Mahatma Gandhi as rookie hitter for NY Yankees

Mahatma Gandhi as rookie hitter for New York Yankees

Did peace icon Mahatma Gandhi pinch-hit for the New York Yankees wearing his trademark khadi dhoti in 1933?

An 11-minute short film titled "Gandhi at the Bat", a faithful recreation of a black and white 1930s-style newsreel showing Gandhi as rookie baseball hitter, is going around in film festivals world over, has won numerous awards, and even played at Baseball Hall of Fame.

Directed by Stephanie Argy (Scene) and Alec Boehm (Trailer Park of Terror), produced by Mental Slapstick, and written by Chet Williamson, it narrates the incident (totally fictional) of Gandhi pinch-hitting for Yankees and includes over 75 effects shots. Delfin Labao (Timeline) portrayed Gandhi while Crystal Reel award winner Lee Perkins (The Whole Town is Sleeping) played Mickey ‘Black Mike’ Cochrane (famous catcher/manager known for his fiery temper).

Acclaimed Indo-American statesman Rajan Zed says that Gandhi never set foot on America, although he was on Time magazine covers in 1930, 1931, and 1947; Time Person of the Year in 1930; and was runner-up for Time Person of the Century. Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) was one of the few men in history to fight simultaneously on moral, religious, political, social, economic, and cultural fronts.

Zed, who is chairperson of Indo-American Leadership Confederation, further says that there is a renewed interest world over in Mahatma Gandhi and his ideas. Even among Hollywood and other celebrities, he appears to be back in vogue. Saturn award winner actress Kristen Bell (Forgetting Sarah Marshall) was spotted in New York City streets wearing V-neck T-shirt displaying Gandhi’s large picture. Actress-supermodel Jessica Szohr (Gossip Girl), Oscar winner Angelina Jolie (Changeling), Golden Globe nominated Jessica Alba (Dark Angel), Grammy nominated Rihanna (Good Girl Gone Bad), etc., also reportedly carry Gandhi T-shirts. DJ I-Dee (Isaac DeLima), scratch music prodigy and winner of DMC USA, was seen in a Miami (USA) club wearing neon Gandhi T-shirt.

A prestigious fashion themed exhibition titled “Italian knots: Evolution, language and style of the tie”, organized by Associazione Culturale Colosseum Roma and held at Embassy of Italy in Washington DC (USA) recently, displayed Gandhi’s picture prominently along with the pictures of the likes of Oscar winner George Clooney (Good Night, and Good Luck).

Rajan Zed, welcoming Gandhi’s rediscovery by American celebrities, urged them also to look deeper into Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violence, his commitment to world peace, and his work for the upliftment of the downtrodden.

ENDS

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