As I think about an intellectual figure that has most influenced my philosophical and political thinking (not too inclined though), there is one person who flashes in my mind. Not even closely related to me (except for my maiden second name I inherit from my ancestors which we both happen to share), I do know of him because I have read about him in my history books and I am beginning to know of him more closely, while reading the book ‘Mohandas: A True Story of a Man, his People and an Empire’ by his grandson Rajmohan Gandhi. I have seen the movie where Ben Kingsley played his part. I have seen his statues in my city and his photographs that often adorn magazines and newspapers. I see him in postal Stamps, in currency notes. He is an idol I would have loved to meet, and a role model whose principles I aim to follow. Almost every city in India has a colony or a street named after him. This is Mahatma Gandhi for the world, and Father of this Nation for me. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born in 1869 and lives forever.
Wonder why is he known as Mahatma? Is it because he had the key part to play for India’s independence? I do not think so and I am sure that if his soul is reading this, he too would disagree on that. Reading this book answers my question. He is a man who stood by his words and his ground for what he truly believed in. He indeed fought for what he believed in. It must have surely been a remarkable victory using the weapon of Ahimsa (non-violence) to attain independence. I admire him for his courage. To add to that, his simple lifestyle and absolute standards that made a lasting impact on a lot of people of his time. Almost an entire nation was ready to follow him at his call.
Reading through the book, one finds shocking revelations in the life of the Mahatma. He has written those in his own autobiography ‘My Experiments with Truth’. Over all, you will see that he was just a common person like you and me are. During his boyhood days, he took to some barbaric habits (according to me) and filled with guilt, even decided on ending his life. He even seeks forgiveness in a letter of confession of his crimes to his father. The book talks about his life in London – with situations leading to live up to the typical standards of Englishmen and not indulging in those due to his words given to his mother.
One incident that I remember reading about (not sure if it was in his autobiography or some other), not yet mentioned in this book, about a lady who brought her son to Gandhiji. Her son’s craving for sugar troubled her. The boy just wouldn’t stop. Gandhiji told the woman to bring the child back in a week’s time. When the woman approached Gandhiji after a week, Gandhiji just told the boy to stop the habit and he did. When asked as to why he took a week, he said something to the effect that if he were to tell someone to stop something, he himself had to stop it.
Only a Mahatma could do that. Without a blink of an eye I would agree that he indeed is a Mahatma. For the Mahatma, truth was his principle, his religion and devotion. Not just in India, many in the West refer him as an example for truth and honesty. If simplicity was his lifestyle, you can see that in many of the books written about him. Indeed, his Life was his Message and in there, we find some of the best examples of Truth That Shall Set Us Free!
