Reader's review: The Autobiography of Malcolm X "As told to Alex Haley"
This disclaimer informs readers that the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to the VarthaBharati.
As told to Alex Hayley, the biography of Macolm X inherits not only the life history of one of the greatest Civil Rights activist of the 20th century, but also the the plight of the Blacks in the Whiteman's world. An ardent champion of black rights, Malcom X continues to be a notable figure among the blacks to this day.
Malcom X's life should be shed light through three different prisms. The one before imprisonment where he was just another ignorant black who would simply imitate the whites and go on to any level to earn a living, the one after imprisonment where he was a trusted lieutenant of Elijah Muhammad in his Nation of Islam and a completely different Malcom after his pilgrimage to Mecca which he would later acknowledge himself.
Malcom X begins his life just as another ghetto occupant black who is unaltered by the social position of blacks in the whiteman's world. However, as things turn out to be, an imprisonment brings the first major change within himself. Though someone with school education only upto 8th grade, he educates himself with a lot of books in the prison thereby developing an awareness regarding the social position of the blacks. It is in the prison that he accepts Islam as he finds out that nothing other than Islam could be the true religion of the blacks.
Upon his release from the prison, he joins Elijah Muhammad's Nation of Islam and continues his strong activism for a separate homeland for the blacks rather than integrating with the whites. Here, he rises through the ranks and becomes only second to Elijah Muhammad in his Nation of Islam. However, as in any organisation, a slight mishap results in the suspension of Malcom X from the Nation of Islam which culminates in him setting up a parallel organisation in order to revive the spiritual, intellectual, emotional and physical regenration of the blacks.
Malcom X was an outspoken individual who wouldn't shy away from any debates. He was always open to controversies through what he preached. While on traffic, he was once asked by a white man if he would mind shaking hand with him. To this, Malcom gave a fitting reply that he would never mind shaking his hand with a human and asked in return if he was any ! Though he's accused of preaching militant racist tendencies for his want of separate land for blacks, one can never cast a doubt on his identification of a certain manhood within the blacks which they had buried under the white supremacist policies in the American land. As he himself predicted, he was portrayed as an instigator of hate and a separatist who's an extreme racist. However, he justifies the hatred through his wordings "The hate that hate produced ". He also justifies his separatist tendencies by quoting that any integration would only lead to further segregation of the blacks which doesn't bode well for their intellectual, spiritual and emotional regeneration.
A pilgrimage to Mecca strengthens him spiritually where he discovers that the Islamic Brotherhood transcends all of the world's racial overtones. Upon his return to the United States, he declares that not all the white's are anti-blacks and it is Islam which helps man to not inferiorate other humans on the basis of colour. The major spiritual awareness within Malcom is visible when he proclaims " Allah always gives you signs, when you are with him, that He is with you ".
One thing he would always regret was a blunt "nothing" reply he made to a college going white girl who had asked him if there was anything which she could do to the blacks. He would always announce that he had become more flexible with respect to the the contributions of the white's in the regenration of his fellow black brothers. For all those who proclaim that you acquire certain wisdom only through age, here was a man in his 30s whose wisdom on the plight of his fellow brothers and the affirmative action for their moral regenration was on the upper reading level of a wisdom barometer. As Elijah Muhammad would always say, with public recognition criticism would also tend to catch up. Malcom X was a perfect embodiment of that so much so that even upon his death, there were criticisms on him as being a hypocrite, a militant racist, a man losing out on the original path. The mystery of his death would remain as mysterious to this day as that of the Bermuda Triangle. Was his Organisation for Afro-American Unity destined for prime success had Malcom been alive ?
His advice to the writer Alex Haley that he wants not an interpretor but a writer for his book simply exemplifies the dead honest level he personified for himself. Further, his disassociation with Elijah Muhammad didn't let him from hiding his earlier reverence to him in his autobiography.
A lucidly written biography, the one that depicts the struggle of mankind and its zeal to overcome that struggle against all odds, this one is a masterpiece.
This disclaimer informs readers that the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to the VarthaBharati.
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If you have a conscience, apologize to the people: R Ashoka slams Yathindra over Nalwadi comparison
Bengaluru: Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka launched a scathing attack on MLC Dr. Yathindra, demanding that he retract his controversial statement comparing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to the late Maharaja Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar. Ashoka urged Yathindra to apologize to the people of Karnataka if he had even a shred of conscience and any respect for the Mysuru royal lineage.
In a strongly worded social media post on Sunday, Ashoka stated, “Comparing Siddaramaiah to Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar is nothing short of absurd. Where is Nalwadi, who was bestowed the title of ‘Rajarshi’ by Mahatma Gandhi himself, and where is Siddaramaiah, who has stooped to being a puppet in the hands of fake Gandhis for the sake of power?”
He continued his critique by contrasting the enduring legacy of Nalwadi, remembered fondly by Kannadigas for his people-centric development, with what he termed as Siddaramaiah’s failure to manage Karnataka’s economy, burdening every household with debt.
Ashoka highlighted several stark differences, while Nalwadi built Mysore University over a century ago, Siddaramaiah is shutting down nine universities due to lack of funds. Nalwadi famously sold his family’s gold to build the KRS dam, whereas Siddaramaiah is accused of grabbing 14 sites meant for the public. Nalwadi established Bhadravati Iron & Steel Plant, Sandalwood Soap Factory, and Mysore Paper Mills. In contrast, Ashoka claimed Siddaramaiah's governance drove away industries, investors, and entrepreneurs. Nalwadi pioneered reservations for the backward classes long before it became mainstream. Siddaramaiah, Ashoka alleged, is reducing social justice to a gimmick by sticking labels on doors in the name of surveys.
While acknowledging Yathindra’s emotional attachment to his father, Ashoka emphasized that comparing Siddaramaiah to a visionary like Nalwadi was “laughable, baseless, and a gross insult” to the late king.
In his concluding remarks, Ashoka slammed the government for ignoring farmers’ needs despite an early monsoon. He accused the administration of being caught up in internal power struggles and negligence, forcing farmers into despair. “This government will not be spared from the curse of the farmers,” he warned.
