• Dr. Anil Dutta Mishra

Time demands ‘Mahatma Gandhi’. ‘Gandhi’ is past, present and future. Mahatma Gandhi is a unique and an undisputed global leader. He is a by-product of global culture and his ideas are deep-rooted in Indian culture and civilization. Mahatma Gandhi belongs to that rare group of men whose mind and heart have affected the basic foundations of human thought all over the world. Now every discourse starts with Gandhi and ends with Gandhi. Despite that, the tragedy of modern India is that the important aspects of Gandhi’s philosophy are not given serious attention. The present ruling elite who are in power never realized that Gandhi was much ahead of time. The quest of humanity for social justice and sustainability will remain a dream until and unless humanity realizes what Gandhi meant when he said, that economics is untrue which ignores and disregards moral values. Gandhi in his various speeches and in his articles written throughout the freedom struggle spoke highly of democratic decentralization and rural development. In the 22nd July, 1946 issue of ‘Harijan’, Gandhi stated that ‘Independence must begin at the bottom’. Gandhi is being buried alive by present governments. ‘Gandhi’ means Gandhi’s ideals. It is through these ideals that we have reached where we are. But we are kicking away the very ladder by which we have climbed so high. Hindu-Muslim unity, harmony, village swaraj, trusteeship, secularism, independence of institutions has been completely forgotten. Those who still talk about them are either deceived or are deceiving others. Rahul Gandhi symbolises Gandhi’s values of self-control, self-determination, self-dignity and self-respect. Rahul Gandhi is a visionary with missionary zeal who has a clear idea of India. He is relentlessly fighting for these ideals.

Mahatma Gandhi used ancient wisdom in modern context to liberate India and its people. He used non-violence as technique to overthrow the British Empire where – ‘Sun Never Sets’. World is in need of ‘Gandhi’. India desperately needs ‘Gandhi’to keep India united and peaceful. Rahul is the main spokesman of Gandhi’s values of nonviolence, Truth, love, compassion, equity, social justice, harmony and ‘Simple living, high thinking’. Rahul Gandhi is now representing down-trodden, voiceless and powerless people. Dialogue is prelude to peace, harmony and democracy. Rahul Gandhi is meeting students, farmers, women, Adivasis, Dalits and downtrodden to establish harmony instead of hatred and discontent.

Mahatma Gandhi raged against the colonial power around the world - A world of injustice, inequality, squalor, discrimination, violence, plunder and greed. Mahatma Gandhi had a dream to change India and Indians through non-violence and mass awareness. Mahatma Gandhi’s views were futuristic; indeed, he thought way ahead of his times. Many of his views and ideas are quoted extensively in the proceedings and publications of the United Nations and other international agencies. Martin Luther King Jr rightly said- Jesus Christ gave the motivation and Gandhi showed the method. Similarly, the first Prime Minister and author of ‘Discovery of India’, ‘Glimpses of World history’ and ‘An Autobiography’, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru said- Our country gave birth to a mighty one, and he shone like a beacon not only for India but for the whole world.

Mahatma Gandhi, a pioneer in the realm of ahimsa-consciousness, always experimented in expanding man’s capacity to love and harmony as well as integration of Head, Heart and Hand. He always finds joy in all the storms and trials of life. Gandhi never protected himself, but rather always protected his one principle of ahimsa, or love. The flame of love burned in Mahatma Gandhi, day and night like a fire which nothing could quench. He walked alone. One could see this sprit in Rahul Gandhi during ‘Bharat Jodo Maha Yatra’. A true follower of ahimsa does not believe in disappointment. He dwells above in perennial happiness and peace. Save democracy and save Constitution and stop hatred is the mission of the Congress Party under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and many others. Congress, under the leadership of Gandhi, always laid movement with conviction, dedication and commitment to move forward. The result is before us.

Gandhi was great in death as in life. He did many things, many great things. He gave back to his people their self-respect; he awakened the sleeping masses; he almost succeeded at one time in bridging the gulf between them and classes; he championed the weak, the oppressed, the underprivileged, the women and the children. He won the political freedom of his country, using a unique weapon- the weapon of non-violence. Following the vision of ‘Father of the Nation’, Pandit Nehru advocated education for India’s Youth and children, believing it to be essential for India’s future progress and requirements. Under his leadership, many institutions of higher learning, including AIIMS, IITs, IIMs, National Institute of Technology, BARC, ISRO and DRDO etc were established and these are premier institutes and contributing a lot in the development of India. He also established core industrial complexes and heavy industries in different parts of India keeping the aspirations of the people alive. The result is before us. Now we are nuclear power, sending our satellites to Moon and other planets. In space, we are next to only USA and Russia. In healthcare and medical science, we are global power. All these are possible because of Nehru’s farsightedness and dynamic leadership. What India has achieved today, the strong foundation of this was laid by none- other than the first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. How aptly Nehru once said, ‘Who dies if India lives? Who lives if India dies?’

For real swaraj, the fight is still going on under the leadership of Shri Rahul Gandhi. The goals of real swaraj will be achieved by fulfilling the dreams of the two apostles of peace– Mahatma Gandhi and architect of modern India, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru. It is high time for both our policy makers and the people, to turn the torch within so that they may be inspired to adopt the Gandhian way, if not for any other consideration, but for its pragmatic strength to solve our present-day maladies of India. There is a need to reiterate Gandhian values instead of merely garlanding the portraits of Gandhiji, India must translate his ideals into real life and make India free from unemployment, hunger, poverty and exploitation. The hope lies with the selfless and relentless work of Smt. Sonia Gandhi and Shri Rahul Gandhi for people’s cause in the present times. Return to Gandhi’s vision for a road map of growth and tranquility. Secular India, Vibrant India, United India, Communal-free India, hatred-free India are roads through which we will develop and achieve the goal of ‘Viksit Bharat’.

(Dr. Anil Dutta Mishra is a renowned Gandhian scholar and author of ‘Reading Gandhi’)