RELEVANCE OF GANDHI IN TODAY'S WORLD

Gandhism is a way of life. The Father of the Nation will continue to inspire generations to come
Pulitzer Prize winning author and journalist Joseph Lelyveld’s book Great Soul: Mahatma Gandhi and His Struggle With India has brought back into focus the magnanimous figure that has never stopped fascinating even the critics, more than 60 years after he was shot dead, Mahatma Gandhi. The Gujarat government has banned the book. Would Gandhi, the advocate of free speech, be happy with such a move of the State if he were alive today?
India attained Independence not before the country was scarred by foreign rule for centuries. Freedom fighters like Mahatma Gandhi fought with courage and sowed the seeds of a free, independent and vibrant India that could re-claim its rightful place in the world.
Mahatma Gandhi was a self-created man who held high moral grounds throughout his life. His philosophy of Ahimsa has takers all around the world and it is not easy to understand him by just reading a few books. Gandhism is a way of life.
Gandhi’s social concern and love for the poor is visible in his note in which he gives us a Talisman. The Father of the Nation exhorts anyone in doubt to think of the poor and bring Swaraj (freedom) for the hungry through his actions.
And as India struggles to battle dishonest behaviour of those in authority, Gandhians like Anna Hazare still manage to pressurize the government through Gandhian tools like ‘fast unto death’. It must be remembered that Anna Hazare started a ‘fast unto death’ at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on April 5, 2011 to press for his demand for a Lokpal who would check corruption in public life.
Even the recent agitations in Egypt and Tunisia against the autocratic rules of Hosni Mubarak and Zine El Abidine Ben Ali were peaceful and yet successful. So it can be rightly ascertained that Gandhism will continue to guide the conscience of those who seek to establish parity and seek justice for all.
The likes of Akeel Bilgrami and others are doing some good work on Gandhi. He will continue to inspire generations to comeough Gandhian tools like ‘fast unto death’. It must be remembered that Anna Hazare started a ‘fast unto death’ at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on April 5, 2011 to press for his demand for a Lokpal who would check corruption in public life.
Even the recent agitations in Egypt and Tunisia against the autocratic rules of Hosni Mubarak and Zine El Abidine Ben Ali were peaceful and yet successful. So it can be rightly ascertained that Gandhism will continue to guide the conscience of those who seek to establish parity and seek justice for all.
The likes of Akeel Bilgrami and others are doing some good work on Gandhi. He will continue to inspire generations to come