Death anniversary today :

Mahatma Gandhi disarmed British rulers through non-violence

Chelvatam by 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 such 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 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 his teachings will undoubtedly redeem millions of people from violence, hatred, fear and tension.

Non-violence methods

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi appeared on the political scene in 1915 adoringly and reverentially hailed as the ‘The Father of the Nation’. He played a very important and crucial role in India attaining independence. The briefless lawyer as he was once called at the time of his journey to South Africa, he 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 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.

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.

Hopes and aspirations

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

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 on equal terms and with the representative of the King Emperor.

When Mahatma 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 this expression as a compliment though unintentioned.

On another occasion there was a debate between the world renowned poet Rabindranath Tagore and Mahatma Gandhi on the meaning of culture. Tagore expressed the great joy and satisfaction he derived from the beauty of native and art, the glories of dawn, dusk, procession 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 art while we are sitting here after a nice breakfast and looking forward for a nicer lunch. But, how am I to talk of God to millions who have to go without one meal a day?

Sad news

On February 1947, an independent plan for India was declared by the Atlic 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 partioning of the country into India and Pakistan. On June 15, 1947, the All India Congress Party gave Mountbatten its plan and its approval.

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

A plot was hatched and it was carried out at the last prayer meeting to be addressed by Mahatma Gandhi on Friday January 30, 1948. Nathu Ram Vinayak Godse came very close to Gadhi, 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. He uttered in a feeble and sinking voice ‘Hey Ram’.

The sad news was conveyed to the Nation by Prime Minister Jawharlal Nehru. He was shaken, shocked and cramped with sorrow. Yet, he went to the 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 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 this period of moral and spiritual decadence Gandhi 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. Even Bernard Show said that “it is always dangerous to be too good.”

In fact, Mahatma Gandhi 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, he was the spokesman for the conscience of all mankind.