Today, the world is
in a great cataclysm. It’s not just that nations do not get along, but find out
situations for war. The rising inequalities are leading to conditions of extreme
poverty and hunger on one side, while the emergence of a new slavery called
technology along with consumerism and individualism led by competition pervades
the other side. To top it all, the devastation of our ecosystem is causing
natural calamities across the world.
Whenever the world
faces crisis, all the possibilities are experimented upon it without success; till
at last a concept called Ahimsa (non-violence) founded by Mahatma Gandhi in
1906 is brought into picture. It has been a crucial force for societal change.
So the
Ahimsavadis around the world have been at the forefront of
campaigns to promote democracy and human rights. Ahimsa, in other words the non-violence
movements, has ousted powerful dictatorships and military governments. It has stopped
wars and prevented loss of precious lives.
However, looking at
the present state of affairs in India, Gandhi's teachings are generally
restricted to text books. India is not adopting any of it in its international
relations. As a military superpower in Asia, India is definitely not sticking
with the teachings of Ahimsa in
establishing peace with its neighbours, be it Pakistan, Bangladesh or China;
nor is it practising non-fury in its numerous insurgencies, be it in Kashmir,
Punjab, central India or in the North Eastern states of Assam, Manipur. It
seems the Apostle of Peace is reduced to just a ‘
safai karamchari’ in
his home country as we commemorate his 150th birth anniversary. Has
Gandhi’s philosophy of Ahimsa lost its relevance in this all-pervading materialistic,
agnostic and consumerist culture?
But then
in every corner of the globe, Gandhi
is still remembered for his passionate adherence to the practice of
non-violence and his supreme humanism through the philosophy of Ahimsa. The
world observes October 2 as the International Day of Non-Violence. What is the
significance of Gandhi to the modern world and what is the mystery of his
success? Gandhi has been a great light for the Tibetan leader Dalai Lama, who puts
Gandhi's success in proper perspective. He stated, “Many ancient Indian masters
have preached Ahimsa, non-violence as a philosophical system.
That was more
philosophical reason. But Mahatma Gandhi, in this twentieth century, developed
a very sophisticated approach because he went through that very noble
philosophy of Ahimsa in modern government, and he won.
That is a big thing.” And that is precisely the greatness of
Gandhi.
Gandhi was the role
model for many great leaders across the world. Martin Luther King, Jr., civil
rights leader and activist who had a great deal of influence on American
society in the 1950s and 1960s, argued that the Gandhian philosophy was “the
only morally and practically sound method open to oppressed people in their
struggle for freedom”. Nelson Mandela, the anti-apartheid leader who became the
first black President of
South
Africa, drew inspiration from the political struggles of Gandhi. When Mandela
was awarded the Nobel Prize for peace in 1994, he claimed that he owed his
success to Mahatma Gandhi.
Many present-day public
personalities too see Gandhi as an inspiration. Barack Obama, former US
President, has a portrait of the apostle of peace in his agency. He remarked,
“In my lifetime, I have always looked to Mahatma Gandhi as an exemplary person,
because he embodies the sort of transformational change that can be created
when ordinary people get together to perform extraordinary things.” Aung San Suu Kyi, the Burmese leader who was
under house arrest for many years, too derived great inspiration from Gandhi.
From Gandhi, she learnt that for a doctrine of peace and reconciliation to be
translated into practice, one absolute condition needed is fearlessness. Gandhi
has inspired and will proceed to inspire many political, societal and religious
leaders all over the globe through his simple life and philosophy of ahimsa.
Whether it is Joan Baez, the American folk singer and human rights activist, or
Cesar Chavez, the American social activist, or Joanna Macy, the environmental
activist, or Mubarak Awad, the non-violent Palestine leader, they all get
different inspirations from Gandhi in their battles.
Gandhi’s messages
kindle some inner fire to bring about change, if not in a great measure, in a
small way in and around the place one lives. It inspires the modern human being
to struggle for goodness in society in a non-violent manner. “
Good,”
Gandhi said, “
travels at a snail’s pace.” “Nonviolence,” Gandhi said, “is
a tree of dense development.
It grows imperceptibly, but surely.” And then “
Mere goodness is not
of much use,” Gandhi said. “Goodness must be conjoined with
knowledge, courage and strong belief.
One must cultivate the fine discriminating quality which
goes with spiritual courage and character.” And that is the message
of Gandhi to the advanced universe.
People get attracted
towards Gandhi not much because of his excellent speeches, but because whatever
he said he practised it. His activism is
not mere action, but contains many facets of a spiritual ‘practice’ that is
inhaled by the inner urging of the moral sense. The modern man should get great
wisdom from what Gandhi termed as the seven social sins: Politics without
principles; Wealth without work; Commerce without morality; Education without
character; Pleasure without conscience; Science without humanity; Worship
without sacrifice.
Gandhi was an
exemplary man who walked in the footsteps of Buddha and Jesus
in this modern world. He stated, “I
have nothing new to teach the creation.
Truth and non-violence are as old as the hills”.
After Buddha
and Jesus,
Gandhi in modern times once again showed the world that non-violence could be
an efficient tool of societal change. Gandhi successfully demonstrated to a
world, weary with wars and continuing destruction that adherence to Truth and
Non-violence is not intended for individual behaviour alone but can be applied
in global affairs as well.
As Albert Einstein
stated
of Mahatma
Gandhi, "Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this
ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth." Today if the philosophy
of Ahimsa preached by Gandhi is in a severe test in our country, it is not
because there is any weakness in the idea of Ahimsa, but because we lack the
courage and conviction to practise and promote it. We need leaders who walk in
the steps of Mahatma, leaders who walk and talk the philosophy of Ahimsa to
oppose the evils in society. May the commemoration events for Gandhi’s 150th
birth anniversary be occasions to promote his greatest message, Ahimsa!
