The influence of Gandhi.

Day 2,507, 02:09 • Published in India Croatia • by Vijayakrishna
I first wanted to write an article on birthday of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, aka Mahatma Gandhi(a title he said, pained him deeply), that is this October 2nd. Then, time being scarce, not able to spend it on this game, I thought of reproducing thoughts of some persons here but again, it would undermine the impact Gandhi had on me.


There are many others who lead from front, who stood as example but why just Gandhi? Is it because Gandhi family was in power post-Independence?
Let me clarify first up, I have no intentions of drawing comparitions, all of us are unique, if we happen to have same thoughts without any differences, then there is no point in all of us existing, difference is the essence of life.
And then all the powerful gandhi’s like Sonia or Rahul have no kind of relation to M.K.Gandhiji. Their surname happens to be Gandhi too. Nothing else, of course, they have happily ignored Gandhiji’s advice to dissolve Indian National Congress and used its brand to gain as much as they can.


Then coming back to our old man, the first point I liked in him was courage to face his fear, how many kids would write a note to their father that he stole money in the house? How many young men would say openly to world that while their father was sick, bedridden, he was having intercourse with his wife and a lot other things which most of us will carry with us to the grave?


Then comes stubbornness, he was just a stubborn old man, nothing else in his own words. Is it true? Yes, as far as standing to his principles are concerned, I found him able to adopt to the changing needs just because he was stubborn that he will do the right thing.
I learned an important lesson here, right or wrong, after introspection, stand by the things and people you believe in, once you start questioning your own views, it’s game over, there is this world ready to occupy your mind.


Then next is being a human, by no means Gandhiji was mahatma, he was an ordinary person, if you read his autobiography you will find how he evolved over time, from a kid who believed that English got so much power cause they eat meat to a stanch vegetarian advocate.
From a kid raised in traditional family to his famous look we all know, from a timid person to one who could stand against imperialism. The way you shape according to yourself according to need of times defines what kind of person you are.


True that he is hated by many, accused of many things, I have no intentions to either support or dismiss anything or anyone, I am not knowledgeable enough. As far as I know, to know a person like Gandhiji, you have to see every aspect of his life.




I don’t know what he would have said to all of our questions but I liked these lines from an article by Russian Indologist Felix Yurlov

Gandhi was much bigger than those who try to belittle him, using very narrow and dubious Some time ago, I came across an article entitled “The Gandhi Everyone Loves to Hate”. It reminded me of a story about an elephant – a big and noble creature, and a few blind men who touched certain parts of his body and described what they felt. Therefore, most probably, one of them touched the elephant’s tail and described his perceptions correspondingly… (These words I believe are applicable to every person, it’s just with great leaders, these bring in a resounding saneness into our approach of understanding them)

Gandhi was much bigger than those who try to belittle him, using very narrow and dubious approach while trying to evaluate him. When Gandhi was alive, he was criticized by many. However, criticism or praise for him was a small matter, though he listened to them attentively. But he used to say that freedom must include the freedom to make mistakes.

Actually, Gandhi himself suggested a proper yardstick to measure his complex and sometimes paradoxical experience, when he wrote, “My life is my message”. Having said this, I think we better concentrate on Gandhi’s main ideas and practical, political achievements known to the world.