Mahatma Gandhi and Hermann Kallenbach, pictured here with his secretary Sonia Schlesin.
Oy, does the term TMI (too much information) apply here? That would be a yes. A new book, Great Soul: Mahatma Gandhi And His Struggle With India, depicts the Indian icon as a sexual weirdo who left his wife in 1908 for a German-Jewish architect and bodybuilder. Talk about moonlighting. The tome, written by Pulitzer prizing #winning author, Joseph Lelyveld, addresses some of the letters and dishy bits about the romance the two had for six years. Recently, the Oscar-winning Best Film, Gandhi, was on TCM and no where does it mention this factoid. I loved that film. And now, knowing about this poontang story, I wish they had included it in the film. Surely if the film was being made now, it would be all about this gay affair. A film about Gandhi’s valiant efforts to free the Indian people from England’s autocratic rule? Who cares. Poontang with a Jewish bodybuilder, which is a bit of an oxymoron, definitely. One does not automatically think of sex when thinking about Gandhi. I sure don’t. On the contrary, he is an unattractive, A-sexual looking being. Now, I can’t stop thinking about this taboo affair. So let me get this straight, or not: if there is a cover for every pot…where is my lid?
