Never was Gandhi more relevant than now

Speaking about Mahatma Gandhi, respectfully called as the Father of Nation, evokes an avalanche of emotions rushing kaleidoscopically to our mind and bringing before us vivid memories of panorama of historical events and incredible sagas of the life of the world-reputed personality, famously recognized by universal features of loin-cloth-clad-up-to-the-knees, emaciated and frail physique, a thick-framed-bespectacled-long-face, slipper-shod feet, a chain-laced watch having been well-tucked into the waist, a sheet of loose cloth spread across the bust and moving with long strides with the support from a heavy wooden stick.

The saga of Gandhi’s struggle for the independence of the country started when he returned from England to India in 1915 on the request of Gopal Krishna Gokhale, who later on became famous as his political guru. With the joining of Indian National Congress (INC), Gandhi embarked upon the politics of India symbolizing the beginning of the new chapter in the struggle of independence of the country from the British rule.

But the first active and substantial participation of Gandhi in the political and freedom struggle of the country started in 1917 only when he came to Champaran in Bihar to champion the struggle of the indigo cultivators against the British government. Then came the Kheda movement, started in 1918, supported by thousands of farmers and volunteers, in which Gandhi used the modus operandi of non-co-operation to provide relief to the peasants from the heavy burden of taxes on the ground of famine and floods.

The life of Mahatma Gandhi has been an open book of precious values of morality and practical life. The gist of Gandhi’s philosophy of truth and non-violence can be well summarized in the following sentence, written on the plank of Sabarmati, “God is truth. The way to truth lies through ahimsa (non-violence).” Truth (satya) and nonviolence (ahimsa) were the greatest philosophies of Gandhi earning him popularity and fame which only a few of luminaries of the world have claimed in the world history. His straight and rarest of the rare confessions of the most embarrassing events of his life have made him the most respectable among the great personalities of the world.

Mahatma Gandhi dedicated his entire life to the pursuit of the principles of Satya and Ahimsa which were based upon the Vedantic and Upanishadic philosophies of self-realization, vegetarianism and universal love. Summarizing his own unshakeable belief in Satya, Gandhi had told “God is truth.” For Gandhi both God and truth were tantamount to each other. Satyagraha, the insistence or appeal for Satya, also called as ‘soul force’ or ‘universal force’ became the most powerful weapons which won the country freedom without having been shed even a single drop of blood.

Mahatma Gandhi was a great champion of empowerment and emancipation of women in the society. He always believed that a woman could not really be empowered unless she is self-conscious, educated, self-motivated and aware of her own rights. Gandhi opposed purdah system, dowry, sati, child marriage and other socio-gender abuses so widely prevailing in the society during the period of slavery of the country.

The dream of attainment of Swaraj or self-rule was closest to the heart of Gandhi. By Swaraj he did not simply mean freeing the country from the bondage of the British rule. Nor did it simply mean transferring the British rule of the country into the hands of the common masses of the country. By Swaraj he meant the formation of such a democratic government which stressed upon the participation of the common masses in the various policy-making-processes and promoted the growth of all the segments of the people to finally establish an egalitarian society.

By Swaraj Gandhi also meant a government promoting inclusive growth and safeguarding the freedom of expression of thoughts and opinions. For this, he also advocated the sarvodaya model of economy which just meant the development of all, development of even the last man standing in the last queue of the society. He also supported such a development strategy which gave importance to the maximum use of indigenous technology and infrastructure. By the Gandhian model of development the emphasis was given on “greatest good for all” rather than ‘greatest good for the greatest number.”

Gandhi’s popular talisman is yet another guide for the common masses to march ahead on the path of truth and philanthropy. Let us learn the talisman the importance of which has increased today more than ever,
"I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man [woman] whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him [her]. Will he [she] gain anything by it? Will it restore him [her] to a control over his [her] own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to swaraj [freedom] for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away."

Gandhi is respected and applauded across the world not only for his ideologies of truth and non-violence but also for his simple life style and high thinking. Completely devoid of any tantrums of power and privileges, Gandhi’s simple living and high thinking way of life made Albert Einstein to glorify the life of Gandhi which has become one of the often-quoted statements, “Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth.”

Gandhi is no more among us today but the memories of his timeless ideologies and philosophies are still fresh in the hearts of the people across the nations. The path shown and footprints left on the sands of time, Gandhi would go on unfailingly guiding the world, enlightening the people and bailing the people out of the various trials and tribulations with more vigour than ever in the centuries to come.

Shreeprakash Sharma - The author is Principal, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Mamit, Mizoram