Death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on January 30:

Gandhi - Icon of Asia’s freedom struggle

While every century and every generation produces both triumphs and tragedies which have lasting effects on the constantly unfolding drama of the human race, there arises in some occasions individuals whose essential contributions to that drama are so fundamental that they assume within their own life time a historical dimension and significance.

In fact, to a world lost in error and beset by illusions of time, dominated by overspecialization in material science and weighed down by conflicts and contradictions, trials and tribulations, Mahatma Gandhiji’s technique of spirituality will undoubtedly redeem millions of people from violence, hatred and fears.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi appeared as the political scene in 1915 and played a very important and crucial role in India’s attainment of Independence in August 1947. The briefless barrister as he was once called at the time of his journey to South Africa he had a special role to play in the country.

Satyagraha

He returned to India at a time when the country in general and the Indian National Congress in particular needed very much his valued guidance, wise counsel and astute leadership. He did not fail the party nor the country.

The weapon adopted by Gandhi was Satyagraha and through Civil obedience and peaceful non co-operation he completely unsettled the mighty British Empire which was ruling the country for more than a century. The peaceful non-violence methods adopted by Gandhi disarmed the British rulers.

Indeed, Mahatma Gandhi was fundamentally incomprehensible to the supercilious high brow Western intellectuals who were blatantly boastful of their superior civilization which precariously and perilously plunged the whole nation into the votex of nuclear disaster.

Further, the Mahatma Gandhiji’s contribution to world culture was his doctrine of ‘AHIMSA’. It was essentially linked with his concept of TRUTH. Violence to him was the greatest evil, non-violence was the law of life. Non-violence, Gandhi often said is a weapon of the strong, not a cover for the cowardice of the weak.

When Gandhi found that the British laws were unjust he preferred going to jail cheerfully. He often told Court’, ‘It is your duty to send me to jail’.

Resisting

This was a non-violent act against evil. He firmly believed that the most civilized way of resisting an evil was to undergo suffering since suffering truly would be a victory to the doctrine of AHIMSA whether the opponent realized it or not.

Unfortunately today the human mind is being confirmed in its belief that violence in some form or the other is essential for winning the race of life, that it is necessary for vindicating one’s rights, that it is inescapable as a means of successful living.

Gandhiji said, “Hatred ever kills and love never dies”. What is obtained by love is retained by all time. What is obtained by hatred proves a burden in reality, for it increases hatred. When senseless hatred reigns on earth and men hide their faces from one another then Heaven is forced to hide its face. But when love comes to rule on earth and men reveal their faces to one another then the splendour of God will be revealed.

In fact, ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants. We know more about war, than we know about peace, more about killing than we know about living. Gandhiji knew much about living.

Furthermore Mahatma Gandhi had the nobility to handsomely acknowledge the virtues of those who differed.

He never forgot that his detractors were made of the same flesh and blood and endowed with the same instincts and passions, hopes and aspirations. He knew the art of differing without bitterness.

Talks between Mahatma Gandhi and Lord Irwin, the viceroy took place in New Delhi in 1931. Winston Churchill did not like it at all. He was revolted by the nauseating and humiliating spectacles of this one time inner temple lawyer, now a seditious Fakir, striding half naked up the steps of the viceroys palace to negotiate and parley on equal terms and with the representative of the king Emperor.

When Gandhi heard about this, he wrote a delightful rejoinder,” you have reported to have expressed the desire to crush the naked Fakir as you are said to have described me.

I have been long trying to be a Fakir and that too naked, a more difficult task.

I therefore regard this expression as a compliment though unintentional. Further, he also expressed his dissatisfaction to the viceroy that “if he is not being allowed to attend the conference, he will take the first flight to India since he is representing the poor peasants of India.” In fact, the American Author Louis Fischer who was very closer to Mahatma Gandhi wrote that “A man who can be crushed between the two fingers of a burly English man has shaken the foundation of the British Empire.”

On another occasion there was a debate between the world renowned poet Rabindranath Tagore and Gandhi on the meaning of Culture, Tagore expressed great joy and satisfaction he derived from the beauty of nature and art, the glories of dawn, dusk, the procession of season, the freshness of trees and flowers.

Beauties

In reply Gandhi said that “it is good enough to talk of God, the beauties of the nature and art while we are sitting here after a nice breakfast and looking forward for a nice lunch. But, how can I talk of God to millions who have to go without one meal a day.

Mahatma Gandhi chose poverty, suffering and sacrifice as his lot. He shook the people out of their lethargy and introduced dynamism in political activities. He placed truth on its pedestal of glory.

He was a giant among men though not in physical stature, but measured by the greatness of his soul.

Further, Mahatma Gandhi was fond of listening to Rabindranath Tagore’s well-known say “Walk alone, if no one answers your call, walk alone. If the way is dark, let the flame of your burning heart light your way. Walk alone.” In fact, when one section of the people considered that Mahatma Gandhi was a hindrance, a fanatic took an unusual course.

Shot

A plot was hatched and it was carried out at the last prayer meeting to be addressed by Gandhi on Friday, January 30, 1948. NATHU RAM VINAYAK GODSE came very close to Gandhi, greeted him with folded hands and then pulled out a revolver and shot at him from close and point blank range.

This sad news conveyed to the country by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. He went on National Radio shortly after the bullets struck and speaking extemporaneously with tears and emotions he said, “The light has gone out of our lives and there is darkness everywhere and I do not quite know what to tell you and how to say it, our beloved leader BABU as we called him, the father of our nation is no more.”

Nehru further said: “the light that shone in this country was no ordinary light. The light that has illuminated this country for many more years and thousand years later that this light will be seen in this country and the world will see it and it will give solace to innumerable hearts.

Hence, Mahatma Gandhiji’s Satyagraha and his teachings will definitely redeem millions of people from violence, tension and hatred and bring about peace and communal harmony.

Chelvatamby Maniccavasagar