Do You Think Ghandi Is Responsible For The Tragic End Of His Eldest Son, Harilal ?

 

  Based from the movie and factual historical evidence about Ghandi's responsibility towards his eldest son tragic death , Harilal. In my opinion, Ghandi is not responsible towards his eldest son's death. There are few evidence that might support the reason why Ghandi is not responsible towards such incident.

  One of the reasons is that Ghandi as a father tries his best to educate his children. He knows what Harilal's weaknesses and therefore tries to overcome it. He knows that Harilal is not good in formal education.In the movie in 00:40:08 Gandhi told his wife that Harilal can't even make the school matriculation grades. Ghandi also knew that his eldest son is good and skilled in public speeches such in 00:24:46 and thus wanted him to join his cause to liberate India.

  In addition, Harilal is too stubborn and being a right brained person. He always thinks about his own feelings instead of others. He never put himself in his father's shoes and always thinks that he is right. One of the example that I can take from the movie is when 00:51:34 where he said to his wife that " Each time I failed Gulab, my father wins." It clearly stated that he knew that his father was right from the beginning that Hariral is not good in formal study but he refused to accept his weaknesses. He tried to take a few more times for his education but he always failed, not only he failed but he also jobless and owes people a sum of money. Besides that, he also refuses to listen his father's advices when he lost his beloved wife, Gulab. His father advised him to return to the Ashram and start a new life where he could improve himself and his whole family but in the end Harilal refused to go to the Ashram and in the end he just became a normal simple citizen while his father is well known and well respected compared to him just like in the part of the movie in 01:22:46.

 

  Moreover, Harilal's stubbornness also leads to his feebleness in his effort towards his objectives. He easily gives up when he failed to achieve something. It can be seen in the part of the movie when he failed his formal studies for a few times, he gave up his study and continue to do business. And when he failed in his business in his so called 'clothing investments' he ended up being drunk because he cannot accept his faith and he whined up in debt just like in the movie part 01:11:33.  

  Last but not least, it is Harilal never appreciate and often misuse on the opportunity that had been given to him. One of the example is when he was converted to a Muslim in 01:40:51. He was given a house, a good living and hospitality by the Muslims but he never appreciate it. Instead he acts like a filthy drunk in 01:43:48 and misuse the hospitality given by the Muslims. 

  In conclusion, it was not Ghandi's fault for the death for his eldest son, Harilal.Ghandi even ordered some men to find Harilal but with little luck they were unable to find Harilal. Besides that Ghandi died first before Harilal, thus Harilal's death has nothing to do with Ghandi. Also it was Harilal who decide his own faith, he decides himself to live on the streets like a disgusting filthy beggar and in the end he died without honour and dignity.