What does Gandhi mean to
every human being?
(AIR talk, 30 Jan. by Prof.N.Radhakrishnan)
January 30th
every year after the martyrdom of the Mahatma this day in 1948 , is a day of re-dedication
in India to the ideals the Father of the
Nation cherished most.
Chief among
the many aspects dear to the Mahatma are unity of all religious faiths, fight
against leprosy and efforts to spread the brilliance of cleanliness as national objectives.
It is gratifying to note this day is also being
observed with great application as anti-leprosy day. The great stride we as a
nation has achieved in our fight against leprosy is a great tribute to the
Mahatma who was one of the pioneers in devising
scientific and humanitarian methods to treat leprosy affected persons with
care and love.
The
importance being given to the Gandhian passion for a clean India by making it a priority area is
also to be lauded. This clearly indicates that India is on the move and will
soon emerge a clean country in all respects. Cleanliness should become an
attribute of both body and mind. The Swatch Bharat Abhiyan is a very
commendable initiative of the Government of India.
One of the
least highlighted and perhaps neglected aspects of MAHATMA GANDHI’S striving
for confidence and community building is the supreme importance Gandhi accorded
to Dialogue, Reconciliation and Forgiveness as evidenced in what is known in
history, “THE MIRACLE OF CALCUTTA, THE
NOAKHALI PILGRIMAGE and the magic touches of Gandhi to most of the tense
and violence-ravaging hearts in the wake of the Calcutta carnage and the
Noakhali killings.
This year’s
30th January has a special relevance since it is the 70th
anniversary of Gandhi’s heroic campaigns for peace and harmony in the
strife-torn and killing fields of Noakhali, now part of Bangladesh.
One of the
least highlighted and perhaps neglected aspects of MAHATMA GANDHI’S striving
for confidence and community building is the supreme importance Gandhi accorded
to Dialogue, Reconciliation and Forgiveness as evidenced in what is known in
history, “THE MIRACLE OF CALCUTTA, THE
NOAKHALI PILGRIMAGE and the magic touches of Gandhi to most of the tense
and violence-ravaging hearts in the wake of the Calcutta carnage and the
Noakhali killings.
From a
historical perspective, ‘Noakhali’ brings to one’s mind the twin images in
modern peace parlance: senseless killings, man’s brutality to fellow human
beings and communal hatred.
While on the
positive and spiritual side it represents thanks to Gandhi, the highest point
of man’s ability to resurrect, recreate, dialogue, forgive, reconciliation and
promote human brotherhood and peace.
From Gandhi’s strivings during the most tumultuous period in Indian
history particularly in Noakhali, Calcutta and Bihar the world also witnessed
with disbelief and consternation his heroic and
matchless plunge in to the scene of world’s worst
internecine killings and bloodbath with stern resolve even to
die in order to persuade people to search collectively and
individually ways and means to forge unity.
Promotion of Dialogue, Forgiveness and Reconciliation and unity among
the different segments of people were
the highlights of the last phase of
Gandhi’s heroic efforts in the strife-torn areas of Bengal when he risked his
life in the warring and killing areas of Calcutta and later in one of the most
horrible scenes of brutal killings in the district of Noakhali.
Gandhi indeed surprised everybody when he plunged
headlong in the conflict-ridden areas of the Indian subcontinent highlighting the
importance of Dialogue,Reconciliation and Forgiveness in community building and
promoting sustainable peace.
Gandhi’s
concept of a Shanti Sainik ( Peace
Soldier)who would risk his life for the sake of others by conquering
fearlessness through selfless action,love and compassion was put to test during
his Calcutta and Noakhali experiments.
Besides the uncommon courage to court death so that others
might live in peace, these strivings of Gandhi
brought to fore powerfully and very evocatively the Gandhian vision of
the ideal of Shantisena and every
individual readying himself into a Shantisainik demonstrating his/her readiness to die for peace and
harmony.
How Gandhi
brought peace in Calcutta and in the troubled regions of Noakhali offer great
lesson to all those who are committed to exploring new methods and strategies
in peace building, peace-making, and peace-keeping.
Humanity too
learned many lessons from Gandhi’s strivings in Noakhali. Dialoguing for peace
and forgiveness acquired a new form and shape with Gandhi.
Dr. Nelson
Mandela demonstrated the glory and power of their efforts towards cementing
societies rather than dividing.
Conflict
Management experts, researchers, diplomats, heads of governments (as Lord
Mountbatten, the last Viceroy to India confessed before the British quit India)
too have lessons to learn from Gandhi.
Gandhi as
part of his efforts to offer a healing touch to those victims in the conflict
ravaged areas toured Noakhali, moving from village to village and preaching the
gospel of peace. At first he thought of making the journey completely alone,
depending for food and shelter on the
villagers he encountered, but the scheme was obviously impractical.
Clasping a
long bamboo staff in his right hand, he set out every morning with a small band
of companions for the next village.
He
walked with his long bamboo staff in one hand, the other restingon Manubehn’s
shoulder. In this way, every morning at seven thirty, he set out on his
pilgrimage, singing the haunting song written by Rabindranath Tagore:
walk
alone
If they answer not your call, walk alone;
If they are afraid and
cower mutely facing the wall,
O thou of evil luck,
Open thy mind
and speak out alone
The
song reflected the mood of the pilgrim, as he walked from village to
village. The journey was an arduous one, and sometimes his feet bled.
Now, when he
travelled from village to village, he would sometimes find human excrement left
on the narrow pathways. Seeing it, he would pluck a leaf and bend down and
scoop it up. He knew why it had been placed there. Once a person spat in his
face. For a few moments he stood gazing at the man in shock and horror,
remembering that from his earliest childhood he had been a friend to all, and
then he slowly brushed the spit away and went on as though nothing had
happened. There were moments of pure terror, when it seemed that death hung in
the air haunting the forests and the villages.
He half-expected to be assassinated, and said he would welcome such a
death. “But I should love, above all, to fade out doing my duty with my last
breath”, he wrote to a friend during the last stages of the pilgrimage. At night he suffered from shivering fits, and during
the day there was a drumming in his ears. Exhaustion had brought on high blood
pressure.
Just as the
Muslims in Noakhali had massacred the Hindus, so a little later the Hindus in
Bihar massacred Muslims. By the end of February Gandhi was under strong
pressure to visit Bihar. The Biharis, who live in the shadow of the Himalayas,
are a notably mild and gentle people, and the sudden upsurge of violence seemed
inexplicable. Gandhi went to Patna, the provincial capital. Once more he
journeyed from village to village, trying to discover the causes of the
massacre. In his journey he was sometimes accompanied by Khan Abdul Ghaffar
Khan, “the frontier Gandhi”. A giant of a man, with the features of a
warrior-saint, in love with non-violence, he added his immense prestige to the
pilgrimage of mercy. “I am in utter darkness”, he said. “All Indians being
destroyed”. He was a Muslim fiercely devoted to his religion, but he could see
no reason why Hindus and Muslims should kill one another.
One of the
greatest miscalculations all assassins all over the world made was that each of
them thought that their victim had been finished with the act of killing once and for all. The
paradox was that the dead Gandhi emerged stronger and remains a bright star and
prophet of harmony and change. Gandhi’s voice “ I will continue to speak from
my grave”. And that verily echoes Gandhi’s passionate prayer for harmony and
peace: “ "Easwar,Allah,Tere naam sabko sanmathi de bhagvan"
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