A recent
report by the Institute for Economics and Peace found that there were only just
ten countries in the world which were currently free from conflict or war. Peace is a distant dream on our planet which
is still inhabited by people who are no better than the primitive savages. Use of sophisticated weapons does not make
the violence civilised. On the contrary, our weapons as well as our attitudes
are infinitely more destructive than those of the savages.
13.3 percent
of the globe’s total economic activity, $13.6 trillion, is spent on wars and
related activities. That is the
equivalent of $1876 for every person in the world. In Indian terms, everyone in the world could
get Rs 125,000 if we could build up a world of peaceful coexistence.
Mahatma Gandhi
was the greatest apostle of peace during his lifetime if not in the entire
history of mankind.
Wars begin in
the minds of people. Gandhi said that in
slightly different words. The Preamble
to the Constitution of UNESCO borrowed that concept from Gandhi. "Since wars begin in the minds of men, it
is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed,"
says the Preamble.
Peace must
begin in the minds of people. That was
Gandhi’s plain logic. He suggested
practical methods for bringing about such peace. Where there is religious
fundamentalism, Gandhi recommended tolerance and respect for other creeds. Eradicate social evils, uplift the poor and
the downtrodden, treat women as equal to men, decentralise power, decentralise
wealth... Gandhi’s suggestions are practical even today.
But we chose
to be selfish and called it economic liberalism. We chose to be violent and savage and called
it freedom struggles or jihads. We
thought nationalism was the right word for our prejudices and hatred.
Gandhi is still
relevant. There is so much religion
today without spirituality. Such
religion is a sin, according to Gandhi. The
Mahatma listed seven sins: “politics without principles, wealth without work, pleasure without
conscience, knowledge without character, commerce without morality, science
without humanity, and worship without sacrifice." Who can refute the relevance of that
teaching even today?
If I may borrow the words of Francis of Assisi, Gandhi was an angel of
peace . He sought to bring love where
there was hatred. Light where there was darkness. Hope where there was despair.
PS. Today is the 147th birth anniversary of Gandhi. Today is the International Day of Non-violence. May this day make some meaningful difference somewhere, especially at the Indo-Pak borders.
Superb post. It's annoying and painful to see how much hatred there is for Gandhi in his own country.
ReplyDeleteIt's people who learnt about Gandhi from perverted politicians that hate him.
DeleteGreat post sir !!
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteAm absolutely in agreement with each and every word in your post Sir.
ReplyDeleteJitendra Mathur
Nice to hear that.
Delete