Mahatma Gandhi's 64th death anniversary falls today

Text and pictures MAR Manukulasooriya, Hiriyala group correspondent

Mahathma Gandhi is considered the greatest man born in the 20th century.

Born on October 2, 1869 at Porbandar, Kathiawar in India, Gandhi started his public career in South Africa where the white race ruled and Indians and native Africans alike were treated as slaves and outcasts. He found himself subjected to colour discrimination. He organized the Indian Congress and organized the Indians Ambulance Corps for the British in the Boer war.

In 1904, he established the weekly journal 'Indian opinion'. He organized the first Satyagraha campaign against the proposed Asiatic Ordinance directed against Indian immigration in Transvaal and then against compulsory registration of Asiatics (The Black Act). For this he was sentenced to two months' imprisonment in Johannesburg jail.

He again campaigned against General Smuts who broke an agreement with a bonfire of registration certificates and was again sentenced to jail for three months.

After returning to India, he established the satyagraha ashram on Sabarmati River in 1917. He led a successful satyagraha for rights of peasants on indigo plantations in Champaran; let a strike of milk workers at Ahamedabad, a satyagraha for peasants in Kheda; organized a nation-wide hartal by suspension of activity for a day against the Rowlatta Bills; organized satyagraha of non-cooperation; burned foreign cloth in Calacutta; led the historic salt march to Dandi; launched civil disobedience in 1940 against Britain and refused refusal to all Indians to express their opinions regarding World War II and launched the quit India Movement.

Imprisonment

Gandhi was arrested and imprisoned several times. He resolved to wear a loin cloth to propagate homespun cotton and to signify his identification with the people. He went on several fasts unto death. He attended several conferences with the British, signed pacts with them and rebelled against all their proposals.

He brought out 'young India', an English weekly and 'navajivan' in Gujarati.

He tried to help end untouchability and encouraged spinning and weaving and handicrafts and cottage industries. He opposed the Congress decision to accept division of the country in to India and Pakistan. When communal clashes between Hindus and Muslims broke out in many parts of India, he undertook fasts till there was peace.

Gandhi was a Great Educationist. He knew that education is an investment in a person's future. His education philosophy embodied not only the principles expounded in the West, but also, those considered essential by 'Eastern Thinkers' such as Lord Buddha. His thinking emphasized that education should give priority not only to train the head and hand, but should include as a fundamental factor; the training of the heart.

He was a philosopher too. Once he said "You must keep your doors and windows fully open for all the winds from four directions to blow in, but, you must have your feet, firmly on your own ground so that you will not be swept away by the wind".

Death

On January 30,1948 while holding a prayer meeting at Birla House, Delhi, he was shot dead by Hindu fanatic Nathuram Godse. The light of India died with Gandhiji. The entire world was shaken and shocked with grief and sorrow. The sad news was aired to the Nation through the air waves of all India Raido by Prime Minister of India.

"The light has gone out of our lives. There is darkness everywhere. Our beloved leader Bapu, Father of our nation is no more. 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 Birla House in New Delhi is now a Museum dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi. Upon entering the Birla House the visitor can see the worldly remains of Mahathma Gandhi among which are a walking stick, a spoon and a pair of spectacles. Newspapers reports, photos, and eyewitness accounts of Mahatma's assassination are displayed there and recreates vividly that fateful day. In a special room wax figures of Mahathma and Kasturba Gandhi sit on the floor cross legged. It is almost as if they are alive. A documentary compiled about the last 20 minutes of Mahatma's life is shown to the visitors as well.

Starting from the Birla House, the final footsteps of Mahatma Gandhi are marked in cement for the visitors to see. The steps show the way to the place Mahatma went everyday with his followers for worship. It is there that Mahatma was shot dead. The exact spot where he fell is marked with a simple monument known as "The Martyr's Column". The words "Hare Ram" are written there too.