A voice for the people

By Amal HEWAVISSENTI

Mohandas Gandhi was the real Indian distinguished for his breadth of knowledge, experience and genuine concern for the people likely to be victimised by violence.

Mohandas Gandhi's appearance noticeably contrasted with his dynamism and radical advocacy of non-violence. To quote the words of Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru who officially announced the sad departure of this great man.

"He arrived among us, spent a considerably long time with us and departed. He does not need any word of praise from us because his life has deserved and received a greater praise than any other has done in the history.

"The whole world honoured him within the two days of his death.

"A great man has departed and the sun which provided light and warmth for our lives has set, leaving us trembling in cold and darkness....

"This dignified man with heavenly fire changed us and shaped our thinking. When we praise him, we feel ashamed of the stark inadequacy in the value of the worlds we use.

Support

History has raised marble and bronze monuments to exaggerate the merits of great men, but this little man with heavenly fire has been able to light up millions of hearts.

We are not qualified enough to praise him because we have not been able to follow his principals or to grasp his message.

History will deliver its verdict on what we have done and success and failure will determine everything. Certain incidents oppressed him tremendously, but nothing could erase the sympathetic smile that ever dawned on his face...."

Gandhi's revolution and his campaign for non-violence in India was a historical process which paved the way for India's Independence.

Apart from that, his energetic struggle was strengthened by the collective efforts of his contemporaries and intellectuals such as Raj Ram Mohan Ray, Swami Vivekananda, Swami Dayananda Saraswathi, Ramakrishna Paramahansa, Zais Ahmmed, Gokal, Rabindranath Tagore and so forth.

Those intellectuals had extended their support through multiple fields which they represented and Gandhi combined all these energies in a path for honourable independence. They in reality became the vital tools for Gandhi's ethical and political struggle because they too had witnessed the political and moral mine which India had by then plunged into.

Timid

Small Gandhi at school appeared to be rather 'timid', shy and reticent boy and did not give any impression of 'a bright student with initiative'.

It is said that his school records, by no means, evidenced a certain sign of dynamism, activity and persistence that he later evinced as an adult. yet he received the attention and kindness from teachers as he duly respected them.

Under the cultural restraints of India, he was compelled to enter into a marriage life much against his will and expectations. At the age of 13, while he was pursuing school education, he had to marry Kasthurbhai, a girl who was roughly his age.

However, this marriage which was a total child marriage and a matter of a family festival for a child, left bitter most memories for him. Subsequently, he analysed his own depressing experience of early marriage and registered a strong protest against the concept of child marriage.

Journey

Eighteen-year-old Gandhi left for England on September 4 1888. The first few days in England were the worst in his life as he had to employ all his energies in his attempt to get accustomed to the English atmosphere Gandhi later wrote.

"I continually thought about my home and country (India). I was deeply frustrated in my realisation that the people, their net work of roads and their abodes in this country (England) were completely foreign to me.

I was totally new to the English social customs and I was plagued by my own pledge on vegetarianism....." However, Gandhi had promised to his mother that he would become a total vegetarian though in reality he had little thought on any importance in the principle.

After reading books and newspaper articles on vegetarian meals, Gandhi readily became an absolute vegetarian.

He made every possible effort to initiate an 'English Gentleman' during the first few weeks of his stay in England. later he recounted his" absurd attempt" as he called it."I got my clothes tailored to the latest fashion. I wore a watch with a golden chain and bought a hat for 19 shillings.

I 'wasted' ten pounds on ready made clothing for evening parties and learned ballroom dancing for three Guineas. I learned proper pronouncing of English and French..."

At the end of the second year in London, Gandhi received the English translation of the 'Bhagavad Geetha' by Edwin Arnold. A Christian friend whom he had met at a vegetarian restaurant, offered him a Bible and he read Edwin Arnold's 'Light of Asia" which deals with Buddha's life.

All these readings had a tremendous impact on his personal life and it provided impetus for his subsequent struggles. At the same time, these readings promoted his tendency to respect other religions and extract the best concepts from other religions to enrich his own concepts and theories.

Train

A large number of Indians had by now inhabited various regions in South Africa as merchants, diverse professionals and workers.

The South African white men despised these Indians and deprived them of any social privilege. Once Gandhi left for the city of 'Pnitoria' by train and his employee had booked a ticket for the first class.

As the train drew towards the city of Maritsburg, a whiteman got on the train and vehemently protested against a dark man (Gandhi) travelling in the first class compartment.

An officer in the train came to Gandhi and ordered him to move to the third class compartment, but he rejected it. Gandhi replied "Like him, I too have paid for a ticket to travel in this compartment and have a right for that."

The railway security officers used coercion to remove Gandhi out of train and his baggage was thrown out of the moving train.

It was winter and Gandhi kept awake the whole night trembling in the station.

He was faced with a dilemma-whether to fight back for his rights or go back to India, but finally he resoled to complete his mission in South Africa. Gandhi's own experiences with the blatant injustice on Indians living in South Africa hardened his resolution to protest against discrimination, violence and social injustice.

Gandhi organised silent protest campaigns against the intimidation and coercion by British administration in India.

On the failure of one of his protest campaigns, he was arrested and produced before the Court that was presided over by an English Judge.

He commented on the grounds for his protest.

"I do not bear a personal grudge on any administrative officer. What power do I have to rise against king's representatives? But I have the strength to protest against any administration which has oppressed India more than ever. India has been lowered to a deplorable condition under British law.

So long as you represent the demon officers, you will conclude that my course of action is to the disadvantage of common people...."

On January 30, 1948, Gandhi was walking towards the large garden of his Birla House following a discussion with Deputy Minister Serdar Patel, he raised his hands towards the large crowd who in turn complimented him in chorus.

Many were eagerly waiting to touch his feet in honour. Suddenly a Hindu youth obstructed him in his way and pierced his heart with several gun shots. Gandhi fell on the ground and whispered "Hey Ram".

Gandhi died a painful death after living for the benefit of Indians and he will ever be remembered for his role as a nation builder, a politician and a strong patriot.

For the sake of humanity he was a servant and a friend to Indians and did not prefer to represent any religion or nationality.