Gandhi as I see him

Writing about Gandhi is a passion for some. It is a fashion for some. But there is another class that has emerged on the scene, the Gandhi baiters. Though still insignificant in numbers, the group is aggressive, vocal and kind of social media activist who believe that a storm can be created in a tea cup. For such activists attempts to demean Gandhi is a pastime they enjoy. Whether it is a perception or a propaganda, misinformation or disinformation, the campaign is more impulsive than objective. But there is need to let the right knowledge reach the vast young population who get carried away by social media. Maybe, the recent research publication by an authentic source like the Sage throw some light on the nature of social media misinformation and serve as an eye opener. The study has rightly found that India is one of the most misinformation affected country and also produces the largest amount of misinformation. Obviously, because social media is a full time pastime for a large number of people. Against this backdrop, and even at risk of coming in the firing range of the troll brigade let’s talk about Gandhi on his yet another birthday. More so, because we are celebrating 75 years of Indian independence in a big way. Though it must be acknowledged that there were many who fought for and contributed towards India’s freedom, yet it was Gandhi who played the stellar role. Many before his advent on the scene tried to make the British Government listen, but it was Gandhi who succeeded. It was Gandhi who proved that the British were not invincible. It was Gandhi who converted the Congress into an organ of mass movement from a motley group of passionate people dominated by lawyers. And it was Gandhi who influenced the world’s opinion against the British that ultimately paved way for their retreat. From Champaran to Dandi it was Gandhi who involved the common Indian in the fight against the British. The greatest misstatement on Gandhi is about his Hindu credentials. The fact is that he was a more devout Hindu than the many who are championing the cause today. Gandhi not only understood Hinduism in its real sense, but he also practiced it religiously. He followed the principles of Geeta and believed in the philosophy of the religion so lucidly advocated by Swami Vivekananda. His understanding of Ram was much better than many of the claimants of Ram’s legacy today. A perfect blend of tradition and modernity, Gandhi was an example of ethical leadership, so popular in Management classrooms today. In fact, no course on ethics can be complete without a mention of Gandhi. He not only preached ethical conduct, but he epitomised it. Ethics for him was not about right behaviour when you are in temple, but also when you are alone and no one is watching. He believed in truth and nonviolence, he believed in upliftment of the poorest, he believed in cleanliness as Godliness. For him simple living and high thinking was the credo and he practiced what he preached. For him means and ends were interchangeable. His economic ideas were endorsed by the World Bank time and again. Little wonder, he still is one of our most popular global brands. Rightly was he adjudged man of the millennium in the year 2000. For those who still not understand him: forgive them O’lord, for they know not what they do.

The soul lives on…

Life and death are the two sides of the same coin. They complement each other. They complement one another. It was this reality that Lord Krishna explained to Arjun in the Gita when he says that one that is born is certain to die at a predestined time. And one who dies is bound to be born again. All living beings of this world before their births were unmanifest, that is, without the physical bodies. In death they again become unmanifest or without the physical bodies. The physical body is merely an intermediary stage. The soul is defined as unmanifest, beyond imagination and faultless. As a man discards old, worn out clothes and puts on new ones, similarly the soul leaves the old, aged body and gets into a new one. It does not die when the body perishes. It is eternal, omnipresent, immortal and stable. This eternal lesson of Bhagwad Gita gives an answer to the biggest mystery of life and death. Swami Prabhupada opined that life is a question none can answer and death is an answer none can question. But still death is grieved by all. That is the mystery of life. We don’t want our near and dear ones to depart from this world though we all know that death is a necessary end that will come when it will come. That is the weakness of human nature. We know that death is inevitable. Yet, we do not like death. This is natural. The indestructibility of soul is something that does not give any kind of solace to human beings as we know that one who has departed will never come back. Yes, it is a hard fact, the most difficult reality of life. It is this reality that we have to face time and again but coping with it even after knowing it is not easy. It is this issue that is the most difficult to resolve. The sad news of the demise of a dear friend, Dr. Chandan Mitra, was something that put me in a similar predicament. It was sudden and had a big impact. True, it would have given a similar impact to many people, and for a number of reasons, all equally genuine. But my case was different. A good friend, a noted journalist, and of course, a known personality who also was close to me were definitely there at the back of the mind as the reasons that caused pain. But there was another very significant reason. He was the person behind the idea of this Hidden Souls, the column that I have been writing religiously for around a decade. We had been discussing about this idea of starting a column on spirituality, values and ethics on many occasions that we met. And then suddenly, after a gap of some twenty days or so I received a call from him that we are going ahead. Had it not been for him, Hidden Souls would have remained hidden from the readers even today. It was an idea with a laudable objective. To sensitise readers on issues that stir the soul, make them look inwards and bring about an awakening to create a better society. It was an attempt with a lofty objective and it did bring about some encouraging responses from not only different parts of the country but many corners of the globe. Though Dr. Mitra is not present with his physical body, his presence will be felt. The soul lives on.