ination I have found it to be the most tolerant of all religions known to me. Its freedom from dogma makes a forcible appeal to me inasmuch as it gives the votary the largest scope for self-expression. Not being an exclusive religion, it enables the followers of that faith not merely to respect all the other religions, but it also enables them to admire and assimilate whatever may be good in other faiths. Non-violence is common to all religions, but it has found the highest expression and application in Hinduism.”[1]
When asked whether he was a secret Christian, Gandhi replied: “The charge of being a Christian in secret is not new. It is both a libel and a compliment—a libel because there are men who can believe me to be capable of being secretly any thing, i.e., for fear of being that openly. There is nothing in the world that would keep me from professing Christianity or any other faith, the moment I felt the truth of and the need for it. Where there is fear there is no religion. The charge is a compliment in that it is a reluctant acknowledgment of my capacity for appreciating the beauties of Christianity. Let me own this. If I could call myself, say, a Christian or a Mussalman, with my own interpretation of the Bible or the Quran, I should not hesitate to call myself either. For then Hindu, Christian and Mussalman would be synonymous terms.”[2]
India has always opened her heart to great leaders. The orthodox Hindus believe that there have been nine incarnations of Vishnu, but in actual practice the list is not limited to these nine. There is a verse in the Gita which declares: “When ever there is decay of righteousness, and there is exaltation of unrighteousness, then I myself come forth; for the sake of firmly establishing righteousness, I am born from age to age.” These words are the words of Krishna, who in the Gita is both the incarnation and spokesman of Vishnu.
During his lifetime Mr. Gandhi was worshipped as an incarnation of Vishnu by numbers of people, variously estimated, the figure mentioned by some running into the millions. Since his death, his image has been enshrined in numerous temples. A book published in Bombay in 1945 declares that
