Mahatma Gandhi – The Man of Millennium and Maker of Modern India

By Muneer Shamee

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi’s (popularly known as Bapu) birthday is celebrated in India as Gandhi Jyanti. Gandhi’s contribution to the world acknowledged by UN General Assembly’s decision on 15 June, 2007 to adopt a resolution to celebrate October 2 as the International Day of Non-violence. Pioneer of truth and non-violence, a martyr of secularism, pluralism, gender indiscrimination and a man who gave the poor respect and position. Believer in the politics of morality, spread message of faith, tolerance, harmony, mutual understanding,  Gandhi lived and died for Hindu-Muslim unity. As a man Gandhi can’t be restricted to Indian soil, he became universal figure. Gandhi brought more women to public life.  In contrast to modern leaders who speaks only, Gandhiji the man of millennium listened patiently. Gandhi’s journals Indian Opinion, Harizan speaks out his views and opinions. His journals gave huge space for criticism missing in modern context. 
Gandhi believed in the politics of dialogue- dialogic imagination where there is reciprocal of understanding and listening which is missing today. He changed the Indian politics which was gentleman’s debate house, confined and restricted to cities and club-houses. By the magic spell and towering personality, he took over to the country-side, involved common man and peasants, mass based awareness, mobilize fund, how to network and defeat your opponents, unmatched wit and intelligence ever seen by world. A messenger and prophet of non-violence paved the glory of success by dint of labour, disobedience brought the legacy of disobedience. Strategy of collective resistance of unjust laws, methodology and authoratarian carnage, advocated for government without bloodshed and loss of life. In the matter of faith modern world engulfs in acrimonious Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Jewish fundamentalist determine and influence the politics of a country and world. As a liberal Hindu he doesn’t incalcate or convert others faith and belief by coerce.
Deeply rooted and believer of Satyagraha- the desire for truth was the soul of Gandhian politics. Salt Satyagraha, Quit India Movement, Sarvodaya, Dandi March, Non- cooperation Movement were non-violent crusades initiated by him for upliftment and development for the weekest. Taking a handful of salt as a active defiance, bringer of political metaphor Charkha, symbols of India’s freedom, milestone of peaceful resistance. His life was the message, long walk disown the path, a believer in simple living and high thinking. Deeply rooted in our memory as often pictured in simple white cotton robe at a spinning wheel and wearing as occupation for the poor and as a way to overcome the British monopoly on cloth. The ashram become an epicenter of freedom movement. Stauch believer in the principles of truth, faith, simplicity and advocater of ‘self-reliance and self-governance’, started movement without relying on high cost foreign clothing.
An architect of freedom for political independence of India, political leader, thinker and maker of modern India, remains relevant in today’s time even after 151 years, still spoken of , appreciated and person of curiosity. What makes the Gandhi popular or universal figure of the world ?  The Jew, Christian, Muslim, Parsee, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, American and Britishers admire and  interested in Gandhi. Freedom fighter who was sent to jail several times forced the Britishers to kneel down. Social reformer and eliminator of social evils like untouchability always encouraged reformation, advocator against materialism and worked wholeheartedly for the emancipation of women. As a religious thinker and innovator paid respect and faith of other religion as well.Time and again Indian government has Gandhi aim and ambition in the ‘Swaach Bharat Abhiyan’, ‘Make in India’ version of Swadeshi Movement. Moral betterment, self purification, self belief, morality of entrepreneurs are some of the challenges relevant in modern context. Always feel comfortable in employees feedback, appreciate their efforts, works and motivate them.
 Ideal Gandhi showed the way how a social entrepreneur must have skills of positivity, simplicity, tolerance, honesty, integrity and comprehsiveness. Stauch believer in deep rooted philosophy, sacred heart brought social changes with the doctrine of truth and non-violence by his will and power. His philosophy was admired by Martin Luther Jr and Nelson Mandela for transformation and ethics. Even  Barack Obama spoke of Gandhi’s influence in 2009 in reply to the question, ‘Who was the one person dead or alive, that you would choose to dine with’. Nation commemorates national holiday on October 2, the birth of Gandhi known as great soul (Mahatma ). Various pilgrimage are made from throughout the country to the Raj Ghat, the banks of Yamuna river where the ‘Naked fakir’ was cremated. Nationwide events, prayers, pilgrimage, tribute and observed in schools and colleges as well as a socio-political institution. Painting, essay competition are conducted for the preacher peace and truth. Arts and exhibition are held for stimulating a non-violent way of life. As a believer of sustainable eco-system, he encouraged the people about the environment protection which gets polluted by industrial waste and vehicular emission. Ecosystem requires minimum environmental degradation. Mahatma Gandhi has rightly said : ‘ The Earth has enough resources for our need but not for our Greed’.