150 Years of Gandhi – A Tribute

Dr. Asangba Tzudir

 

“…My life is my message.”   

             
Gandhi, undoubtedly, one among the greats and well-known personalities of the 20th century, whose ‘life and philosophy’ had a profound impact on the second part of the last century, continues to stay relevant for the global world today. Gandhi’s heritage of Satya (truth), Ahimsa (non-violence) and Satyagraha (loosely translated by Gandhi as holding on to truth) have an important role in dealing with the real problems of our globalized world such as the problem of armed conflicts, global terrorism and the moral crisis of humanity. 


One may find it difficult to disagree that the world order today is divided by global unrest, religious and ethnic conflicts, fear, hatred, discontent, immorality etc., and sadly, it seems to be growing, gaining momentum and intensity on a larger scale. And if humanity is in search of a reference point for regeneration towards a new world order, then Gandhi’s approach to the concepts of Truth, non-violence and Satyagraha in particular, could be the starting point. Echoing the title of his autobiography, he said that he had nothing new to teach the world except for experimentation with truth and non-violence which are as old as the beginning of times.  


Gandhi pictured to himself how an ideal society, based on love, truth and nonviolence must look and function, and he tried to realize it as much as possible in the real life. For Gandhi, the concept of Truth entails a much deeper sense than it is generally understood. Beyond ‘truth saying’ or refraining from lies, Gandhi’s Satya extends to all levels of everyday life, thinking, talking, conveying that Truth is the category which has to be permanently present in our life and also the parameter of our thought, speech and actions. Truth for him became the God and wherein he founded the absolute truth which should not only be the real basis of every human but also the basis of whole human society, and in this every human is a “truth-seeker.”


Gandhi could live by his philosophy and beliefs because the truth became the substratum of morality where his whole life became subordinated to the law of truth. Gandhi also could denounce violence because of historical experiences and observations during the years he spent in South Africa. This also made him conclude that there is no peace for individuals or for nations without practicing truth and nonviolence. Further, he also revealed to the masses a power not of rifles and machine guns, but the power innate in each individual, a power which the war-haunted world can exploit fully in making wars impossible.


Thus, Gandhi’s experiential life, philosophy and beliefs being based on truth, non-violence, dignity and love for fellow human beings are universal irrespective of time, space, culture and religion. The only question remains whether humanity has the ‘will’ to be moral and rational enough to understand the relevance of Gandhi today irrespective of who we are.

 

(Dr. Asangba Tzudir contributes a weekly guest editorial to The Morung Express. Comments can be mailed to asangtz@gmail.com)