Dadagiri to Gandhigiri

Lage Raho Munna Bhai is a 2006 bollywood blockbuster movie - everyone simply loved it! The film reached such heights of success that it even received acclamation by the Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh. In the movie, Munna Bhai (Sanjay Dutt) is an underworld don, having Circuit (Arshad Warsi) as his assistant. Fascinated by Radio host Jhanvi’s (Vidya Balan) sweet voice, Munna falls in love with her. And to win her heart, he masquerades as a professor and does research in a library on Gandhiji and his teachings.

Interestingly, this leads Munna Bhai to hallucinate Bapuji who corrects his wrong choices, directing him on the right path. Munna thus adopts Gandhigiri, leaving behind his Dadagiri. The movie is based on the ethical teachings of Mahatma. If the audience apply these teachings in their real lives rather than just being entertained, our nation would witness a decrease in immorality, corruption, crime, deception and hatred.

But what is the source of Gandhigiri? Was this Gandhiji’s own idea, or was he inspired by someone? It’s amazing to know what the Munna Bhai acts out today in Lage Raho Munna Bhai, and which Gandhiji philosophized had their origin 2000 years ago in a speech, called the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus taught these principles and it is recorded in the Holy Bible (Don’t believe it? Get a copy of the Holy Bible and check it out yourself.)

It was Jesus who taught, “If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also” (Matthew 5:39); “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you” (Luke 6:27-28); “If your brother has something against you, first go and be reconciled to your brother” (Matthew 5:23-24). Furthermore, the Holy Bible also teaches, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21); “Show proper respect to everyone” (1 Peter 2:17); “Do not lie to each other” (Colossians 3:9).

Don’t we find the exact reflection of these teachings in Lage Raho Munna Bhai? In Gandhiji’s own words, “Jesus Christ who taught us to love our enemies and to give our cloak to the one who wanted the coat, and to hold out the right cheek when the left was smitten, and who swept away the distinction between the Jew and the Gentile, would never brook a disposition that causes a man to be so proud of himself as to consider himself polluted even by the touch of a fellow-being.” (M.K Gandhi ‘Open Letter’ Before 19 December, 1894, “The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi,” 1.187, II, 3-16.) 

Now, who is this person called Jesus Christ who influenced the Father of our nation to formulate Gandhigiri, which eventually reaped freedom for our India in 1947? Jesus Christ is the only true God, the Creator of the whole universe, God who came to Earth as a man 2000 years ago because the whole world is indulged in sin. And this is not just a fable or a myth or blind faith – there are enough historical evidences that a man called Jesus Christ actually walked on Earth, and gave proof of His being the only true God! (Want proof? Ask us.) In order to forgive our sins, the Lord Jesus suffered on our behalf, shed His blood on the Cross and eventually died for us. And that’s not the end. He rose again on the third day to prove that He is the Savior of the whole world.

When Munna Bhai decided to embrace Gandhigiri giving up Dadagiri, there was a “U-turn” in his life – just like what Jesus taught. Without Jesus, we are empty inside, spiritually blinded and face everlasting destruction caused by our sin. But the good news is, the Creator of this whole universe, the Savior of all mankind and your only hope, can help you – right now – if you honestly repent of your sins, and ask Jesus to give you this “U-turn” and transform your life.

If you would like to know more about Jesus, please get a copy of the Holy Bible and study diligently. All who studied and obeyed the words of Jesus were never the same.

Want to know more about all this? Contact: hope2rise@gmail.com