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.)
