Nonviolence is a lifestyle that one has to adopt, which means allowing all the love, understanding, respect, compassion, acceptance, and appreciation to emerge and dominate one’s attitude.
Mohandas K. Gandhi
Nonviolence is a Lifestyle
Topic: Global Peace & Development
This philosophy is not like a jacket that you wear when necessary and discard when not. Nonviolence is a lifestyle that one has to adopt, which means allowing all the love, understanding, respect, compassion, acceptance, and appreciation to emerge and dominate one’s attitude. Then we will be able to build good relationships not only within the family but outside of the family. We will no longer be selfish and greedy but magnanimous and giving.
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, known universally as Mahatma Gandhi, was born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, a small town on the western coast of India. He hailed from a Hindu merchant caste family and his father served as the chief minister of Porbandar state. Gandhi's youth was shaped by deeply spiritual influences that stemmed from his mother's devout Jainism, which instilled in him beliefs in non-violence, fasting, meditation, and vegetarianism. As a young man, Gandhi travelled to London to study law, an experience that further broadened his perspective and exposed him to Western ideas of justice and equity.
Returning to India after completing his studies, Gandhi found himself dissatisfied with the legal profession and soon moved to South Africa to work on a legal case. It was in South Africa, faced with rampant racial discrimination, that Gandhi began to refine the philosophy of non-violent resistance, or Satyagraha, a principle deeply rooted in his religious beliefs. For nearly 21 years, Gandhi strove for the civil rights of Indians in South Africa, successfully employing methods of civil disobedience and passive resistance.
In 1915, Gandhi returned to India, bringing with him his deeply entrenched ideas of Satyagraha. He assumed leadership of the Indian National Congress and led nationwide campaigns for easing poverty, expanding women's rights, ending untouchability, and achieving Swaraj, or self-rule. His role in the Indian independence movement was monumental, with his leadership and doctrines of non-violent resistance culminating in India's independence from British rule in 1947. However, his life was tragically cut short when he was assassinated on January 30, 1948. His legacy, nonetheless, continues to inspire peace movements globally, securing his place as one of the most significant figures of the 20th century.
Gandhi, Arun. “The Relevance of Gandhi Today.” Arun Gandhi - 5th Grandson of Mahatma Gandhi: Legacy of Love, 4 June 2013, arungandhi.net/the-relevance-of-gandhi-today/.
Mohandas K. Gandhi
Theme: Peace
Mohandas K. Gandhi on Nonviolence
Mohandas K. Gandhi’s philosophy of nonviolence is like the iceberg—what is visible is only a fraction of what is hidden. Scholars have analyzed over and over the part that deals with political conflicts and independence of nations because they insist that nonviolence is simply a strategy of convenience.
Gandhi said: “This philosophy is not like a jacket that you wear when necessary and discard when not. Nonviolence is a lifestyle that one has to adopt which means allowing all the love, understanding, respect, compassion, acceptance, and appreciation to emerge and dominate one’s attitude. Then we will be able to build good relationships not only within the family but outside of the family. We will no longer be selfish and greedy but magnanimous and giving.”
It is no longer a secret that official India had abandoned Gandhi’s philosophy [known as Satyagraha] upon gaining independence. However, there are many at the grassroots level, young and old, who are still inspired by his philosophy and have put it into action to bring about a qualitative change in Indian society. Many have started projects to bring solace to the poor of whom there are more than 500 million in India.
—Gandhi, Arun. “The Relevance of Gandhi Today.” Arun Gandhi – 5th Grandson of Mahatma Gandhi: Legacy of Love, 4 June 2013, arungandhi.net/the-relevance-of-gandhi-today/.
[For more of Arun Gandhi’s Commentary About His Grandfather’s Philosophy see the link in Resources.]
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