REMEMBERING BAPU

Mahatma Gandhi. A name so familiar, a face so commonplace in our country, but he was just not any man. Even for a layman who might not have read extensively about him, hearing his name imbibes a shared feeling that he did something monumental. To someone, it could fairly seem a thing of the past, so why remember him? What he did could be something in the past, but what he was, what he stood for, has remained evergreen for any generation to get a fresh perspective.

He’s well-known for being a champion of non-violence, truthfulness, and equanimity. But more importantly, he’s remembered for his unfettered devotion to his principles and how to conduct one’s life in harmony with one’s beliefs.

To believe in something, and not to live it, is dishonest.

Mahatma Gandhi

Imagine being in his time when people’s blood boiled for vengeance against the wrong-doings of the oppressors. Yet, to be unflinching in his belief in nonviolence, to vigorously work towards the cause, and to amass and unite almost an entire country in this way is by no means a simple task. The strength of his will and a strong pursuit for truth no matter what had shaken empires so tough.

This was complemented immensely by the simplicity of his living, his kindness towards others, and his force of love towards all beings irrespectively. He believed that only love towards others could make ours a better world. He firmly believed in universalism, looking beyond just the country’s people he fought for.

If I want freedom for my country... I do not want that freedom in order that I, belonging to a nation which counts as one-fifth of the human race, may exploit any other race upon the earth or any single individual. If I want that freedom for my country, I would not be deserving of that freedom if I did not cherish and treasure the equal right of every other race, weak or strong, to the same freedom.

Mahatma Gandhi

The roots of such ardour for world beings could be glimpsed in the bhajans he loved. The lyrics overflow with feelings of oneness, dissolving Self into the Supreme, harmony that naturally exists if one knows how to perceive and experience it. One must look at it not as having a mere concept of unity but actually trying to experience it.

Ram Kaho Rehman Kaho Kou Kanha Kaho Mahadev Ri, Parsanath kaho, kou Bramha, sakal bramha swayamev ri, bhaajan bhed kahavat naanaa ek mruttka roop ri, taise khand kalpanaropit aap akhand swaroop ri

Anandghan, Source: Wiki

Translation: All is One (Brahman). Call it Rama or Rahman, Kanha or Mahadev, Parasnath or Brahma; pots are different, but as earth, they are one. Even so, do we make imaginary differentiation; in essence, Truth is one and indivisible.

Ram Kaho Rehman Kaho by poet “Anandghan" (Source)

He believed in the goodness of humankind. Only when we perceive this will there be love towards the other, no matter the occasional faults you might find. He believed in the good universal values that have been through the test of time.

Vaishnav jan to tene kahiye je PeeD paraayi jaaNe re, Par-dukhkhe upkaar kare toye Man abhimaan na aaNe re

Narsinh Mehta, Source:Wiki

Translation: One who is a man of God Understands the pain of others as his own. One who helps the other in distress Without letting self-conceit enter their mind.

Vaishnav jan to written by poet Narsinh Mehta in Gujarati

This October 2nd, on his Jayanti, let’s take a moment to remember him not just by the deeds he left behind but by the passion he held in his heart towards another being, by the possibility of harmony that we could see and make it true in our own small communities, by the grit one could cultivate and blossom and by the unshaken feeling of inclusivity he held that is more important than ever in today’s world.