Significance of Radhakrishnan-Ikeda Dialogue: Walking with
the Mahatma: Gandhi for Modern Times
Dr Akash K Ouchi
(Reproduced below is the text of observations made by Dr Akash
K.Ouchi,Vice Chairman of Bharat Soka Gakkai and Director of SGI at a discussion
at the Takkar Bapa Vidyalaya,Chennai on 26 February of the historic dialogue between
SGI President Dr Daisaku Ikeda and Gandhian scholar Dr N.Radhakrishnan)
It
is a great pleasure for me to speak on this occasion of discussion on the book
titled "Walking with the Mahatma: Gandhi for Modern Times".
Dr
Radhakrishnan has intensively created a network of nonviolence in national
level as well as international level. His activities of Non-violence are always
coming from his grass root level. Whenever he moves, people gathered around him
always. He is an epicenter of Non-violence movement.
Mr
Daisaku Ikeda is engaging in his Human Revolution movement together with 12
million people in 192 countries and territories. The Human Revolution movement
is to transform one's inner life which will become a source of changes in one’s
environment. Such changes can lead it to series of changes in the society and
the world. He wrote as the theme of the
novel “The Human Revolution” : “A great human revolution in just a single
individual will help achieve a change in the destiny of a nation and further,
will enable a change in the destiny of all humankind.”
He has been submitting a peace proposal to the United
Nation on January 26 every year since 1983, which means 35 years continuously. He
is a recipient of Honorary degree and academic Award from 375 Universities and
Institutes around the world.
1. Dr Ikeda and Dr Radhakrishnan met each other first
time in 1984, since then… Friendship continued for 34 years.Dr Radhakrishnan
wrote: “The ‘Buddhism for Peace International Conference’ held on the Soka
University campus in Tokyo in 1984, to which I was invited by Prof. Glenn
Paige, offered me an opportunity to see Dr. Ikeda for the first time
face-to-face. What I saw later in Soka University and in Soka Schools left me
with the feeling that the whole world had something to learn from the Soka
Gakkai.
My first meeting with Dr. Ikeda soon after
the inaugural session of this conference proved to be in every sense of the
term, a turning point in my life.
Even at this maiden meeting I understood why he was so widely recognized,
respected and considered a legend. He was simple but inspiring and there was no
trace of pomposity either in his words or behavior. His sparkling eyes, genial
nature, friendly smile and the warmth he exuded were enough to cast a web of
intimacy and admiration. Deep within me, I could hear a whisper: you are
destined to meet this leader again.
Dr.
Ikeda represents a rare combination of humane leadership and an unbelievable
capacity to inspire millions across the world and encourage them to develop
their vast reservoir of leadership qualities.
As
a philosopher, poet, educator, founder of several institutions, writer, peace
activist, promoter of dialogues for human transformation and inspiration of
millions of followers worldwide, Dr. Ikeda has risen to the level of one of the
greatest teachers of all time. It will be a rewarding experience for anyone to
evaluate the gigantic strides towards human revolution and world peace that he
has initiated. Phenomenal, unparalleled and unique―these are perhaps the
epithets which could be used to describe his efforts to foster human
brotherhood”.
In
1986, they met again in Japan and had a dialogue. Dr Ikeda wrote about his
meeting with Dr Radhakrishnan as follows;
“I
first met and spoke in depth with Dr. Radhakrishnan in September 1986, when he
was a guest at a Peace Culture Festival held by 4000 young people of the Soka
Gakkai in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. The eyes of Dr. Radhakrishnan, who had just
turned 42 at the time, sparkled with the hope of youth and his spirited voice
reverberated with a profound compassion for others. As a youthful practitioner
of the nonviolence movement, in which he received instruction from his parents
and his teacher, Dr G. Ramachandran, the flames of justice and passion burned
brightly in the heart of Dr. Radhakrishnan.
Since
then we have met on several occasions, in Japan, India and Hawaii. In February
1992 I visited the Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti (Gandhi Memorial Hall) in
New Delhi, where I was warmly welcomed by Dr. Radhakrishnan, then the director
and Dr. Bishambhar Nath Pande (1906–98). With Dr. Radhakrishnan’s guidance, on
that unforgettable occasion I was able to view many mementos and possessions of
Gandhi, learn of his final days and etch the great soul of the father of modern
India and his path to heroic martyrdom in the depths of my life.
On
6 August 1993, the following year, I welcomed Dr. Radhakrishnan to Karuizawa,
Nagano Prefecture, and we had another opportunity to talk with one another.
Dr. N. Radhakrishnan says; “Our
having met in Nagano Prefecture on 6 August was profoundly significant. On that
day, one of the darkest in human history, an atomic bomb was dropped on
Hiroshima. Upon hearing the news, Gandhi closed his eyes and remained silent
for a while. What could nonviolence do in the face of violence capable of
destroying thousands and thousands of lives in an instant? Gandhi told himself
that, unless the world chose the way of nonviolence, it would unfailingly mean
the suicide of the human race. At the same time, however, he insisted that the
power of the soul is stronger than atom bombs. The movement you lead throughout
the world strives to create peace by evoking the soul power inherent in
everybodyy” continued Radhakrishnan.
Dr Ikeda
says: “Gandhi perceptively arrived at the same conclusion. “One cannot follow
truth or love so long as one is subject to fear.” Gandhi hated violence, but he
hated timidity and cowardice even more. Violence destroys the physical being;
cowardice destroys the soul. “Cowardice is a thing even more hateful than
violence.” These words express his quintessential philosophy.
Violence
is born of fear.
Nonviolence
is born of courage.
Nonviolence
is not the shield of the weak; it is the sword of the soul of the brave.
Dr
Ikeda and Dr Radhakrishnan also discussed
the topic of importance of living for the Great Purpose.
Dr Ikeda
says: “The hardships Gandhi experienced in South Africa strengthened him,
remade him and stimulated enormous growth for him as a human being. He once
asked why so imperfect a person as himself had been chosen to fight the battle
in which he found himself engaged. He answered these self-doubts with this line
of reasoning. A perfect man might have been their despair. When they found that
one with their failings was marching on towards ahimsā (nonviolence), they too
had confidence in their own capacity.”
Great
work is not accomplished because those who undertake are great. Rather, by
aiming for a great goal, a person becomes great. The birth of the great
soul—the Mahatma—in South Africa still teaches that lesson to the world.
Goal of removing misery from the earth: Dr Ikeda says:
Since my youth, I have single-mindedly followed my path as the disciple of
Josei Toda. Mr. Toda was a truly great leader, with a great mission and a
noblevow: to eliminate misery from the Earth. As his disciple, I have dedicated
my whole life to fulfilling that vow. My vow to my mentor is the source of my
spiritual strength. I know from personal experience that those who devote
themselves entirely to carrying out a mentor’s vow can manifest immense power.
Dr Radhakrishnan:
Mr. Toda’s vow corresponds to Gandhi’s own earnest wish “to wipe every tear
from every eye”. You embody the greatness, devotion and sacrifice of presidents
Makiguchi and Toda.
Working for others :
“What
question should we ask ourselves each day? According to Dr. King, it should be
“What are you doing for others?”
A
life lived in a purely selfish manner brings no true happiness or fulfilment.
We must break out of the shell of the petty ego and broaden our horizons by
devoting ourselves to the welfare of others, to big and lofty goals.’’
Nichiren
Daishonin wrote, “If one lights a fire for others, one will brighten one’s own
way.” Illuminating others, contributing to the welfare of others, actually
brightens our own future. This is an eternal law of life”.
“When
asked the secret of his success, Nehru replied: “Twenty- four- hour workdays”.
He added that it was important to know how many days one can work without sleep
for the sake of the people and world harmony.
I would like to quote the
dialogue introducing Gandhi’s spirit transmitted in children’s stories
Gandhi’s spirit transmitted in
children’s stories
Dr Ikeda: “By the way, I remember receiving from you a book of
children’s stories entitled Beely Bug Looks for the Truth, in which a
beetle-like creature goes on a journey to seek the truth.
Please
allow me to relate the story for the many mothers among the readers of our
dialogue who are raising children.
This
was a superior bug, swift of foot and well-learned from the many things he had
observed. He boasted, “There’s never been an insect that has seen as much or is
as clever as I am.” But a wise old sage of a bug who heard this asked him
whether he knew the truth. The wise old bug said, “If you don’t, you have not
travelled far enough.” Then, donning three pairs of shoes on his six feet, the
young bug set out for another trip. Along the way, he made friends with a
purple-winged moth, and the two became travelling companions. Once, they helped
a caterpillar that had lost its way. Wanting to repay them, the caterpillar
took them to see his father, whom they asked to point out the road to truth. He
told them, “You’re on the right road now.”
Proceeding
on their way, they performed various good deeds. For instance, they helped ants
build an anthill and reconciled a cricket and a ladybug that had been fighting
over a peanut. Finally, they met an old snail and told him about their quest for
the truth. The snail said, “You’ve already found it.”
And
that is where the refreshing story ends. The tale is very edifying for the
natural way in which it causes children to think about the truth of what is important
in life”.
