Birth anniversary on October 2:

Mahatma Gandhi knew more about peace than war

Chelvatamby Maniccavasagar

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 on some occasions individuals whose essential contributions to the drama are so fundamental that they assume within their own lifetime a historical dimension and significance.

In fact, to a world lost in error and beset by illusions of time, dominated by false doctrine of totalitarian anthropocentrism, over specialization in material science, compartmentalization of knowledge and weighed down by conflicts and contradictions, trials and tribulations Mahatma Gandhi’s technique of spirituality in action and teachings will undoubtedly redeem millions of people from violence, hatred, fear and tension.

Indian National Congress

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi appeared on the political scene in 1915 adoringly and reverentially hailed as the ‘Father of the Nation’. He played a very important and crucial role in India attaining independence in August, 1947.

Mahatma Gandhi

The briefless barrister as he was once called at the time of his journey to South Africa, had a special role to play in the country.

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 Mahatma 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-violent methods adopted by Gandhi disarmed the British rulers.

They were unnerved, baffled and stultified and not all the might of the British which once boasted that the Sun will never set on its Empire could do anything against this one man who by his magic touch and mystic appeal roused the dormant nation to an upsurge of patriotism and a feverish pitch of nationalism unheard in history.

Western intellectuals

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

Hopes and aspirations

In fact, 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 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 spectacle of this one time Inner Temple Lawyer, now a Seditious Fakir, striding half naked up the steps of the Viceroy’s Palace to negotiate and parley an equal terms and with the representative of the King Emperor.

When Gandhi heard about this he wrote a delightful rejoinder, “you are 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 your expression as a compliment though unintentioned.”

Beauty of nature

On another occasion there was a debate between Rabindranath Tagore and Gandhi on the meaning of culture. Tagore expressed the great joy and satisfaction he derived from the beauty of nature and art, the glories of dawn, dusk, the processions of seasons, the freshness of trees and flowers.

In reply Gandhi said that “it is good enough to talk of God, the beauties of nature and the art while we are sitting here after a nice breakfast and looking forward to a nicer lunch. But, how am I to talk to God and to millions who have to go without one meal a day”. On February 1947, an independent plan for India was declared by the Atlee Government. Lord Wavell relinquished charge and he was succeeded by Lord Mountbatten.

The latter came with his own plan of action in 1947 under which there was to be partitioning of the county into India and Pakistan. On June 15, 1947, the All India Congress Party gave the Mountbatten Plan its seal of approval.

Sad news

The communal virus took such deep roots that Gandhi was considered more a hindrance to one section of the people. A fanatic took an unusual course.

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.

The smile faded from Gandhi’s face, his arms came down to his side. He uttered in a feeble and sinking voice, ‘Hey Ram’.

The sad news was conveyed to the country by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

Human relationship

He was shaken, shocked and cramped with sorrow. Yet, 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 know what to tell you and how to say it. Our beloved leader Bapu 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 a thousand years later that light will still be seen in this country and the world will see it and it will give solace to innumerable hearts.

The eminent scientist Albert Einstein remarked: “In the period of moral and spiritual decadence Gandhiji was the only statesman to stand for a higher human relationship in the political sphere. Gandhi forcefully and convincingly demonstrated the power of spirit over material things.

“He fought passionately and unremittingly against British rule and kept his hand clean in the midst of battle. He fought without malice, falsehood or hate. Indeed, Mahatma Gandhi was the spokesman for the conscience of all mankind”.