Lelyveld has denied allegations saying, the word 'bisexual' nowhere appears in the book. The book quotes Gandhi from one of his letters to Kallenbach “how completely you have taken possession of my body, this is slavery with a vengeance”
The book also claims “Gandhi nicknamed himself ‘Upper House’ and Kallenbach ‘Lower House’, and... “made Lower House promise not to ‘look lustfully upon any woman’. The two then pledged ‘more love, and yet more love... such love as they hope the world has not yet seen’.”
The book alleges that as an older man, Gandhi held "nightly cuddles" – without clothes - with seventeen year-old girls in his entourage, including his own niece.
The Wall Street Journal review said the book intends to recast Gandhi as "a sexual weirdo, a political incompetent, a fanatical faddist, implacably racist, and a ceaseless self-promoter, professing his love for mankind as a concept while actually despising people as individuals."
Now these supposed allegations about Gandhi's sexuality are likely to be acutely contested by his millions of followers around the world.
Gandhi has been portrayed as a womaniser by many, especially with those pictures, where you have him hanging on to two women at each and every occasion. This would for sure add more oil to the fire....
ReplyDeleteBy the by, nice blog..keep it goin..:)
Lelyveld sure knows how to impress the jury of Pulitzer, who have been known to favor liberalism. This seems more of a Lelyveld-focused publicity stunt. He's already got you writing about it!!
ReplyDeleteThere is little doubt Gandhi was exactly what this book tries to portray him to have been.
ReplyDeleteRao
In India comments on sexual orientation is an insult to people. In this case it is an insult to Gandhiji's memory. Gandhiji's contribution to India is unmeasurable and independant of Gandhi's personal life, atleast for me. But all this for publicity is outright cheap.
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