MAHATMA GANDHI
- Mahatma Gandhi, also known as Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethicist who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful campaign for India's independence from British rule.
- He is internationally honoured for his philosophy of nonviolent protest (satyagraha), which helped to inspire movements for civil rights and freedom across the world
- Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, Gujarat, India. He was the youngest son of Karamchand Gandhi, the chief minister of Porbandar, and Putlibai. Gandhi was educated in Porbandar and Rajkot, and he later studied law in London.
- After completing his law degree, Gandhi returned to India in 1891 and began practicing law in Bombay. In 1893, he moved to South Africa to represent a Muslim client in a court case. While in South Africa, Gandhi became involved in the struggle of Indian immigrants against racial discrimination.
- He organized protests and strikes, and he also founded the Natal Indian Congress, the first Indian political organization in South Africa
- In 1915, Gandhi returned to India and quickly became involved in the independence movement.
- He led protests against British rule, and he also organized boycotts of British goods and services. Gandhi's methods of nonviolent resistance, which he called satyagraha, were based on the principles of truth, nonviolence, and self-sacrifice.
Mahatma Gandhi's ideologies and principles had a profound impact on India's struggle for independence and continue to inspire movements for justice, nonviolence, and human rights around the world. Some of the major Gandhian ideologies and principles include:
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Satyagraha (Truth Force): Satyagraha is Gandhi's concept of nonviolent resistance, which he considered the most powerful weapon for oppressed people to achieve justice. It involves using truth, love, and nonviolence to resist injustice and oppression. Satyagrahis willingly suffer for their cause but do not retaliate with violence.
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Ahimsa (Nonviolence): Central to Gandhi's philosophy was the principle of nonviolence or ahimsa. He believed that violence only begets more violence and that true strength lies in nonviolent resistance to injustice. Ahimsa extends not only to physical violence but also to nonviolent thoughts, words, and actions.
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Swadeshi (Self-Reliance): Gandhi advocated for economic self-sufficiency at both the individual and national levels. He encouraged people to produce their own goods, use locally made products, and support cottage industries. Swadeshi was seen as a way to promote self-reliance and reduce economic dependence on foreign imports.
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Sarvodaya (Welfare of All): Sarvodaya is the idea that the well-being and upliftment of all should be the ultimate goal of society. Gandhi believed in the equitable distribution of resources and opportunities and sought to eliminate poverty and inequality through nonviolent means.
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Gram Swaraj (Village Self-Governance): Gandhi envisioned a decentralized form of governance where villages would have significant autonomy in managing their own affairs. He believed that true democracy could thrive at the grassroots level, with villagers participating in decision-making processes.
- Mahatma Gandhi's idea of secularism was based on the principle of religious tolerance and respect for all faiths. He believed that the state should not favor any particular religion, and that all religions should be treated equally.
- Gandhi's secularism was not based on the separation of church and state. He believed that religion and politics could be intertwined, but that they should be kept separate in order to avoid conflict.
- Gandhi's secularism was also based on the principle of nonviolence. He believed that all religions teach the importance of nonviolence, and that this principle should be applied to the relationship between the state and its citizens.
- Gandhi's idea of secularism was ahead of its time. He believed that all religions were equally valid, and that all people should be free to practice their religion without fear of persecution.
- He also believed that the state should play a role in promoting religious tolerance and understanding.
5. Gandhi's Dharma
In an article in Young India on October 6, 1921, Gandhi described himself as a Sanatani Hindu. This text later became a point of contention for the Dalit Panthers, who vehemently criticised Gandhi. In the beginning of the text, Gandhi states:
One, I believe in the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Puranas, and all that is considered Hindu scriptures, including avatars and rebirth.
Two, I believe in the varnashrama dharma in a sense that is strictly Vedic but not in its present popular and crude sense.
Three, I believe in the protection of cows in a much broader sense than what is popularly understood.
Four, I do not disbelieve in idol worship.
6.Rajghat Consensus
The Rajghat Consensus is a term used to describe the shared commitment to Gandhian values that was expressed by the leaders of the G20 countries during their visit to Rajghat, the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi in New Delhi, India, on October 2, 2023.
The leaders of the G20 countries walked barefoot from the hotel where they were staying to Rajghat, and they laid a wreath at Gandhi's samadhi (tomb). After the wreath-laying ceremony, the leaders held a brief meeting, in which they expressed their commitment to Gandhi's values of nonviolence, peace, and social justice.
The Rajghat Consensus was significant because it came at a time when the world is facing a number of challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and climate change. The leaders of the G20 countries recognized that Gandhi's values offer a way to address these challenges in a peaceful and sustainable manner.
The Rajghat Consensus is a reminder that Gandhi's values are still relevant today. They offer a way to build a better world for all.
Source: indianexpress
