#3 Teachings from "The Father Of Our Nation".

Who was Mahatma Gandhi?... Why is Gandhi Jayanti celebrated?.... What had he taught?...... Well, I am going to answer these questions and I have also carefully chosen three of his teachings which can have a life-changing impact on you. So, "stay tuned".  

Who was Mahatma Gandhi?

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was a lawyer, political activist and led successful campaigns for India's Independence against the Britisher. 

Son of Karamchand Gandhi and Putlibai Gandhi, he was born on 2nd October 1869 in a Hindu family dwelling at the coastal region of Gujarat,  British India. He grew in a humble surrounding and later studied law for 3 years at the Inner Temple, London and became a trained lawyer. He was a prominent figure in India's Independence Struggle leading various campaigns against the British parliament with his ideology of fighting with the virtues of Truth(Satya) and Non-Violence(Ahinsa). He moved to South Africa in April of 1893 when he was 23 years old and spent 21 years of his life as a lawyer in the province of South Africa. He developed political and ethical views while living in South Africa. He suffered from various sorts of discrimination for his complexion and heritage as black people were suppressed of various rights and enslaved, tortured if they ever revolted against their unethical law. The blacks weren't allowed to even sit with white people, or to sit on the benches as they were considered lower community which were made for enslaving. There he learned about the unethical discrimination of humans and those experiences helped him in broadening his perspective towards humans and society.

He returned to India on the request of Gopal Krishna Gokhale in the year 1915 as a 45-year-old  man and was introduced to various political and cultural issues faced by Indians by the Indian National Congress as he joined the political party.

He was elected as the leader of Indian National Congress and served for 10 years from 1920 to 1930. In that era, the British landlords were mercilessly confiscating the land of the poor farmers, women's were deprived of various social and cultural rights, the poverty in India was at the peak. And the Britisher contributed substantially to all of these inconveniences. After learning about the poor stance of his people, his country he decided to revolt against the British and suffered discrimination, false charges with which he was imprisoned several times.

 He had the blood of an Indian moving in his veins. He never stopped, never complained and left a mark on the pages of history, on the hearts of  Indians. That, "there lived a person named Mahatma Gandhi a symbol for humanity, who won the war without weapons, who made peace and taught to be with peace". His contribution to the Independence Struggle is remarkable and though he left the world on 30th January 1948 as he was assassinated by Nathuram Godse due to the religious conflicts between the communities of Hindus and Muslims, he would always be in our heart.

Now, as you have an overview of this Mahatma's life (The title of 'Mahatma' was given to Gandhi by Rabindranath Tagore as some texts manifest, the word implies a 'great soul' which surely he was)

 Let us understand the significance of 2nd October and reinvoke the true Gandhian spirit among the Indians!

2nd October, Bapu's birth anniversary!

The origin of the title 'The father of our nation' is traced in the pages of history when Subhash Chandra Bose referred Mahatma Gandhi as "the father of our nation" in a radio address in Singapore, 6th July 1944. It isn't a title which is achieved after completing a degree or masters. It was the love, affection and respect for this great soul whom the world would remember. In India, 2nd October is celebrated as Gandhi Jayanti and there is a national holiday throughout India on this day. 2nd October is also celebrated as the International Day of Non-violence because of Gandhi as he pioneered the philosophy of non-violence. This year we are commemorating the 151st Birth Anniversary of our 'Bapu'. It seems that the Indians have forgotten the teachings of their great leader, it's time to re-kindle the candles and fade away the darkness. 

#3 life-changing teachings of 'Bapu'. 

 1. "In a gentle way, you can shake the world".

If we look at Gandhiji's contribution in India's Independence Struggle we get insights that such a big revolution, the Independence was brought without the use of weapons. It is not the weapons that kill it is the words, the wrong intention of a soul against another responsible for the destruction of humanity. Gandhism is not only the ideas, inspirations and visions of Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhism is the way of living. It is a way for societies and nations to liberate from the clutches of orthodox and uncivilised mentality and head towards prosperity. He lived his own life on the virtues of truth and non-violence which are the two pillars of Gandhian ideology and taught the same to his people, his countrymen, to every Indian! So when you think that weapon is the only way to win the war, look back to this man he led nationwide campaigns for easing poverty, expanding women's rights, building religious and ethnic amity and fought hard for ending untouchability without a single weapon in his hands. But, the world seems to have forgotten the teachings of this great leader and it is crucial to awaken the minds and reinforce Gandhi's ideologies to them. #1 Make peace and be peaceful.

2. "Hate the sin, love the  sinner"

Read it again, and absorb the intensity of these words!

In the early 1940s when Gandhi's vision of religious pluralism was challenged as the communities of Hindus and Muslims formed groups and the intensity of war within Indians was at the peak. The Muslim group demanded an Independent country for Muslims and India adopted secularism. The religious conflict created an atrocious atmosphere, and after Independence when Gandhi visited Delhi for the official celebration of Independent India, he also went to visit the people who were affected in the religious fight of both the groups and to pay homage to them. But, he was assassinated by a Hindu extremist Nathuram Godse on 30th January 1948 as he fired three bullets into his chest.

His visit to the fight affected victims was surely an example of though you hate the sin of disturbing humanity, you cannot stop to love the sinner of human. #2 Love humans and keep humanity alive.

3. "An eye for an eye only ends up in making the whole world blind"

"That's the truth". A word for a word is not always necessary, sometimes silence can make you win. Though the British government imprisoned him, beat him he never hit back and that made him unique from the rest. Sometimes the situation turns to be harsh, not in your favour but quarrel cannot make you win. Your righteousness is manifested through your actions and words. Sugar-coated words are never appealing but a single honest word or appreciation is better than thousands of insincere flatterings. So the next time somebody provokes you to quarrel or fights with you remind yourself that 'an eye for an eye ends up making the whole world blind.'#3 Adopt non-violence in order to prosper.

This Gandhi Jayanti let us commemorate our leader and abide by his teachings! 

Let us rekindle the Gandhian spirit amongst every Indian!

Share this with every Indian!! 

I know that I am posting it 4 days before Gandhi Jayanti as I am allowing you to share with each and every Indian in these 4 days.

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