Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man. - Mahatma Gandhi
Today is October 2nd
2014 and marks the 145th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi. The honorific Mahatma in Sanskrit means
"high-soul", venerable, great soul"; also widely referred to in India as
"Bapu" or father. 2nd October is also recognized world-wide as
International Day of Non-Violence and on this occasion, I would like to share
with you a glimpse back in history about the life of this legendary soul,
peacemaker and freedom fighter - Mahatma Gandhi.
October 2nd 1869, in the rural village of Porbander, Kathiawar
District, West Gujarat, a preeminent leader of Indian independence movement in
British-ruled India was born.
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| Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathiawar_Agency#mediaviewer/File:Baroda_state_1909.jpg |
His name
was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. Gandhi's
parents were Karamchand Gandhi and Putlibai, a Hindu merchant caste family in
Gujarat. After completing his primary
and secondary education in India, Gandhi took interest to become a barrister. Barristers
specialize in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings, and giving expert
legal opinions. So, he traveled to
England in 1888 for his education in law.
He earned his degree in law and returned to India in 1891. Upon his return, he found himself unsuccessful in setting up his law practice. He
observed that the local "vakils" or lawyers, homegrown and well
versed with Indian law were charging far less for their services than their
British educated counterparts. In a futile attempt upon the advice of his
friends & elders, he heads to Bombay to fill his gap by getting educated on
Indian Law. His success in the courtrooms of Bombay as a lawyer is short lived
and when he received a job offer as a legal advisor for an Indian company in
Durban, South Africa, he readily accepts it.
He moved to SouthAfrica in 1893 when Africa's Apartheid movement was in full force. He continued
to work and live here for over 20 years during which time he witnessed and felt
the pain, the suffering and racial discrimination the Indians and Blacks were
going through in South Africa. Soon
Gandhi found himself at the receiving end of such abuse and he vowed to take up
the baton on behalf of the Indian community. He organized the expatriate
Indians and protested against the injustices meted out by the African
government. After years of disobedience and non-violent protests, the South
African government finally conceded to Gandhi's demands and an agreement to
this effect was signed in 1914. A battle was won, but Gandhi realized the war
that was to be waged against the British awaits his arrival in India. Hence, he
returned to India the following year.
Between the years
of 1858-1947, the Indian subcontinent was under the British Raj
("rule"). His early movements for freedom started in South Africa -
Satyagraha, meaning "truth" and "firmness". In 1915 he
started his mission for freedom for the people of India by participating and
organizing various movements that were already underway, under the guidance of
his political mentor - Mr. Gopal Krishna Gokhale. Gandhi always advocated a path of truth and
non-violence through the Satyagraha movement. Some of his famous campaigns led
for India's freedom struggle were: the Non-cooperation movement, civil disobedience
movement , the Salt Tax abolition campaign - Dandi March and the Quit IndiaMovement. He got arrested on several occasions. His slogans "Quit
India" , "Do or Die" were very popular. Gandhi's vision for a free India was based on
religious pluralism, however this was challenged during the early 1940's by a
new Muslim nationalism that was demanding a separate Muslim homeland carved out
of India. As a result, the British Indian Empire was partitioned into two
dominions, a Hindu majority India and a Muslim dominant Pakistan. All these
movements led to the British East India Company to set foot back out and India
declared Independence on August 15th,
1947.
Mahatma Gandhi
continued his peace campaigns and calming tensions in the new nation between
the Hindus and Muslims. His life in the
newly independent country was short-lived when he was assassinated by a Hindu nationalist, Nathuram Godse on 30th January1948 during a prayer meeting.
His birthday, 2nd October, is commemorated as a
national holiday in India and celebrated as Gandhi Jayanthi and
is also recognized worldwide by the UnitedNations as International Day of Non Violence. Mahatma Gandhi inspired the world with his
relentless faith in truth and justice for all mankind through Ahimsa. He was a great soul - Mahatma - who loved
even those who fought against his ideals to bring about peace with non-violence
or 'Ahimsa'.
-Shabana
Presented at Ozaukee Toastmasters Club #3510
October 2nd 2014
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