I write from the land of Mahatma Gandhi and speak for the values he left behind when he saw the tri-colour being unfurled on 15th August 1947.
Today, on October 2, we mark the 149th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the face of the Indian independence struggle. Mahatma Gandhi is associated with non-violence and the path he took to set his country free from the British Colonial rule. While there were several problems from the division of the country to the use of deceit by the British government, even after all these obstacles, with mere dialogue and boycott, he was able to uproot the British empire from its core; setting the foundation for an independent India. He could unite the entire country on one simple cry, could bring together people of conflicting ideologies to talk and sort things out and most of all, he could do all this with nothing but a smile. He was not just the leader of India, but a leader and an inspiration across borders; from South Africa to San Fransisco, his voice seldom went unheard! However, amidst all the political instability and transition that the world is witnessing today, the Gandhi model of non-violence is something which will only buy time, and not bring results; for it is not only sluggish, it is also quite arduous to keep up with.
While he set examples for several generations of world leaders after him like Nelson Mandella and Barrack Obama, the Gandhi brand of non-violence seems a little impractical today. It is not because of the lack of leaders to take charge, but it is because of the lack of practicality in the approach which brings a halt to its relevance today. The youth today is more aggressive, ready to take on challenges head-on and do not believe in anything remotely passive. The world today witnesses war over the border, and a war in the parliaments or closed room; while one uses high-quality missiles and grenades as their weapons, the other can simply create enough damage with words. Imagine sitting out for a cause, peacefully agitating in front of media amidst a huge support. Sooner or later, both the support and the media vanishes, leaving behind nothing but disappointment and shattered hopes. There is a lot which is to be understood about non-violence today, most of which has to come from the understanding of the social and the political reality we live in today.
Non-violence does not guarantee results with the snap of a finger, neither does it ensure success, in-fact no method of peace does, but what it guarantees is bringing together people of same thought and ambition, to join together and win the battle they lost because they weren't in it together. Non-violence not only addresses the conflict at hand but can reach to its root too. It can bring together cooperation and concurrence, which are the building blocks of any unity based on non-violence and understanding. While Gandhi believed in the power of truth, today the power of diplomacy and the subtle art of reasoning are the key to avoid conflicts.
The non-violence today is a lot more than just simply initiating dialogue and peace processes, or government sanctioned peace drills and conferences. Non-violence today is about accepting what is wrong and uniting together to stand up against it and set things right, bring a revolution where instead of screaming high we get our way by mere reasoning. While we may feel the urgency to make our voices heard in any way possible, what sets apart non-violence from impatience is the strength to stick to a commitment, the strength to love and the strength to get over all the irrational beliefs and prejudices, and not give in the easy way of violence. It will be difficult to show such exemplary patience that Gandhi did, but as they say, faith can move mountains, and love moves the world! While it is better understood that implementing the Gandhi model of non-violence is not only impractical and futile, there is certainly no harm in taking away relevant bits and pieces from it to come up with a model of non-violence that will suit the 21st century. Like a seed can grow into a tree bearing thousand of fruits, one Gandhi can make several thousand Gandhi on their own.
you see, it is about the context and the cause after all!
We fail to understand that non-violence and peace are something which come from the inner self, from the commitments and convictions we have for ourselves. It is all about the growth and nourishment of our souls, which eventually reflects in the society.
In this age of social media and virtual connectivity, the youth of India seems to have lost its sensitivity and passion towards the nation, society and self. While it is easy to blame all these factors, what often goes unnoticed is, if in our pursuit of becoming successful individuals are we losing out on becoming successful humans?
For non-violence to work you need not walk miles barefoot and break rules to liberate people, it can start by going deep within and liberating yourself by breaking all the notions we have of the self and the surrounding, the judgements and the inequity and the ability to open ourselves to all that is beyond our understanding and beliefs.
As Gandhi once said, "Be the change you wish to see in the world" let us all be the change, let us all be the power and let us all be the strength.
Today, on October 2, we mark the 149th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the face of the Indian independence struggle. Mahatma Gandhi is associated with non-violence and the path he took to set his country free from the British Colonial rule. While there were several problems from the division of the country to the use of deceit by the British government, even after all these obstacles, with mere dialogue and boycott, he was able to uproot the British empire from its core; setting the foundation for an independent India. He could unite the entire country on one simple cry, could bring together people of conflicting ideologies to talk and sort things out and most of all, he could do all this with nothing but a smile. He was not just the leader of India, but a leader and an inspiration across borders; from South Africa to San Fransisco, his voice seldom went unheard! However, amidst all the political instability and transition that the world is witnessing today, the Gandhi model of non-violence is something which will only buy time, and not bring results; for it is not only sluggish, it is also quite arduous to keep up with.
While he set examples for several generations of world leaders after him like Nelson Mandella and Barrack Obama, the Gandhi brand of non-violence seems a little impractical today. It is not because of the lack of leaders to take charge, but it is because of the lack of practicality in the approach which brings a halt to its relevance today. The youth today is more aggressive, ready to take on challenges head-on and do not believe in anything remotely passive. The world today witnesses war over the border, and a war in the parliaments or closed room; while one uses high-quality missiles and grenades as their weapons, the other can simply create enough damage with words. Imagine sitting out for a cause, peacefully agitating in front of media amidst a huge support. Sooner or later, both the support and the media vanishes, leaving behind nothing but disappointment and shattered hopes. There is a lot which is to be understood about non-violence today, most of which has to come from the understanding of the social and the political reality we live in today.
Non-violence does not guarantee results with the snap of a finger, neither does it ensure success, in-fact no method of peace does, but what it guarantees is bringing together people of same thought and ambition, to join together and win the battle they lost because they weren't in it together. Non-violence not only addresses the conflict at hand but can reach to its root too. It can bring together cooperation and concurrence, which are the building blocks of any unity based on non-violence and understanding. While Gandhi believed in the power of truth, today the power of diplomacy and the subtle art of reasoning are the key to avoid conflicts.
The non-violence today is a lot more than just simply initiating dialogue and peace processes, or government sanctioned peace drills and conferences. Non-violence today is about accepting what is wrong and uniting together to stand up against it and set things right, bring a revolution where instead of screaming high we get our way by mere reasoning. While we may feel the urgency to make our voices heard in any way possible, what sets apart non-violence from impatience is the strength to stick to a commitment, the strength to love and the strength to get over all the irrational beliefs and prejudices, and not give in the easy way of violence. It will be difficult to show such exemplary patience that Gandhi did, but as they say, faith can move mountains, and love moves the world! While it is better understood that implementing the Gandhi model of non-violence is not only impractical and futile, there is certainly no harm in taking away relevant bits and pieces from it to come up with a model of non-violence that will suit the 21st century. Like a seed can grow into a tree bearing thousand of fruits, one Gandhi can make several thousand Gandhi on their own.
you see, it is about the context and the cause after all!
We fail to understand that non-violence and peace are something which come from the inner self, from the commitments and convictions we have for ourselves. It is all about the growth and nourishment of our souls, which eventually reflects in the society.
In this age of social media and virtual connectivity, the youth of India seems to have lost its sensitivity and passion towards the nation, society and self. While it is easy to blame all these factors, what often goes unnoticed is, if in our pursuit of becoming successful individuals are we losing out on becoming successful humans?
For non-violence to work you need not walk miles barefoot and break rules to liberate people, it can start by going deep within and liberating yourself by breaking all the notions we have of the self and the surrounding, the judgements and the inequity and the ability to open ourselves to all that is beyond our understanding and beliefs.
As Gandhi once said, "Be the change you wish to see in the world" let us all be the change, let us all be the power and let us all be the strength.
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