Gandhian thoughts and its relevance

Introduction

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was ‘a man of millennium’ who imparts the lesson of truth, Non- violence and peace. The philosophy and ideology is relevant still today.The philosophy of Gandhi was based on truth, sacrifice, non- violence selfless service and cooperation. In modern times, nonviolent methods of action have been a powerful tool for social protest. According to Gandhi one should be brave and not a coward. He should present his views, suggestions and thoughts without being violent. One should fight a war with the weapons of truth and non violence. Gandhi said that ‘There is no god higher than truth’. According to Gandhi’s thoughts nonviolence is ultimate solution of every kind of problem in the world. Gandhi was single person who fought against the British with the weapons of truth and Non-violence by persuading countrymen to walk on the path of non-violence. Gandhi leading a decades-long nonviolent struggle against British rule in India, which eventually helped India, wins its independence in 1947. By the efforts of Gandhi India became independent. Gandhi initiated non violence activities like Quit India Movement and non-operation movement. Gandhi could never have done what he did alone, but with his ability to identify a seed here, a seed there and nurture it, he was able to create a forest of human change. He understood that it was not enough to be a leader, but to create leaders.

In quite simple and clear words, Gandhism consists of the ideas, which Mahatma Gandhi put forth before human world. Along with that, to the maximum possible extent, Mahatma Gandhi treated his individual life in accordance with these ideas. Clearly; Gandhism is a mixture of Gandhi’s concepts and practices. The basic ground ship of Gandhism happens to be non-violence. The non-violence is the most ancient eternal value. This non-violence is the ground of ancient-most civilization and culture of India.Mahatma Gandhi said on this very account while making his concepts and practices based on non-violence: ‘I have nothing new to teach you’ Truth and non-violence are as old as hill. As we know, non-violence and truth are two sides of the same coin. After knowing Gandhism, it is imperative for us to know clearly the concept of non-violence also as it accords the ground for Gandhism. Gandhi’s importance in the political world scenario is twofold. First, he retrieved non-violence as a powerful political tool and secondly manifestation of a higher spiritual goal, culmination in world peace. For Gandhi, means were as important as the end and there could be only one means – that of non-violence.

As a situation opposite to violence is non-violence, we can firmly state, total nonviolence consists in not hurting some other one’s intellect, speech or action per own thought, utterance or deeds and not to deprive some one of his life. Mahatma Gandhi fully agrees with above-mentioned derivation of non-violence. He himself has said, Non-violence is not a concrete thing as it has generally been enunciated. Undoubtedly, it is a part of non-violence to abstain from hurting some living being, but it is only an iota pertaining to its identity. The principle of nonviolence is shattered by every evil thought, false utterance, hate or wishing something bad unto someone. It is also shattered per possession of necessary worldly things. In this chain Mahatma Gandhi clarified in an edition of Young India: ‘To hurt someone, to think of some evil unto someone or to snatch one’s life under anger or selfishness, is violence. In contrast, purest non-violence involves a tendency and presuming towards spiritual or physical benefit unto every one without selfishness and with pure thought after cool and clear deliberations’. The ultimate yardstick of violence or non-violence is the spirit behind the action. There are many examples of their use like resistance, non-violent resistance, and civil revolution. Mahatma Gandhi had to struggle in his whole life, but he never disappointed, he continued his innate faith in non-violence and his belief in the methods of Satyagraha. The significance of Satyagraha was soon accepted worldwide. Martin Luther King adopted the methods of Satyagraha in his fight against the racial discrimination of the American authorities in 1950. Gandhism is very much contextual today on this accord. It is significant. We should grasp importance of Gandhism while analyzing it.

Presently a big portion of the world happens to be under Democratic System of Government. Theoretically, this system stands out to be the best up to now. This is a truth. It is the best because people are connected with it directly or indirectly at every level. Not only this, it is this very system, which provides maximum opportunities of public progress and development. People can themselves decide in this system the mode of their welfare. However, even though being theoretically the best system of government, if we peruse the democratic nations, we first of all find that there is non-equal development of the citizens. We subsequently find that these nations are more or less victimized by Regionalism. They have problem relating to language. They are under clutches of terrorism and Communalism. There is also the problem of negation of Human Rights in these nations. There are other vivid problems akin to mention above and peace is far away so long as these problems exist. All citizens must have equal development and they should have communal harmony towards making all citizens collective and unified partners in progress. But, in reality, it is not so. It is essential that the nations of democratic system of government should be free from above-mentioned problems, must be capable of ensuring equal development of their all citizens and the citizens concerned must march forward on path of progress in unified way along with rendering contribution to world peace.

Gandhi demonstrated to a world, weary with wars and continuing destruction that adherence to Truth and Non-violence is not meant for individuals alone but can be applied in global affairs too. Gandhi’s vision for the country and his dreams for the community as a whole still hold good for India. He got the community to absorb and reflect true values of humanity and to participate in tasks that would promote the greater good. These issues are still relevant to what free India is and represents. The main cause of worry today is intolerance and hatred leading to violence and it is here the values of Gandhi need to be adhered to with more passion.

Gandhian Strategy

Gandhian strategy is mainly comprised with:

Satyagraha
Truth and honesty
Non-violence
Co-operation
Peace and love

Satyagraha – A holistic approach towards life, based on the ideals of truth and moral courage.

Satyagraha’s goal is winning over people’s hearts, and this can be achieved only with tremendous patience, Satyagraha is more than a political tool of resistance. The similarities of the Satyagraha to some of the greatest philosophical and religious tenets of the world have been observed and much written about. However, in the specific context of India, Satyagraha was an immense influence. It went a long way in instilling among the Indians a dignity for hard labor and mutual respect. In the traditional Society/”>Indian Society torn apart by caste and creed based discriminations, Satyagraha stated that no work was lowly. It championed Secularism-2/”>Secularism and went a long way in eradicating untouchability from the heart of India’s typically stratified society. Satyagraha glorified the role of Women as an important member of the society. All in all, Satyagraha instilled in the Indian mind a dignity and a self respect that is yet unprecedented in its modern history. Gandhi’s system of Satyagraha was based on nonviolence, non-cooperation, truth and honesty. Gandhi used non violence in India’s freedom struggle as main weapon and India became independent from British rule.

Truth – The most powerful weapon.

Gandhism is more about the spirit of Gandhi’s journey to discover the truth, than what he finally considered to be the truth. It is the foundation of Gandhi’s teachings, and the spirit of his whole life to examine and understand for oneself, and not take anybody or any ideology for granted. Gandhi said: ‘The Truth is far more powerful than any weapon of mass destruction’. Truth or ‘Satya’ was the sovereign principle of Mahatma Gandhi’s life. The Mahatma’s life was an eternal conquest to discover truth and his journey to that end was marked by experiments on himself and Learning from his own mistakes. Fittingly his autobiography was titled ‘My Experiments with Truth.’ Gandhi strictly maintained that the concept of truth is above and beyond of all other considerations and one must unfailingly embrace truth throughout one’s life. Gandhi pioneered the term Satyagraha which literally translates to ‘an endeavor for truth . ‘In the context of Indian freedom movement, Satyagraha meant the resistance to the British oppression through mass civil obedience. The tenets of Truth or Satya and nonviolence were pivotal to the Satyagraha movement and Gandhi ensured that the millions of Indians seeking an end to British rule adhered to these basic principles steadfastly.

Non-violence is ever lasting.

Gandhian strategy is the collection of inspirations, principles, beliefs and philosophy. The fundamentals of Gandhi’s non violence theory, Jainism and Buddhism-2/”>Buddhism were the most important influence. Both Jainism and Buddhism preached non-violence as the basic principal of existence. Gandhi was also influenced By Bhagvad Gita with its Stress on non attachment and selfless action, Christianity, along with its massage of love and compassion, extended even to one’s enemies, was another important influence on Gandhi’s life. Gandhi’s life was based on truth, honesty and moral courage.

Mahatma Gandhi was great national hero, who served the nation with truth and non violence. Gandhi was against violence. He always disliked war on the ground of its violent nature. That’s why when the Second World War began in 1939; he opposed the stand of British government dragging India into war without consulting Indian leaders. Gandhi was in favor of non violence; therefore he was against in any cooperation in war efforts. According to Gandhi the use of non violence consists of anger, selfishness, hatred and enmity. According to him violence cannot do anything good to human beings. A Gandhian strategy for confronting terrorism, therefore, would consist of the following:

Stop an act of violence in its tracks. The effort to do so should be nonviolent but forceful. To focus solely on acts of terrorism, Gandhi argued, would be like being concerned with weapons in an effort to stop the spread of racial hatred. Gandhi thought the sensible approach would be to confront the ideas and alleviate the conditions that motivated people to undertake such desperate operations in the first place. As we know, non-violence and truth go side by side. After knowing Gandhism, it is imperative for us to know clearly the concept of non-violence also as it accords the ground for Gandhism.

For Gandhi, means were as important as the end and there could be only one means- that of non-violence. What is non-violence? Ordinarily, we attribute nonviolence as a dictum that prescribes non-snatching of anyone’s life. Really, this is not complete derivation pertaining to the concept of non-violence. Non-violence is quite opposite to violence. As such, it would be better to know the position relating to violence in order to know non-violence and to be in knowledge of its meaning. According to a Jain scholar: ‘Whenever, we hurt some other living being through our thought, utterance or action under non-cordial stipulation and non-apt learning, such an impure spirit or act of destroying life of some other one, including the impure tendency, utterance or presuming, is taken to be full of vice of violence. In such a situation, even if there is no sort of violence externally, it intrinsically ipso facto remains a tendency of violence’. There are three categories of violence:-

When we hit physically anybody.

When we think wrong and feel jealous with anybody.

When we aggressively speak and abuse to anybody.

All these categories create negative energy in human body. The negative energy has adverse affect on human body. Gandhi criticized violence. It is a body of ideas and principles that describes the inspiration, vision and the life work of Gandhi. It is particularly associated with his contributions to the idea and practice of non violence resistance, sometimes also called civil resistance. The term “Gandhism” also encompasses what Gandhi’s ideas, words and actions mean to people around the world, and how they used them for guidance in building their own future. Gandhism also permeates into the realm of the individual human being, non-political and nonsocial. A Gandhian can mean either an individual who follows, or a specific philosophy which is attributed to, Gandhism.

In context of non-violence being perpetual, Mahatma Gandhi states, ‘When we peruse the era from beginning unto now relating to the period for which we gain historical evidence, we find that man has been ultimately treading path of nonviolence’. It is, as such, that non-violence came into existence along with man. In case it has not been with man from the very beginning, there might have been self-doom by man. As Martin Luther King Jr. said: “The choice is not between violence and nonviolence but between nonviolence and non-existence.”

However, it has not been that and not only human race is alive in such a huge number but there has been gradual enhancement in development and nearness in spite of presence of various obstacles and nuisances. This could never have been, but because non-violence is perpetual, it happened. Mahatma Gandhi was against any form of exploitation and injustice. According to him, evils must be opposed at any cost. But he insisted that the weapons must be non violent and moral ones. The adoption of peaceful method made one superior and put the enemy at a disadvantage but the condition is the opponent must be dealt with mutual respect and love. Gandhi believed that only through love an enemy could be permanently won. Non violence is not passive. It is active, creative, provocative and challenging. Gandhi described non-violence as ‘A force more powerful than all the weapons of world combined’. Non violence is the greatest and most active force in the world. Gandhi wrote, It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of humanity. When we tap into the spirit of non-violence, it becomes contagious and can topple empires. In relation to violence, there are two Options in the world. These options are, we fight back or run away. Non violence gives us third option: creative active, peaceful resistance to injustice. Non violence means standing unmoving against injustice until injustice is transformed into Justice. Non-violence dose not harm to others and does not adversely affect other directly .but it works internally. Instead of killing others, we should do in the nonviolent struggle for justice and human rights. Non-violence begins in the heart then it moves out to our families, local communities, cities, nation and world.

Gandhi thought, debased those who adopted it. A violent posture adopted by public authorities could lead to a civil order based on coercion. For this reason Gandhi insisted on means consistent with the moral goals of those engaged in the conflict.

Conclusion

Gandhi dreamed of a new world of non-violence with overall peaceful Environment. Non-violence is a universal phenomenon and it has great relevance and significance. It is the ultimate solution of all kinds of problems and conflicts in the society, nation and world. However, its result depends upon its understanding and proper application. The present scenario of violence and exploitation all over the world has raised an important issue. Any nation which has been suffered with communalism, Dictatorship, Corruption and power games really needs to go back to Gandhi’s conviction of nonviolence and truth as his mission. By adopting nonviolence, social, political, economic and religious conflicts shall be removed. Undoubtedly, the social doctrine of non violence that has emerged from Gandhian ideas has now become the key to forge and sustain the new social and political order. Today, there is need to adopt Ghandhian philosophy and ideology in overall world to remove all kind of problems and creating peaceful environment. Gandhi is not the past, he is the future. He is an early sign of what we can be.

Presently a big portion of the world happens to be under Democratic system of Government. Theoretically, this system stands out to be the best up to now. This is a truth. It is the best because people are connected with it directly or indirectly at every level. Not only this, it is this very system, which provides maximum opportunities of public progress and development. People can themselves decide in this system the mode of their welfare. However, even though being theoretically the best system of government, if we peruse the democratic nations, we first of all find that there is non-equal development of the citizens. We subsequently find that these nations are more or less victimized by regionalism. They have problem relating to language. They are under clutches of terrorism and communalism. There is also the problem of negation of human rights in these nations. There are other vivid problems akin to mention above and peace is far away so long as these problems exist. These nations should get themselves rid of these problems, all citizens of them must have equal development and they should have communal harmony towards making all citizens collective and unified partners in progress. But, in reality, it is not so.

It is essential that the nations of democratic system of government should be free from above-mentioned problems, must be capable of ensuring equal development of their all citizens and the citizens concerned must march forward on path of progress in unified way along with rendering contribution to world peace. Gandhism is very much contextual today on this accord. It is significant.

Gandhi inspires an alternative vision of politics and resistance at a time when oppression is not only getting more overt and physical but also more insidious. His ideology of nonviolence is a good point to start from. It may not succeed, but it opens a world of possibilities and encourages us to think outside the box. His life also illustrates how radical ideas are first dismissed, only to be tested and embraced later. Gandhi demonstrated to a World, weary with wars and continuing destruction that adherence to Truth and Non-violence is not meant for individuals alone but can be applied in global affairs too. Gandhi’s vision for the country and his dreams for the community as a whole still hold good for India. He got the community to assimilate and reflect true values of humanity and to participate in tasks that would promote the greater good. These issues are still relevant to what free India is and represents. The main cause of worry today is intolerance and hatred leading to violence and it is here the values of Gandhi need to be adhered to with more passion. He is relevant not yesterday or today but forever!!,

Gandhian thoughts are still relevant today because they offer a way to live a life of peace, simplicity, and service to others. They can help us to overcome conflict, build community, and create a more just and sustainable world.

Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violence, or ahimsa, is based on the belief that all life is sacred and that violence is never justified. He argued that non-violence is the only way to achieve true peace and justice. Gandhi’s methods of non-violent resistance, such as boycotts, strikes, and civil disobedience, have been used successfully by movements for Social Change around the world.

Gandhi also believed in the importance of simplicity and self-reliance. He advocated for a simple lifestyle that was based on living in harmony with nature. He also promoted the use of local products and Services, known as swadeshi, as a way to support the local economy.

Gandhi’s philosophy of service to others, or sarvodaya, is based on the belief that we are all interconnected and that we have a responsibility to help those in need. He argued that we should live our lives in service to others, and that we should work to create a more just and equitable world.

Gandhi’s thoughts are still relevant today because they offer a way to live a life that is meaningful and fulfilling. They can help us to overcome the challenges we face in our personal lives and in the world around us. They can also help us to create a more just and sustainable world.

Here are some specific examples of how Gandhian thoughts can be applied in today’s world:

Non-violence can be used to resolve conflict in our personal lives, in our communities, and in the world at large. For example, we can use non-violent Communication to resolve conflict with our family and friends. We can also use non-violent protest to raise awareness about important issues and to demand change.
Simplicity can help us to live a more sustainable lifestyle. We can reduce our consumption of Resources, such as energy and water. We can also recycle and compost to reduce waste.
Service to others can help us to connect with our community and to make a difference in the world. We can volunteer our time or donate Money to organizations that are working to make the world a better place.

Gandhi’s thoughts are a powerful source of inspiration and guidance. They can help us to live a more meaningful and fulfilling life. They can also help us to create a more just and sustainable world.

Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi was the preeminent leader of Indian nationalism in British-ruled India. Employing nonviolent civil disobedience, Gandhi led India to independence and inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. The honorific title Mahatmaâmeaning “high-souled”âwas bestowed on him first in 1914 in South Africa, and became widely used in India in the 1920s.

Gandhi is internationally honored for his philosophy of nonviolence and his Leadership of the Indian independence movement. The honorific title Mahatmaâmeaning “high-souled”âwas bestowed on him first in 1914 in South Africa, and became widely used in India in the 1920s. He is internationally honored for his philosophy of nonviolence and his leadership of the Indian independence movement. The honorific title Mahatmaâmeaning “high-souled”âwas bestowed on him first in 1914 in South Africa, and became widely used in India in the 1920s.

Gandhian thoughts and its relevance

Gandhian thoughts are a set of beliefs and principles that were developed by Mahatma Gandhi during his lifetime. These thoughts are based on the idea of nonviolence, self-reliance, and simplicity. Gandhian thoughts have been highly influential in India and around the world, and they continue to be relevant today.

One of the most important Gandhian thoughts is the idea of nonviolence. Gandhi believed that violence was never the answer, and that it was always possible to resolve conflict through peaceful means. He practiced nonviolence in his own life, and he encouraged others to do the same.

Another important Gandhian thought is the idea of self-reliance. Gandhi believed that people should be able to provide for themselves, and that they should not rely on others for help. He encouraged people to be self-sufficient, and to live simply.

Gandhian thoughts are still relevant today, and they can be applied to many different areas of life. For example, Gandhian thoughts can be used to promote peace and understanding between different groups of people. They can also be used to encourage people to live more simply and sustainably.

Frequently asked questions

1. Who was Mahatma Gandhi?

2. What are Gandhian thoughts?

3. What is the relevance of Gandhian thoughts today?

4. What are some examples of Gandhian thoughts in action?

There are many examples of Gandhian thoughts in action. One example is the Indian independence movement, which was led by Gandhi. Gandhi used nonviolent civil disobedience to achieve independence for India. Another example is the civil rights movement in the United States, which was inspired by Gandhi’s teachings. The civil rights movement used nonviolent protests to achieve Equality for African Americans.

5. What are some challenges to implementing Gandhian thoughts?

There are some challenges to implementing Gandhian thoughts. One challenge is that it can be difficult to maintain nonviolence in the face of violence. Another challenge is that it can be difficult to live simply in a world that is increasingly complex and materialistic.

6. What are some benefits of implementing Gandhian thoughts?

There are many benefits to implementing Gandhian thoughts. One benefit is that it can lead to peace and understanding between different groups of people. Another benefit is that it can lead to a more sustainable way of life.

7. What are some resources for learning more about Gandhian thoughts?

There are many resources for learning more about Gandhian thoughts. One resource is Gandhi’s autobiography, “The Story of My Experiments with Truth.” Another resource is the book “Gandhi: An Autobiography for Young People” by Eknath/”>Eknath Easwaran.

Gandhian Thoughts and Its Relevance

Mahatma Gandhi was one of the most influential figures in Indian history. He is best known for his nonviolent resistance to British rule, which led to India’s independence in 1947. Gandhi’s philosophy of nonviolence, or satyagraha, is based on the idea that truth is the ultimate force in the world. He believed that by refusing to cooperate with injustice, people could bring about change without resorting to violence.

Gandhi’s thoughts are still relevant today, as people around the world continue to struggle for freedom and justice. His ideas about nonviolence and civil disobedience have been used by activists in many different countries, including the United States, South Africa, and China.

Here are some multiple choice questions about Gandhian thoughts and its relevance:

Which of the following is not one of Gandhi’s core principles?
(A) Nonviolence
(B) Truth
(C) Simplicity
(D) Exploitation
Which of the following is not an example of Gandhi’s nonviolent resistance?
(A) The Salt March
(B) The Quit India Movement
(C) The Indian Rebellion of 1857
(D) The Montgomery Bus Boycott
Which of the following is not a country where Gandhi’s ideas have been used by activists?
(A) The United States
(B) South Africa
(C) China
(D) Japan
Which of the following is not a way in which Gandhi’s thoughts are still relevant today?
(A) They can be used to inspire people to fight for freedom and justice.
(B) They can be used to promote peace and understanding.
(C) They can be used to encourage people to live simply and sustainably.
(D) They can be used to justify violence against those who oppress others.
Which of the following is the most important lesson that we can learn from Gandhi?
(A) That nonviolence is the most effective way to achieve change.
(B) That truth is the ultimate force in the world.
(C) That we should live simply and sustainably.
(D) That we should always fight for what we believe in, even if it means facing violence.

The correct answers are:
1. (D)
2. (C)
3. (D)
4. (D)
5. (B)