From a convict to a social worker, Ghandhiji's values changed Laxman Gole's life forever

Convicted for 19 crimes, in 2004, Laxman Gole today is a different person altogether from what he was some 10 years ago. Gole served sentences for assault, attempt to murder and extortion but what brought the real change is Mahatma Gandhi’s values into his life.

After nearly seven years after his release, a documentary film is all set to release depicting Gole’s story and how exactly he became a preacher of Gandhian values. “Gandhi has become an idea, an immovable static symbol. In Laxman, I saw those ideas transform into action,” said Madhvi Tangella, filmmaker, who made the documentary in a course of four years.

When iamin spoke to Gole, about his journey from being a criminal to a social worker, he said, “My transformation happened while I experimented with the truth. Honestly, I had to kill time, so I picked up the book that was sent for us in jail. It gave me a strange kind of peace. I started staying quite. I wouldn’t get into fights, shaved my long hair and a heavy beard and started self-reflecting. I thought if Mahatma Gandhi can transform his entire life, why can’t I? The book made me feel very guilty. I could no longer lie to anyone. Therefore, I finally made an appeal to the judge.”

Gole accepted that his final crime of extortion was the biggest and most severe. He recalled, “The judge warned me that if I accepted to be a part of the extortion, my term would become as long as seven years. I said I was okay with the punishment because I deserved it. Seeing my honesty and change in behaviour, my term was reduced to four years and I was released in 2008.”

Soon after Gole’s release from the jail, in 2010, he lost his heart to the beautiful Nanda. Gole said, “I unfolded my entire life in front of her, she was impressed by my honesty and courage to tell the truth to someone you expect to spend your whole life with.”

Nanda and Laxman Gole have two daughters now, Satya and Soumya. For Gole, love was followed by an urge to start an NGO for people who wished to transform themselves into better human beings. So, Gole started Saksham Peace Foundation. He said, “I have hundreds of letters from convicts asking me to rescue them from the disturbed lives. The lack of counseling in a prison is a major reason why people are afraid to change their lives, or even come to terms with the possibility.”

Talking about the film based on his life, Gole explained, “The film goes beyond what has just been spoken by me, my words, my quotes; it’s my life, what I do, every day.” To this, filmmaker Madhvi added, “There was a moment in the film, where Laxman Gole was spinning the wheel just like Gandhiji. Gole said something very inspiring during the shot making it my favourite part of the movie. He says ‘You don’t need to wear khaadi or live the life that Gandhi lived to be a true Gandhian, you can just be where you are, do something for your community and you’ll be there.’ I absolutely cherish that moment.”

Lastly, as the interview concluded, Madhvi, who is also the winner of the Silver Conch, at the MIFF, 2010, said, “It’s the magical capacity of an ordinary person to change his entire course of life that connects his story to each and every one of us.”

The film is set to be released in almost a month after getting an approval from the censor board and will be screened extensively across the city.

For the longer version of the report, click here