Hazare nixes village moves to term him 'Mahatma'

Ralegan Siddhi village’s Gram Sabha in this district in Maharashtra approved the resolution coinciding with the 142nd birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation on Sunday  conferring on its famous son the title of ‘Mahatma’ in recognition of his contributions to the nation.

But the move did not go down well with the 74-year-old Gandhian. “I am a simple Indian trying to follow the path of greats like Gandhiji, Mahatma Phule and Dr B R Ambedkar. People should try to follow the ethics and values of these ‘Mahatmas’ in their lives to elevate themselves,” Hazare said on Monday from Ralegan Siddhi, 50 kms from here.

Hazare asked the villagers not to call him ‘Mahatma’ as he was against such “deification” for carrying out his duties as a common citizen. Congress downplayed the resolution, saying no person becomes great by mere conferment of such titles.

“It is left to the the conscience of the people and institutions of Ralegan Siddhi,” Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters in New Delhi when asked to comment on the Gram Sabha resolution.