Mahatma Gandhi

A man who gives a new perspective on life and living

Every person has an ideal in life who has an impact on the daily acts, thinking style and decision making aspects of his life and personality. This person can be a mother, a father, a political figure, a poet, or anybody whose acts and sayings motivates and guides actions of one’s life. While thinking about who has a profound impact on the ways, values and virtues of my life, the only name that ever comes to my mind and heart is Mohandas Karamchand Ghandi whose life and struggles are not only a guide for me but I believe his philosophy of life is a way to follow for any humankind. This essay throws light on life of Mohatma Gandhi and discusses the values, principles and virtues of the life of Gandhi. In addition the significant impact he has had on my life is also discussed.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi also known as Mohatma Gandhi, the most spectacled leader of independence of India, was born in Porebandar of Gutarat on October 02, 1869. His father, Karamchand Gandhi was an officer in state while his mother, Putlibai was a religious and traditional woman devoted to her family. Due to his simple and cultured upbringing, Gandhi was an average and shy student at school. Mohandas got married at the age of thirteen with Kasturba. After schooling, Gandhi received his degree in legal studies from Inner Temple London, England. He then went to South Africa and lived there for 21 years. In South Africa, he observed the racial injustice against poor. Gandhi himself faced discrimination for being brown. He started a political movement to fight against the racial discrimination that also turned into a nonviolent civil protest for the entry rights of Indians in South Africa. In 1915, he returned to India and started the same nonviolent movement against British rule. In 1920, after the evil attack of the government on the people in Jallain Wala Bagh, Gandhi started the disobedience movement which later on formed into the Quit India movement in 1942. (Gandhi and Desai)

In 1930, he led a 250 miles march to the sea to collect salt against the British induced salt tax. His strong but nonviolent movements made British rule to realize the power of united nation and compelled them negotiate on the rights of untouchables, women and those suffering miseries of poverty (Gandhi and Prabhu).

Gandhi brought spirituality in politics and always believed his principles. In 1924, Gandhi went on a fast for twenty one (21) days to unite all Hindu and Muslim leaders and rectify tension between the two nations. In 1931, Gandhi moved Moti Lal Nehru to join him. Despite being jailed for directing civil uprising through Quit India movement in 1942, Gandhi continued his struggle to release India from British rule and end the civil war. Gandhi’s four major virtues: nonviolence, truth, love and fraternity have brought freedom to India (Gandhi, Mahadev and Desai).

Gandhi dedicated his whole life to learn and experiment in search of truth. Gandhi studied and followed teachings of several religions. He adopted the idea of equality and unity of man from Christian-Islamic religions (Gandhi). Gandhi believed in tolerance to cultivate true spirit of democracy. He preached that, “an eye for an eye makes the world blind” (Gregg).

Gandhi’s alignment towards nonviolence created a platform for the educated people in India to contribute towards free country and free will. Leader like Nehru, Patel and others followed the principle of nonviolence and organised the administration considering the law of nonviolence. This effect of nonviolence has aligned many countries in its favour who were once a victim of barbaric rules.

Gandhi was firm in his beliefs and values of life. During his stay in South Africa, he faced lot of challenges on racial grounds, but he always stuck to his own values and style of dressing. Nothing ever could pressurise him to leave his way of life. Perhaps, the ignorance about the pain and misery was the reason giving him the courage and will to fight for those who share the same pain.

His acts of nonviolence have given a completely new perspective to the people in the world. After the concept of protest and Satyagrah he followed, many countries started considering nonviolent struggles for their rights. Psychological history of man shows violence to comprise a large part of human evolution. Man has been fighting since ages and is tied in the cycle of violence against violence. But Mahatma Gandhi has proved his success through the power of nonviolence and inspired millions of people.

Gandhi teaches nonviolence through his practical life. Violence has been a primary way of protecting ones ego and humans have a natural tendency to deviate in this direction. But, Gandhi teaches the opposite. Gandhi rightly says, that “I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent”. Violence definitely is a work of evil and even in our day lives today, we face this evil every day in the form of anger and jealousy. I have experimented and learnt the fact about nonviolence and it has given me a lot more patience and self-control. We all should try to achieve this state of self-realization in which we can control the devil inside our minds and start having patience in life in order to hold peace inside. This virtue of Gandhi changes the thinking system of the whole world. Now the governments and nations approach problem through nonviolence and order (Gregg).

Gandhi preferred power of love to power of punishment. He believed power of love is permanent while the other is temporary. Gandhi emphasized the existence of man through love. He linked forgiveness to strength of human beings. His strong beliefs and teachings gave a thoughtful point about the perspective of forgiveness. Forgiveness is a bliss and it is true that it needs a lot of courage but I think if you once experience it, then the path becomes easier.

Mahatma Gandhi believed that one must not lose faith in humanity. He termed humanity as an ocean where a few dirty drops cannot make the ocean dirty. These words of Mahatma Gandhi create a sense of kindness and warmth. We all believe that nature is brutal and its laws are rigid. But, humanity is the only thing that can never be divided or destroyed. Believing in the existence of humanity can bring peace in a very beautiful way. Few negative energies in the world do not have the power to drown the whole world. If the humanity exists in the hearts of people then every person will become a source of positive energy that will always ensure peace and justice.

Mahatma Gandhi experienced and implemented spirituality and free well in his life. While in jail he stayed firm and declared that none can imprison his mind even if he is physically chained, tortured or his body is being destroyed.

Gandhi was the master of his own soul and that was the reason that he was not afraid of any worldly powers. He taught that humans could live easily without hurting themselves or anyone if they realize the truth that every person including himself is unique and respectable. Hence, there is no point in comparing with each other and our aim should be to find our inner self.

Gandhi states that, “Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will”. These lines justify about the energy that lies within all of us but we are unable to realize it until it is very much required. The glimpses of this feeling can be observed many times in life and Gandhi’s these lines have make us believe the power of strong will and determination. If one’s will and determination is strong, then there is nothing in life that cannot be achieved.

About faith, Gandhi clarifies that “Prayer is the key of the morning and the bolt of the evening”. Gandhi’s belief in the power of purity has helped him in seeking the truth about himself. Prayer is the most energetic form of purity that can bring joys in sadness and light in the dark. I strongly believe on this teaching of Gandhi and this belief has helped me in having faith in myself.

Mahatma Gandhi is considered as the father of nation of India. The work he has done by choosing the path of nonviolence, love and unity has brought the freedom to India. Millions of people in this world follow his teachings even today.  Gandhi and his philosophy is still fresh and creative. He had written about his views in many issues of women’s rights, freedom, labour, farmers, health, and peace and they are still very efficient in giving us the information in a persistent way (Fischer). He had led a life that was full of energy, morality, spirituality, and devotion. His thoughts have inspired many people and his messages for humankind change the direction of the world. Gandhi was not a warrior or a scholar. He was modest man who always seeks for the truthfulness. His main purpose of life was to find the truth or to connect with he light inside.

Gandhi’s writings in books and articles are always very convincing and thoughtful. He has said and followed very simple things that every individual can relate himself too. His teachings have provided a different vision towards this world.  One of his greatest readings states that, “Live as if you were to die tomorrow and Learn as if you were to live forever” (Gandhi and Mahadev) is full of optimist approach towards life and is of great depth. I have always tried to follow this thought and it has helped me to survive in the toughest of times. This is point of great consideration that he had said and observed this kind of thoughts in his life. His search for the truth of the inner self had never stopped. The honesty he had in his search makes you to work and believe in yourself more strongly. The other inspiring attributes of his personality are the feeling of forgiveness and faith in self. The profoundness of his thoughts shows the true spirit of the seeker of the truth. We are normal human beings who live under the idioms of the society. Our thinking psychology mostly depends on the environment and the society we are living in. But sometimes certain people come out of nowhere and speak the truth about themselves; ourselves. And our mind always tends to listen to these people. I believe that Gandhi has given this world a completely new view to look at the people. He has educated me with beautiful and simple laws of life.

Gandhi’s unforgettable words always left beautiful meanings of life for people and always gave a clear vision to live in this world. He says, “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is an attribute of the strong.” He believes that, “be the change that you want to see in the world.” He also emphasizes that, “in a gentle way, you can shake the world.” (Gandhi).

These beautifully placed words have a very beautiful meaning. These thoughts give a vision of the way to live in this world. So simple to understand and very fruitful if you implement these in your life. Forgiveness is the gift that a man can only have after forgiving. I learned it in my own way and following it has cultivated my life. The motivation this gives you be endless. If one learns to believe in oneself then he can easily bring a change in the world. The path will become clearer. The moral of giving love and being like the gentle wind which can melt the nature is one of the greatest insights I have heard in my life. The true power of non-violence can be felt by spreading love and giving no place for hatred can bring the cruelty on his knees. His final lines interpreted the simple idea that “my life is my message” (Gandhi) and surely his deeds had given the world the message he wanted to convey. I feel so influenced by his ways of living that following them in my life seems very easy because these thoughts have given me a direction to live. If half of the people in this world try to educate themselves with the teachings of Gandhi, then definitely this world will become a peaceful place to live.

Through nonviolent activism, he brought compassion and change. His life and his work has been an inspiration to the masses who believe in changing this world for good. His simple ways of living has inspired many of us and has given a feeling of self-belief. He spent his whole life in serving for humanity. Starting from South Africa where he began his protests against the injustice to his initiatives in India to stop the discrimination of humans in tragic ways, he has given his best efforts to change things. Gandhi’s life in India was modest. The inspiration and vision he has given to India was something that people are grateful for. He made the country self-sufficient community and set a simple image for the common man of India by wearing a cotton white cloth that was home-spun in India. He has followed his principles and led a vegetarian life, often fasted for the purpose of social protest as well as self-purification. He has done revolutionary work through nonviolence and truth. His life is a living example of the heights of compassion and truthfulness (Fischer).

Gandhi has changed minds of millions around him through his words and actions. By saying, “be the change”, he gives a lesson to the human kind to take initiative for the good and against the bad. Activists even today, study his revolutionary philosophy and use it to resolve social issues. Majority of Indians followed and believed in ideas and principles of Gandhi. Following the set of values and beliefs that Gandhi introduced has been termed as Gandhism. Gandhism is about promoting the culture of nonviolence and unity. Followers of Gandhism are called Ghandians. Mahatma Gandhi was not a believer of superiority of cultures. He was the man of compassion who always welcomed and cherish the beauty in other cultures as well. Gandhism was not a political act that or a particular system that Gandhi wanted to create, rather it was his moral approach to keep the humanity alive  in the whole world. The laws of Gandhi had transformed a large amount of societies and he succeeded in keeping the never-ending faith in the goodness of the human nature. Gandhi himself never wanted a nation following a particular philosophy of Gandhism, and hence in 1936 he said: “There is no such thing as “Gandhism”, and I do not want to leave any sect after me. I do not claim to have originated any new principle or doctrine. I have simply tried in my own way to apply the eternal truths to our daily life and problems. I have nothing new to teach the world. Truth and nonviolence are as old as the hills.”

In summary, Gandhi is my ideal personality to follow in my life. His principles, values and way of life is a complete guide for a free and satisfied life. His principles, practices and beliefs have changed my perception of life and living. He taught everything by practicing it himself. Like million others, he is a figure of inspiration for me the more I study about his way of life and leadership virtues, the more I feel thankful to him. I believe, that following his values and principles is a key to successful life.

Works Cited

Fischer, Louis. The Life of Mahatma Gandhi. Bombay: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, 1959. Print.

Gandhi. The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi. Delhi: Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, 1958. Print.

Gandhi, and Mahadev H. Desai. Gandhi’s Autobiography: The Story of My Experiments with Truth. Washington: Public Affairs Press, 1948. Print.

Gandhi, and V G. Desai. Satyagraha in South Africa. Ahmedabad: Navajivan Publishing House, 1950. Print.

Gandhi, and Anthony Parel. Gandhi: Hind Swaraj and Other Writings. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1997. Print.

Gandhi, and R K. Prabhu. India of My Dreams. Ahmedabad: Navajivan Pub. House, 1962. Print.

Gregg, Richard B. The Power of Non-Violence. Ahmedabad [India: Navajivan Pub. House, 1960. Print.