The good that man does is more often than not better left unsaid. - Mahatma Gandhi
DotnetSpider Contributions CodeProject Articles Training Code Samples Blog Personal Home


Links to Gandhi related sites


MkGandhi.org/Bombay Sarvodaya Mandal
GandhiServe Foundation
GandhiTopia.org
CIT-GPNP


Gandhiji's views on certain issues - in my own words!

Topic Content
Gandhi on Democracy
Democratic government is the one that has not a single fragment of violence; it is only a pure ruling of  Ahimsa.

It is not that democracy does only the good and autocracy does only the bad to people.

A democratic person should not be of selfish nature. All his thoughts and dreams must be of democratic nature, but not of his own self or party.

The essence of Democracy is that everyone must be responsible for upholding his or her own welfare, though it comprises a collective welfare of all sects of people.

Some says that Democracy has failed to protect the welfare of an individual. Some other says that Democracy should not protect an individual�s welfare. But, this is not its basic principle. It is just a drawback.

The perfect tutor for democracy is only an ardent practice of its principles.

There is no use of Democratic way of politics, if it is not being reigned by capable and qualified persons.

We need a government of the people, by the people, for the people. We could even die for it. Such a government is an aggregation of everyone�s own command.

We cannot believe any governmental organization that has not been under the control of the people or that works for the welfare of the people. In the times of urgency, such a government would not be loyal to its people.

People must know the importance of understanding their duties besides their rights. Non-violence is the basis of ones� self-governance.

The communal and economic differences among the people would vanish as fast as the people understand the potential of their power.

People must shed the fearfulness and start learning the skill of sacrificing.  They need no one�s help. They would attain what they needed.

A government would act as machinery that serves for its people as long as it enjoys the acceptance of the people. The same government would transform into a harmful weapon if it were done at the knifepoint. It is the duty of the government to pave the roads for the good living of the people.

There are many leaders in our democracy who are competent and who could sacrifice for the cause of nation; they must be given their due chance. Or else, it is regarded as suicidal attempt in the part of government.

It is impossible to conquer one another�s position in a neatly organized democratic government.

Actually, power lives in the hands of people. It could live in the hands of their representatives for some time. But, it is for sure that there is no power to parliaments without people. It cannot be built either.

The greatest of all dangers that the world faces today is the growing tendency of plundering up by the autocratic powers. Autocracy is the enemy of God. It does things against God in the name of God.

The chief of supreme power would surrender all its powers to the public, if people have an awareness of sprouting their own powers by using two vital factors: Truthfulness and Non-violence.
Gandhi on Women Rights
I cannot desist from talking of women rights issue. It has always been in my mind.

Women,  The finest half part of the human kind.

Woman is a companion for man. She has the same knowledge what man has. She has equal right to indulge herself in all activities of man.

Laws are common for both the men and women. I have a strong opinion for women alone not left to struggle to seek for justice. Law must be accessible easily for women, just as men.

Women have voting rights and legally equal status. But, this is not enough to tackle all of their problems. They must involve in the political affairs of the nation and be a part of it. Women have equal rights as they do have their own duties.

Man spoils himself and his dearest woman by doing plenty of mistakes. Women have a special right of correcting such a man.

There is a layer of empowerment, desire for name and dominance in sexual acts among the human kind. The whole problem of in-equality and ups-downs between men and women depends on these factors.

The status of men will automatically improve when the status of women upgrades. And when this happens, status of the entire human community will improve.

Men might be better at performing courageous acts than women. But, Women have a greater capability of sacrificing than men. Women have more kindness and tolerance than men.

I do not fully believe that women have to work for the living; nor by doing a profession. Family management and childcare � the two areas are enough to keep them busy with their work. Women should not spend the whole of their lifetime in attending the family matters.

Women have a power of discharging of all obstacles along her way if she decided to protest against them.

Men hold the right to marry a girl when he loses his wife. Women have the equal right to re-marry if she loses her husband. According to Hindu laws, being a widow forever is a respectful status in the society. In some faction of society, women are forced to assume ceremonial widow outfits.

Women are not intended to toil as a slave for her husband or parents. Women are the men�s true friend and companion. Woman has the right to choose her path just like her husband. They don�t have to be a slave in their family, society or in political arena.

Women would understand their own powers and limitations based on what sort of education they get. They must constantly try for attaining the completeness in their life. It is one of their special rights.

I treat women as a symbol of �Ahimsa�. �Ahimsa� means boundless love and kindness. Tolerance of boundless despair is just the same as boundless love.

Once they realized the power of �Ahimsa�, women would not agree upon the fact of being called as �weaker section of the society�.

I have felt proud of launching the �Sathyagraha� movement as it has indirectly motivated the foundation for starting the women rights � movement also.
Gandhi on Education
Schools and Colleges are like industries. A great product of Human values is being developed in these places.

Millions of people with no proper education live in the world of ignorance and they would never know the true power of knowledge.

We need a system of education that would bring out the natural traits of the student community. That would help them in facing the problems that occur in all aspects of their life.

Those who are learning skills are just doing it for acquiring the degrees and diplomas but not for the enlightenment and enrichment of their knowledge.

Education in our country has become a commodity that would yield monetary gains. Educational institutions are functioning as factories producing clerk and staff working for government and other business houses.

Education increases one�s inherent knowledge beyond his own capacity and sharpens it. It provokes the power within one�s self to do good deeds. I never have to speak about the greatness and importance of men being educated.

Education makes us a complete man. Our schools and colleges bear the responsibility of making us a slave; a coward; a non-believer.

Education must be provided to all. Many buildings have been under development for the purpose of running educational institutions; but not for the poor.

Unfortunately, our education has, in no way, connected to our social environment. It lacks the participation in routing out the social evils. If we feel that our educational system and policies are a hindrance for the prosperity of the nation, we can stop following it; we must develop a sense of courage to do it.

Those who are literate must educate others also. Educational institutions must always do the work of educating and enriching the knowledge. Discipline will be the outcome if we constantly do that. Teachers are the real textbooks for any child; we don�t have to impose too many books and notes for learning purposes.

Children always learn more by listening rather than by seeing. A simple and disciplined educational practices that a children gets from its family is far more better than what it makes from student hostels or residential schools.

The need for quality in education is indisputable. But, tax money should not be spent lavishly in the name of quality education.

Teachers must wipe out the craving and frustrated feelings of the students. They must mold their hearts besides sharpening their brains.

Education, after all, must be useful to shape one�s morality and integrity.
Gandhi on Non-violence
Ahimsa is not about being a vegetarian or non-vegetarian. It is a principle based on knowledge that has deeply rooted in ones’ life.

Ahimsa is a powerful weapon that strongly bears any kind of violence or torture.

Ahimsa brings light to one’s life wiping out the darkest of the feelings such as animosity, anger and rudeness.

Only through following the peaceful, yet straightforward steps of Ahimsa path, one can get rid of the world of despair.

“Ahimsa” is the basis of all religions, when it is applied, it becomes love. Love and kindness is the mirror of “Ahimsa”. Thus, by truly reflecting the principles of “Ahimsa”, one could even think of being on top of the entire world.

“Ahimsa” lets us to think more and soften our hearts. It is the beginning and end of the theory of “Ahimsa”.

Our attitude, speech and act must reflect Ahimsa in order to yield fruitful results if we don’t feel “Ahimsa” whole-heartedly, we cannot enjoy the results.

Ahimsa is meant for people who have self-determination.

Ahimsa adds courage to your masculine character. Cowards can’t understand it. 

Ahimsa should let our enemies to feel and soften their hearts, but not to infuriate them. The sincere feat of “Ahimsa” will surely change the minds of our enemies.

Ahimsa take us to believe on those whom we never believed. Otherwise, we can’t change them anyways.

Our enemies would be bound to follow the principles of Ahimsa, when we ourselves observe it.

I would like to use “Ahimsa” as a weapon for this country. But this is not a weapon for the weak and coward; it is for the strong and bold.

The path of Ahimsa and truth might look like a long stretch but it is the shortest route to accomplish our goals.

No force could take us by force when our actions are blended with Ahimsa and truthfulness. Our country, extending from Kashmir to Kanyakumari should not be destroyed by the acts of violence.

The whole secret of Ahimsa and Non-Cooperation is that we would attain our goals through trial and despair.

Forcible violence would tear away the whole ethics of the nation. Instead, Ahimsa itself is a force, full of constructive nature. “Ahimsa” is not truly meant for those who have anger, disbelief and fear.

Women have the responsibility of upholding of our life filled with Ahimsa. Women are more suitable to demonstrate the policy on “Ahimsa” and to conduct research on “Ahimsa”.

Ahimsa and Dharma will not predominate in fearful and cowardly minds. We must leave all our fears to follow the principles of “Ahimsa”.

Gandhi on Religious Harmony
Religion is a tool that enjoins the human kind to humanity and nobleness of God.

The real meaning of religion can be termed as truthfulness and Non-violence. I strongly believe in this definition of religion.

In reality, there are as many religions prevail in a country as many sects of people living in it. Religions are all various roads leading to the same destination. As long as our goals are one and the same, we can choose any path.

It is very important and correct to find the basic, oneness between all the religions. I decided to find the need for a common key. And, that is the truthfulness and love among the people. We must enrich our knowledge based on these two invaluable paths. We would automatically start believing that there is no need to quarrel with people not following our own religion.

We should not politicize religion nor do we religionize smaller problems into bigger issues, Religions are not meant for accrediting barbaric and superstitious acts. If it do so, it would be labeled as “Ahimsa”. Religions are for repressing one’s crude and violent behavior and not providing such an act.

World has never accepted the forcible conversion of religion as it never accepts forcible slavery.

There is no doubt that the religious disputes are the main cause for some of the world’s worst disasters happened in the history of human kind. We could smell quite a few bloodiest pages in the book of world history.

If we constantly forcing our own religion on others, future generation would think of us as savages who haven’t done a good work in their whole life.

Hindus cannot be grouped in to a single community nor do the Muslims and Christians.

Hindu community is not war-ravaged. A Hindu must practice himself as a believer in God or a believer in his muscle power. Failing of both beliefs will be a disaster for the whole Hindu religion.

Hindu religion has never dominated or out-ruled the rules of law. At times, it does so but declines it on its own when the time comes. It is purely anti-national to think of Hindusthan or Hindu-Rajya.

Hindu-Muslim unity is not just he unity among the two religions. It symbolizes the unity between people practicing various religions who believe India as their motherland.

The basic problem among Hindus-Muslims is that they are trying to impose their views on each other. And, the same is the cause for the subsequent problems and political issues. If the religious debate and dispute continues to predominate among the Hindus and Muslims, our freedom will be a question mark. We will never be release from the clutches of foreign hands.

Hinduism has its own culture and tradition. So do the other religions. We cannot expect Muslims and Christians to respect our religion or our religious feelings. Only creating a sense of brotherhood can do it.

India is a multi-cultural country. No single faction of people would think of claiming the ownership of India.

It is not the need for us to prove the existence of God. It is quite impossible too. Life would be troublesome being a non-believer of God. The belief of God is a need for the human kind to up-right the oneness, brotherhood, equality among the religions.

We must stand by the principles of God. Only then the nation, the human kind, and the leaders in politics would survive. It is the right symbol of our patriotism.

My purpose is to describe experiments in the science of satyagraha and not at all to describe how good I am. - Mahatma Gandhi