Gandhigiri in modern era

My this article was published in 'a.m plus' ,the campus magazine of Manipal University on 29/9/07.

Chedi Lal, a retired clerk of food and civil supplies department of Uttar Pradesh government, stripped down to his underwear in front of an office staff of same department. He put all his cloths, ring, purse and other belongings on the table of the concerned officer and told him “that’s all I have to offer, if you want brass utensils then come to my house and take it away”. Chedi Lal was annoyed because that staff demanded a bribe of Rs. 15000 to revise his pension.

Few months ago Indian, H-1 visa holders, green cards seekers sent hundreds of flowers to Emilio Gonzalez, director of US immigration agency, in protest against the new announcement of change in policy which will delay their hope of permanent settlement in United States.

These are a few incidents which happened after much appreciated Bollywood mainstream movie ‘Lage Raho Munnabhai’. This movie spread the teachings of Mahtama Gandhi in new generation. As soon as this movie hit the theater experts started discussing the relevance of Gandhigiri in our time. The movie was declared a block buster which itself pronounced the relevance of Gandhigiri in this era.

In today’s time, with terrorism, naxalism, riots and other anti social activities becoming more rampant, Gandhian policies are more relevant than ever. We really need someone like Gandhi to teach us the lessons of Ahimsa. It is high time we reconsider our policies, to check the growing violence all over the world.

In the recent years, we have seen that,all American strategies have proved fruitless, to check terrorism. US is applying the policy of ‘diamond cuts diamond’. They are using terrorists’ means to suppress terrorism and the result- the toll of civilians they killed in the ‘war against terrorism’ was more than that toll killed by terrorists. Even after killing so many innocent people the war is continue and terrorism is still a threat to the world. Violence can never be checked by violence.

If we will follow the Gandhian path then we might be able to control the growing violence to some extent. Ahimsa, affection and the other paths of Ahimsa are the only answers to terrorists. Gandhi was the one man army who could have fought against terrorists.

By applying other Gandhian policies like economics and spirituality we can wash off the very reason behind naxalism and riots. According to Gandhian economics, the villages should be made self sufficient and every citizen should get a proper employment. If we will give work, justice and their rights to the poor villagers and those who are fighting for these things, in other words Naxalites, then there would not be any reason for anyone to raise arms or revolt against our society.

“Raghupati Raghaw Raja Ram, Ishwar Allah Tero Naam” has not lost its meaning yet. Gandhian spirituality is the demand of time. We need to follow Sarva Dharma theory to control riots. Fight over the name of God will stop only when, we learn what the secret of religion is and develop respect for the teachings of other faiths too. Our ‘father of nation’ believed that God lives in the soul of every human being. So, killing a person in the name of religion is not disrespect towards God?

The relevance of Gandhian philosophy in any era depends on those who follow it. Gandhian philosophy is borrowed from all the religions and it is the essence of preaching of great saints, prophets and philosophers. Any policy which is based on love and respect and for the welfare of public at large will never lose its relevance and meaning.