Acharya Prashant responds to a questioner's confusion about the conflicting narratives surrounding Mahatma Gandhi's personality and actions. The questioner mentions Gandhi's positive aspects, such as his honesty and movements like the Champaran Satyagraha, but also brings up criticisms, including his alleged appeasement of Muslims, his role in the partition of India, and the controversy over the 45 crore rupees given to Pakistan, as highlighted in Nathuram Godse's book. Acharya Prashant begins by stating that Gandhi was certainly a politician, but a lot of politics was played with him, especially after his death. He clarifies that titles like 'Mahatma' and 'Father of the Nation' were bestowed upon him by others like Rabindranath Tagore and Subhash Chandra Bose, respectively, and were not self-proclaimed. He describes Gandhi as an ordinary man with many flaws, which he openly admitted in his writings, including stealing, visiting a prostitute, and having lustful thoughts. He was not a natural genius and initially lacked self-confidence. However, his experiences in South Africa transformed him, leading him to stand against injustice. Upon returning to India, Gandhi spent years understanding the country's plight. He adopted simple attire to connect with the common people, whom he called 'Daridranarayan' (God in the form of the poor), believing that to serve them, one must become like them. Acharya Prashant explains that Gandhi understood that the British were merchants, and the most effective way to hurt them was economically. Given the immense power of the British Empire, a violent struggle would have been disastrous for the poor and weak Indian populace. Thus, Gandhi chose non-violent methods like promoting Khadi and initiating the Salt Satyagraha to stop the economic exploitation of India. The burning of foreign clothes, for instance, was a significant blow to the British textile industry. Acharya Prashant acknowledges that while some of Gandhi's economic ideas may seem outdated today, it is unfair to label him a villain or accuse him of wanting to harm India. He agrees that Gandhi's methods might have been insufficient and that other factors, including World War II and the Naval Mutiny, contributed to India's independence. However, he asserts that it is wrong to deny Gandhi's contribution. He points out that Gandhi had resigned from Congress in 1934 and was primarily focused on social reform. To counter the claim of him being partial, Acharya Prashant quotes Gandhi's statement where he called the average Muslim a 'bully' and the average Hindu a 'coward,' indicating that he spoke the plain truth without favoritism. In conclusion, Acharya Prashant advises to adopt the essence of Gandhi's teachings and discard the rest, quoting Kabir: 'Hold on to the essence, and let the chaff fly away.' He emphasizes that even Gandhi's staunchest opponents, like Churchill and Jinnah, recognized his substance and never considered him a lightweight. He was a man who experimented with his life and was honest about it. The speaker suggests that those who criticize him today should first examine their own lives. He encourages respecting the man for his courage and his contributions, even if one does not agree with all his ideologies.