MAHATMA  GANDHI – ULTIMATE  BENCH MARK  FOR  HUMANS

On  2^nd October,2018,  the 150^th birth  anniversary celebration of Mahatma Gandhi commences. On his birthday   India remembers this great man  for all that he did for the country and the world and for providing  leadership of great ethical and moral standards.

While Mahatma Gandhi  had great achievements to his credit and have millions of admirers around the world, there is no dearth of critics.

He has been  vehemently criticized  by some people for some of his political decisions and what the critics  term as excessive efforts to appease Muslims and keep Jinnah in good humour  to prevent partition of India ,inspite of which Mahatma Gandhi could not prevent partition of India. Even in his life  time, Mahatma Gandhi saw huge religious riots in India  at the time of partition when thousands of Hindus and Muslims were massacred and he could not prevent this.  This made many critics say that Mahatma Gandhi’s efforts to advocate  non violence  as a desirable concept has failed. Several writings of Mahatma Gandhi after India attained freedom reveal that Mahatma Gandhi was a sad and   disappointed person  at the turn of events and he ultimately  became a victim of religious fanaticism.

All said and done, Mahatma Gandhi was a multi faceted personality who has expressed his thoughts on variety of issues and  practiced his thoughts sincerely, setting himself  as a role model for others.

After passing away of Mahatma Gandhi with several decades now  gone by, what stands out clearly is the exemplary standards of probity that he maintained in private and public life with  no difference in his inner thoughts and outer actions.

Mahatma Gandhi  conclusively showed that it is possible to practice truth as a philosophy  and way of life in full measure. With such highest level of commitment  to truth , every action of Mahatma Gandhi  reflected his glorious standards as an individual person.

With great  commitment to the concept of truth, Mahatma Gandhi always said that means should justify  the ends, which is possible only if one  will have total adherence to truth and honesty in spirit and actions.

Today, all over the world,  dishonesty and double talk seem to have become order of the day amongst political leaders at various levels as well as  individual citizens in different  walks of life. Most people seem to be gaining an impression  that clever schemes and maneuvering practices are the essential needs to achieve material success and happiness  in  life, which  often call for practices of deceit.

While Mahatma Gandhi and his way of life and philosophy are now admired all over the world  , many seem to think that Mahatma Gandhi was a unique and out of ordinary person and his life style need to be admired but cannot be practiced. One often hears the remark that If one were to practice Mahatma Gandhi’s  concept of truth and probity , it inevitably   would call   for sacrifice of comforts and  growth prospects.

On Mahatma Gandhi’s 70^th birthday, in a fitting tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, the great  German scientist and philosopher Albert Einstein, wrote . "Generations to come, it may well be, will scarce believe that such a man as this one ever in flesh and blood walked upon this Earth.”

It seems to be  extremely doubtful that at present and in future , whether the world citizens would, by and large,  even attempt to reach the bench mark and standards in personal life and conduct that Mahatma Gandhi set for himself and showed for the world.

Nevertheless, humans  have a benchmark and standard for life  that  Mahatma Gandhi’s life style created and for worthy individuals wherever they are in the world, it should be a  desirable goal to reach.

N.S.Venkataraman

Nandini Voice For The Deprived

nandinivoice.com