History records few instances of a private citizen, without any official position, power, wealth or any special distinction, who has been so widely revered both in his own country and outside as Mahatma Gandhi. The assassination of this messenger of love and peace on Friday, January 30, 1948 was deeply mourned. Pearl Buck, famed American novelist, described it as “another crucifixion”. Prime Minister Pandit Nehru in his touching tribute to the Father of the Nation voiced the feelings of the millions of his countrymen. saying among other things “…..that light represented the living truth, and the eternal man with us with his eternal truth reminding us of the right path drawing us from error, taking this ancient country to freedom”. Celebrated scientist Albert Einstein grieved the loss saying: “Generations to come, it may be, will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth”
For the first time in human history he initiated a non-violent revolution against every form of oppression, be it political, social, economic, cultural or racial – and demonstrated by means of Satyagraha that “there can be no oppression unless the oppressor and oppressed co-operate with each other”. “Non-cooperation”, he defined, “as an attempt to awaken the masses to a sense of dignity and power. This can only be done by enabling them to realize that they need not fear brute force if they know the soul within. He said, “If co-operation is duty, I hold that non-cooperation also under conditions is equally a duty.”
No less relevant to India today, and indeed for the whole contemporary world is Gandhi’s concept of Ahimsa. Gandhi conquered two greatest enemies of mankind, malice and fear. He equated malice with cowardice. By openly and peacefully defying the British might, he removed the spell of fear from people’s mind and thus knocked off the main pillar of imperialism. Achaia or fearlessness was his yet another, distinct contribution to India’s freedom struggle. .
Much of the communalism in our country is the work of unscrupulous politicians. Gandhiji stood for open, value-based politics which he did not distinguish from religion which for him was the Truth that is God. And he did not know any religion apart from human activity. He viewed religion not as dogma but as a way of life. Religion becomes an empty thing if it is separated from the ordinary human interests. “My religion,” said Gandhiji, “is based on non-violence. Truth is my God, and non-violence is the means of realizing it.” He held that intolerance is a form of violence and an obstacle to the growth of a true democratic spirit.
Gandhiji wished for an economic order in which the weakest will have the same opportunity as the strongest. For establishing a just and equitable society, he felt it is imperative to avoid committing the following seven social sins: 1) politics without principles, 2) commerce without morality, 3) wealth without work, 4) education without character, 5) science without humanity, 6) pleasure without conscience, and 7) worship without sacrifice.
Gandhiji forged the unique weapon of Satyagraha and Ahimsa. In this thermonuclear age, this seems to be the only weapon to save humanity from total annihilation. And herein lay the immediate and eternal relevance of the Mahatma.
