Gandhi on his attitude

Not only this there is a girl working in his ashram prepared to sacrifice her love to her beloved for sake of Gandhi who is against two people loving each other- a forbidden according to him. Her mother also supports Gandhian Idea in the end. Any similarity? I can’t say.

Another stark reality is subtly yet clearly conveyed that the entire Congress went against Gandhi when he wanted Congress to be dissolved. Hunger for power was too strong and Nehru put this up to Congress Working Committee obviously being sure of winning his way. Why denying Payment of Rs 55 Crore to Pakistan was not taken up with CWC is left to audience’s imagination. This probably carries on till today.

Gandhi quits Congress. But had the damage been done? He could not turn the clock back- It is still ticking.

Hitler told his generals that he would shoot them or hang them if they did not obey his orders and meet his demands however outrageous they could be. Gandhi told his generals (aspiring politicians and would be rulers and leaders) and followers that he would kill himself if they did not meet his demands however outrageous they could be. Both movies demonstrate.

Foot note

Ultimately a practical way of running a nation, an organization or even an education institute alone works. There are hard eggs who are ready to get boiled for saints and sadistic savages alike.

You may see a pattern.

‘Blind faith in your leaders, or in anything, will get you killed.’- Bruce Springsteen