A few months after India won her independence from the British, her favourite son was assassinated by a right wing fanatic. The Indian National Congress in due time disassociated itself from each of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi’s saintly values and shoved this country into a nose dive of corruption, ignorance and relatively stunted ‘growth’. Given the fact that we have the largest reserve of super intelligence on this planet, we would have surpassed nascent countries like Singapore by leagues if only we had just one more soul like Gandhi at the helm.
On 30 January, we marked the death anniversary of the father of the nation in the only way a son or daughter can honor a parent’s legacy: imitation. The mighty youth force should emulate this saint for all faiths by first learning his humble written insights that were entrusted to him by a loving Creator.
“Prayer is the key to the morning and the bolt across the door at night” We have the most spiritual people on the planet, spending the time demanded by your faith on daily prayer is the key to it all. The invisible cornerstone of life, prayer like air, sustains the living. With his next revelation,” The weak can never forgive; forgiveness is the attribute of the strong”, Gandhi teaches us the elixir of life: to forgive every wrong done to us before we pray, preferably like our Muslim brothers do, a minimum of 5 times a day.
“Do not take so much as a pin from your workplace”. I’m sure our netas must be giggling at this ‘obscene’ notion, recalling the many ways they have pilfered and at times stolen outright from the country’s cash reserves. Flying first class while our father braved the cold and embarrassment on his frugal visit to our former master’s country, winning hearts with his meekness, class and love for the very ones who abused and imprisoned him. Gandhi saw what most of the world could not, that Indians are diamonds and must be given the best facilities and value education to lift his motherland to her rightful place in global standing; on top.
“Be the change you want to see in the world”. This is probably the most renowned of his insights, empowering world changers like Martin Luther King and even Barack Obama. “When restraint and courtesy are added to strength, the result is undefeatable”, should be the credo of the youth army, who can use their hands and words to uplift the community instead of becoming a menace by joining the unopposed cult of alcoholism.
The entire saga of the Mahatma’s life can be summed up by this one line, and I hope it takes root deep in the youth’s hearts: “Safely take the next step if by doing so you have contributed to efforts aimed at wiping away the tears of the last Indian.”
Goan and Indian leaders of tomorrow, turn away from obsolete Machiavellian constructs and re-adopt the strongest and only roadmap to an inclusive future, Gandhism.
