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| Remembering the ‘Father of the Nation’ | | |
Dr. Banarsi Lal
Every year 2nd of October is commemorated as the International Non-Violence Day across the globe on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the renowned leader of the Indian Independence movement and pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of non-violence. On 2nd of October, 2020 India will celebrate the 151st birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. In India this day is also celebrated as Gandhi Jayanti to mark the birth anniversary of Mohan Dass Karam Chand Gandhi who is known as the Father of Nation. On this day various purposeful activities are organised across the globe with great enthusiasm and fervor to promote the principles of non-violence through education and public awareness. On this day various public lectures, seminars, discussions, exhibitions, campaigns, prayers, press conferences etc. are organized specifically on non-violence. Print media and electronic media also promote non-violence on this day through articles and documentaries. This day has been declared as the International Day of Non-violence by the United Nation General Assembly on 15th of June, 2007 to disseminate the message of non-violence. Gandhiji was born on 2nd of October, 1869 and is always remembered for his struggle for India’s freedom and for sharing with the world a doctrine of peace for dealing with injustice and disharmony. This day is celebrated to pay tribute to the legend Mahatma Gandhi who struggled throughout his life against the British rule for the independence of India. Gandhi ji was the preacher of non-violence and always guided others to follow the path of non-violence for the independence of the country. He is always remembered as the symbol of peace and truth. According to Gandhiji “An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind.”He taught people the philosophy of Ahimsa, a tool for the peace. Through Gandhiji efforts India gained freedom on 15 August, 1947. He was assassinated on 30 January, 1948 by Nathuram Godse. His famous Hindu devotional hymn, Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram is also sung in his memory. Gandhiji also known as Bapu for his selfless contribution towards India’s independence struggle. He used civil disobedience to eventually overthrow the British rule. He was jailed many times but he continued his efforts. Gandhiji is remembered for his rationality, honesty, ideology, nonviolent nature, peace and patriotism. He is considered as the inspiration for all of us. He led many movements such as Non-cooperation Movement, Civil Disobedience Movement, Qui India Movement, Salt Satyagraha etc. He also faught against the untouchability and castiesm.
We have seen the bloody wars that ended with countless lives. There are various stories of how someone’s greed for power resulted in the killing of innocent people and the destruction of beautiful nature. However, there are persons in the world who make the changes in the society without violence and guide others to follow the path of non-violence. The principle of non-violence rejects the use of violence to achieve the social and economic development in the society. Although a great development has been made in present era but still there is much greed, jealousy, lust, hate, castiesm, regionalism, religionalism and above all violence in the society. It is observed that the greatest enemy of mankind is man himself. Domestic violence is increasing day-by-day in the society.
For many people homes have become hell due to domestic violence. Many organisations in the society come forward to take care of violence affected people.
The earning women do not find difficulty to survive when they are torn off from the moorings of the family. Many women find difficulty to survive when they are expelled from their families due to domestic violence. Divorce and separation are not a permanent solution of the societal problem and are considered as the last things to settle the matter. Many women and even children suffer throughout their life. Domestic violence does not mean only the wife beating but it means regular quarrelling between the parents affecting the quality of life of the children. One can’t solve his problems by physical violence or by abusing.
We consider our modern society as more civilized as compared to the Stone Age. If civilization means modern high tech medical facilities, modern electronic media, nuclear energy, genetic engineering, space discoveries, high tech agriculture and many other achievements, then we have exceeded much ahead than primitive man. But the real meaning of modern civilization is something else. There is need to change the mindset of the people to bring a positive change in the society. Every day we read, listen or watch about the increase in the violence in every part of the world. Whenever we come outside of our homes, we afraid from violence. In fact, violence is initiated from the smallest unit of the society and spreads at mass scale. Domestic violence is increased when husband and wife, brothers, friends and other relatives do not live amicably. It is admitted that when the spouses are from different backgrounds, definitely there will be difference between them. Marriage is a legal institution that enjoins both husband and wife to live together with adjustments. Good parents nourish their children happily and develop good morals and ethics in them.
Some people inflict both the mental and physical violence on the wife or daughter-in-law for dowry and also cause mental cruelty on the parents of girl to extract money in the form of dowry. The violence is firstly initiated by the docile husband, mother-in-law, father -in-law and also from sisters-in-law. When wife is excessively tortured for dowry, she ends her life by setting herself aflame or by some other methods. Greedy in-laws conspire to get rid of the woman who is helpless in satisfying the insatiable greed for money in the form of money. They don’t think that one day they have to marry their own daughter. Increase in the domestic violence signifies that moral and ethical values are not followed in the society by some people. In order to reduce the domestic violence, complementary understanding between husband, wife and other family members needs to be developed.
Man builds the home but woman makes the home. Man is the breadwinner but the contribution of woman is equally important for mentally, physically, emotionally, intectellectually and physically development of the family. In India different faiths, cultures, languages, morals and ethics live together. Violence in the name of religion, caste and language has already caused a great harm to our country. Killings of one group of people by another group has been counterproductive, bloodshed breeds more bloodshed and kindles hate and fear. Violence is not the permanent solution to solve the misunderstanding between different communities, nations and groups. There is need to come together to understand each other, learn from each other, understand each other culture and learn the spirit of tolerance. Different persons have different attitude and behaviour. No two human beings are similar. There are different sects in Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism and other religions. The Hindi spoken in Uttar Pradesh may be different from that spoken in Madhya Pradesh or Rajasthan. We have ego that one religion is superior and other is inferior, one language is superior and other is inferior and one caste is superior and another is inferior. Same God has created the Indian, the Chinese, the Englishman etc. Then why we think that we are different when we all belong to the one family of Man? Charles Freer Andrews, a great friend of Ghandhi said that violence cannot be overcome by violence and evil cannot be overcome by evil but only by goodness.
The more weapons of violence, the more misery to mankind. Buddha, Mahavira, Jesus Christ, Gandhiji and many other great personalities have taught the values of non-violence. There is dire need to promote non-violence in the society so that we all can live amicably and peacefully. |
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