By Rameez Makhdoomi
Gandhi born on 2 October 1869 has remained a towering personality of
human history. He not only lead the Indian freedom struggle to success
but has had his positive influence all over humanity. Gandhism is a
body of ideas that describes the inspiration, vision and the life work
of Mohandas Gandhi. It is particularly associated with his
contributions to the idea of nonviolent resistance, sometimes also
called civil resistance. The two pillars of Gandhism are truth and
non-violence.
A bullet from fascist silenced Gandhi in 1948 but it could not silence
his great vision and positive influence. Today when world is witness
to hate between countries across continents , growing hate between
societies, communal bigotry, ever rising crimes against women and
minorities the ever refreshing vision of Gandhi that revenge, hate
has only destruction as its product and only love, ethics can heal
are proving so correct .
In the Law of Our Species Gandhi writes these great words “ I am not a
visionary. I claim to be a practical idealist. The religion of
nonviolence is not meant merely for the rishis and saints. It is meant
for the common people as well. Nonviolence is the law of our species
as violence is the law of the brute. The spirit lies dormant in the
brute and he knows no law but that of physical might. The dignity of
man requires obedience to a higher law-to the strength of the spirit.
The rishis who discovered the law of nonviolence in the midst of
violence were greater geniuses than Newton. They were themselves known
the use of arms, they realized their uselessness, and taught a weary
world that its salvation lay not through violence but through
nonviolence.
Today humanity finds itself trapped in million issues of violent
discourse , saga of hate, extremism violence and thus echo the words
of Gandhi “A coward is incapable of exhibiting love; it is the
prerogative of the brave.
When world currently is witnessing ugly conflicts between India and
Pakistan, North and Soutrh Korea, USA and Russia , Iran and Saudi
Arabia thus destroying humanity with violence from Kashmir, Syria,
Iraq to Yemen , Libya , Congo etc . Airstrikes. Militia wars and
mighty weapons are only consuming innocents in hundreds thus proving
Gandhi ever so right that eye for eye and vision of hate is self
destructive monster for us .
As a student who has studied Gandhi I am of firm opinion that Gandhi
would have never approved the route of nationalism by barrel of gun
being imposed by Indian state in Kashmir. India and Indians don’t have
to be after west and its ideals they have Gandhi to set the things
right.
Gandhi would rightly point out that we need to change ourselves to
bring positive change but the way modern humans are trying to be
demigods and seeing not their inner faults but just of others it is
destroying world. Thus Gandhi would aptly state : “Our greatest
ability as humans is not to change the world; but to change ourselves”
The vision of Gandhi that power that speaks through barrel of gun will
never win hearts is proving right , the argument that violence will
only destroy us is proved so right by raised to ground cities and
cultures in Middle East, South Asia and Africa . The power of Gandhian
argument that hate, arrogance, lack of self introspection will lead us
astray is always a righteous path .
Let us on the this Gandhijyanti pledge to shun hate . Gandhi Inspired
and will continue to inspire while his killer Godse expired and vision
vise too will always remain expired .
To conclude in the words of great man I appeal to larger humanity that
It has always been a mystery to me how men can feel themselves
honoured by the humiliation of their fellow beings and when we leave
this tendency to win a argument rather a person’s heart world will be
gorgeous place to exist .
(The writer is a freelance Journalist and can be contacted at
rameezh3@gmail.com. The article will appear in multiple outlets.)
By Rameez Makhdoomi
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