After all, Gandhi was human..

I read a fascinating article on Gandhi in a recent edition of Outlook. It talked about a fling Gandhi had with Tagore's niece Saraladevi. Gandhi was staying in her Lahore home in 1919 while her husband Rambhuj Dutt Chaudhary was in jail. She was 47 at that time and well past her beautiful youth but her intellect attracted Gandhi immensely.
Later, Gandhi would say that he was prevented from "rushing into hellfire" by the thought of Kasturba and because of interventions by his son Devdas, Mahadev Desai and another young relative, Mathuradas Trikamji.
So what does it all mean for the embodiment of sacrifice and self discipline which Gandhi was? Did he lose it once or there are more ghosts in the closet? Should we respect him less in light of this disclosure?

I think there are two important aspects to this story. One, it proves that Gandhi was human( and fallible) and it is still possible to reach his level of accomplishment. His act, though it seems superhuman, can be emulated by anyone who is ready to embrace his values and who has the sense of purpose he had. So rather than feeling disappointed, we should all celebrate a "Human Gandhi" who rose to such heights.

Second, Saraladevi probably was the first person who provided company to a person who was so lonely in his position as a giver. Gandhi, in her, probably saw a companion of equal intellect with whom he could share his thoughts as an equal( and even draw inspiration!!). She was probably someone with whom he could share his sorrows and his needs. Even people of Gandhi's stature need their retreats!!!

Someone rightly said" Ivory tower of scholarship is a lonely place"...