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Relevance of Gandhian Ideas and Political Philosophy in Contemporary World Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 Relevance of Gandhian Ideas and Political Philosophy in Contemporary World Dr. Naresh Rout Today, the path and means used by Mahatma world, violence is being used as a means to end Gandhi have become more relevant not just in the settlements and political vengeance. Every time India, but elsewhere too where people have been peace is ignored and peaceful talks have been suppressed or injustice has been institutionalized. disregarded, a plot for violence is seeded. It grows Over many centuries, world civilization has on and on to spread a larger network of terror witnessed countless instances of warfare, battles, and violence and finally it empowers the whole and conflicts. Gandhi’s concepts and definitions nation. More talks and less action stimulate the of truth and non-violence as absolutes are values same effect and become complex with it. to be aspired for not just the better co-existence Collectively, the force of terror and violence but enhanced quality of life for all and a strife- becomes the superior power, and the peaceful free world. Gandhi may not have the whole missions and strategies become futile. Yet, the true answer to today’s world but it can be objective of the entire episode of violence and complemented with other ideas to great success. disharmony will never be met by violent means. Mahatma Gandhi’s principles have become more Peace and non-violence are the two pillars of any significant for today’s society which is suffering peace process that upholds the very livelihood of from social evils, political corruption, terrorism human race. These two are in-separable. Peace and communal violence. His thought-provoking must be the fruit of any non-violent action or quotes : “An eye for an eye will only make the protest to settle a dispute. Only such a resolved whole world blind.” The main pillars of his state of dispute will be full of peace and harmony. philosophy were non-violence, tolerance of others, respect for all religions and a simple life. Global peace has been hindered by many Gandhi is relevant to the country as a subject of challenges that include both natural and human- study. made causes. The rationale behind achieving peace is in the positive understanding of “give and Today, peace has predominantly become take”, humanity, forgiveness and nonviolence. The political work towards settlement of issues right understanding will take the world in the right between the nations through military involvement, path. As an exemplary figure in politics, spirituality cessation of arms and weapons and dialogue on and nation building, Gandhi must also be less-violent, civilian matters. In many parts of the understood rightly. Mahatma Gandhi can be AUGUST - 2020 1 ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review looked upon as one of the greatest visionaries. It used now a days even as a social slogan. Statistics was the unique non-violent movement under his show that the country is definitely not following leadership that earned for India freedom from the ‘sarvodaya’, a broad Gandhian term meaning colonial rule. In spearheading the campaign against ‘universal upliftment’ or ‘progress of all’ reaching the alien rule, Gandhiji adopted the innovative the masses and the downtrodden. On the contrary, method of civil disobedience and social India today has the unique distinction of being the transformation, which had several exemplary only country in the world which has the richest features. He never resorted to violence in his man in the world while at the same time more resistance. This implies the rejection of war, than 30 per cent of its population lives in dire espionage and crooked diplomacy, even when poverty. they are adopted for the so-called noble ends of defending the country, religion or humanity. Today This shows that today, Gandhism is a we do not have respect and tolerance for each very confused ‘ism’ in India. Today many other, giving rise to regional, racial and religious politicians in India use the term merely as a slogan conflicts among various sectors of our societies. and the common man make Gandhi almost out of We have become so impatient with each other reach of the younger groups by making Gandhi that we are trying to solve our differences by using an unwilling ‘avatara’. That may be one reason violence rather than through peaceful dialogue or why the only photo we see of Gandhi in India is logic. We do not respect others’ views or feelings; always that of an old man which brings the image it is either “my way or the highway”. Violence of a very simple and pious man who was meek becomes an instrument of solving our differences, and mild like Jesus Christ. While Gandhi was not whether racial, religious or any other kind. a simple man to say the least, the above does not Therefore more than ever before, Gandhiji’s give the right image of Gandhi and does not bring teachings are valid today. any inspiration to the younger group, the group most relevant for Gandhi. Gandhi is rightly called the Father of the Nation because he single-handedly stood up In real world, Gandhi was a politician, a against the mighty British Empire, without any shrewd politician, who was trying to bring peace arms, and brought her independence. However, and harmony to India on one hand while trying to today, Gandhi is mostly forgotten and his relevance bring her independence at the same time. For questioned even by his ardent devotees. Today Gandhi, the process of change was very important Gandhi is remembered in India mostly on his which must be ethical, nonviolent and democratic birthday which is celebrated as a national holiday giving rights to all minorities. In this respect, he rather as a ritual. resembles the Buddha for whom the noble As a matter of fact, India is not following eightfold path (of right wisdom, right conduct any of Gandhi’s teachings which are mostly and right effort), itself is the goal and essence of confined to text books. In fact, since life. Once we realize this, we realize the essence independence, the country has witnessed many of Gandhism and realize that it would be wrong violent communal riots in this multi communal to premise that Gandhism is dead in the world. country. Gandhi’s message of ‘swabalambi’, self- Like Buddhism, which is mostly prevalent now- sufficiency with home spun ‘khadi’ cloth is not a-days outside India, the country of its 2 AUGUST - 2020 Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669 birth, Gandhism today is alive and active outside America. But eventually the power of guns will India. In fact, today there is hardly any country in have to be changed by the will of the ordinary the world where some activities are not going on people. As Dalai Lama said, “We have big war along Gandhian lines. There are very few going on today between world peace and world countries in the world where something or the war, between the force of mind and force of other is not being done, achieved or organized in materialism, between democracy and the name of Gandhi. In short, there is a global totalitarism.” To fight these big wars the non-violent awakening and awareness after common ordinary people in this modern age Gandhi. The name of Mahatma Gandhi need Gandhism. If we try to analyze the secrets transcends the bounds of race, religion and nation- of Gandhi’s success, we would probably find Faith states, and has emerged as the prophetic voice and Action and Populism, the three most important of the twenty-first century. Today, Gandhi is aspects of his life. Gandhi’s extraordinary remembered for his passionate adherence to the communion with the masses of ordinary people practice of non-violence and his supreme was another secret. In contrast to many of our humanism, in every corner of the world. present day leaders of this highly democratic world, Gandhi was a true leader and friend of the One would wonder, what may be the people. Daisaku Ikeda, the Japanese Buddhist relevance of Gandhi in this all-pervading leader who takes great inspiration from Gandhi materialistic, agnostic and consumerist culture? has this to say about him. “His activism is not What is the significance of Gandhi to the modern mere action but contains many aspects of a world and what is the secret of his success? spiritual ‘practice’ that is inspired by the inner Gandhi has been a great light for the Tibetan leader urging of the conscience”. Dalai Lama who puts Gandhi’s success in right perspective. He said, “Many ancient Indian The phenomenal success Gandhi masters have preached ahimsa, non-violence registered in far-away South Africa fighting for as a philosophy. That was mere philosophical human rights and civil liberties has great understanding. But Mahatma Gandhi, in this significance when we find that later his teachings twentieth century, produced a very were adopted not only by Nelson Mandela, the sophisticated approach because he South African freedom fighter, but it was also implemented that very noble philosophy of subsequently revealed that the former South ahimsa in modern politics, and he succeeded. African president De Klerk was greatly influenced That is a very great thing.” by Gandhi’s principles. In fact, from Dalai Lama to Desmond Tutu and from Martin Luther King And that is precisely the greatness of to Nelson Mandela, many world leaders were Gandhi and that is the message of Gandhi to the inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, all in their own modern world. In the past century many places different ways. in the world have been drastically changed through the use of brute force, by the power of Dr.
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