Page 3 - Final Gandhi AnniversaryOct 2020

Gandhi Legacy Beyond Independence of India

How relevant is Mahatma Gandhi today?

e often ask how relevant Mahatma Gandhi is to the world of today? I put
Wthis Mahatma as India’s most invaluable gift to the world that will bear
influence for generations to come.
Gandhiji to the people of India has been a father figure for the nation.
A title that was given by Subhash Chandra Bose on radio 6 July 1944 who
addressed Gandhiji as “The Father of the Nation”. Ironically, the significance
of this is that the recognition came from Netaji Bose when he had already
departed from the Indian National Congress party in 1939 following his
differences with Mahatma Gandhi and others in the high command.
However, I place Gandhiji’s legacy beyond just the independence of India
as it touched the very core of the reasons for the struggle for independence in
st
the first place. ‘Truth and Non-violence’ are two big words for the 21 century
world that is seeing injustices across parts of our civilisation. Mahatma Gandhi,
who adopted simplicity in his life, described his philosophy as an experiment
with truth and nonviolence. It seems that he managed to unfold layer by layer
that consciousness of human conduct taking us through both much needed,
religions values and political moralities.
He was a humble seeker of truth. Truth in its purest form unites and
there can be only one truth. There was some unique aspect of Gandhiji that
touched global community. Which I believe to be summarised in a sentence by
Gandhi ji, so eloquently put “My Life is My Message”. The Mahatma who first
followed and then preached. The roots of a quote are attributed to mahatma:
Be the change you wish to see in the world.
Yes, Gandhiji matters to us now, ,more then ever before. If we must, then
the sentiments were summed up in the speech India’s first Prime Minister Buddhdev Pandya MBE
Jawaharlal Nehru gave on the eve of the Independence day “Long years ago we
made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our
pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially”. He touched on a
central pulse, “ That future is not one of ease or resting but of incessant striving
so that we may fulfill the pledges we have so often taken and the one we shall
take today. The service of India means the service of the millions who suffer.
It means the ending of poverty and ignorance and disease and inequality of
opportunity. The ambition of the greatest man of our generation has been to
wipe every tear from every eye. That may be beyond us, but as long as there
are tears and suffering, so long our work will not be over.”
This foundation of ideals are embedded in the making of the Constitution
of India with explicit emphasis on secular values;
“To secure to all its citizens
• JUSTICE, social, economic and political; “That future is not one of ease or resting
but of incessant striving so that we may
• LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;
fulfill the pledges we have so often taken
• EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; and the one we shall take today. The service
• and to promote among them all, FRATERNITY of India means the service of the millions
who suffer. It means the ending of poverty
assuring the dignity of the individual and
and ignorance and disease and inequality of
the unity and integrity of the Nation.” opportunity. The ambition of the greatest
man of our generation has been to wipe
every tear from every eye. That may be
The real tribute to Mahatma Gandhi would be to retain these values and to
beyond us, but as long as there are tears and
protect and preserve the constitution that promises to secure them. suffering, so long our work will not be over.”
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru
India’s first Prime Minister
The eve of Independence of India
Buddhdev Pandya MBE 14 August 1948
2nd October 2020
United Kingdom

‘Legacy Beyond Independence of India’
Compiled by Buddhdev Pandya MBE
Published by Gujarat Publications Ltd
Bedfordshire United Kingdom
gujaratukjournal@gmail.com
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Published by Gujarat Publications Ltd Gandhi Birth Anniversary: 2nd October 2020