“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” That was the apostle of peace, Mahatma Gandhi. Every breath of his was an exemplar. ‘Bapu’ (father) did things that were inspirational, things that nobody thought he could do. He was the change he wished to see in the world.
Gandhi’s famous hunger strikes and message of nonviolence inspired India to fight against colonial rule. Gandhi was the catalyst if not the initiator of three of the major revolutions of the 20th century, the movements against colonialism, racism, and violence. He was responsible for the Civil Rights movement in 4 continents and 12 countries.
Having a hard time finding work as a lawyer in India, Gandhi travelled to South Africa in 1893. Africa was to present to Gandhi challenges and opportunities that he could hardly have conceived. He was thrown off a train in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, for his refusal to move off of first class. In another incident he was beaten by a stage coach driver for not providing enough room for a European passenger. He also established a community called ‘Tolstoy Farm,’ near Johannesburg in 1910, which spread awareness about the policy of peaceful resistance.
Despite being famous for nonviolence and the Indian independence movement, Gandhi actually recruited Indians to fight for Britain during World War I. He along with 37 other Indians received Boer War Medal for their contribution in the war stretcher-bearers.
Gandhi was the man of peace, but ironically he never won the Nobel Peace Prize. In 2006, the Secretary of Norwegian Nobel Committee, GeirLundestad said, “The greatest omission in our 106 year history is undoubtedly that Mahatma Gandhi never received the Nobel Peace Prize.
In the year 1930, Time Magazine had named Gandhi as ‘Man of the Year.’ They again named him among the ‘Top 25 Political Icons of All-Time,’ in 2011. In 1999, he was the runner up to the “Person of the Century” Award with Albert Einstein being the winner.
Mahatma Gandhi corresponded with a lot of people including Tolstoy, Einstein and Hitler were among the many. Gandhi wrote a letter to Hitler, addressing him as ‘Dear Friend,’ and beseeched him to stop the war. Steve Jobs was a fan of Mahatma Gandhi, his round glasses are not only similar but also a tribute
Gandhi was a walking enthusiast. Walking, he said, “is justly called the prince of exercises”. Mahatma Gandhi walked/travelled almost 18 kilometres a day throughout his lifetime which is enough to walk around the world twice over.
Gandhi was assassinated by a Hindu nationalist on January 30, 1948. The epitaph on his memorial in New Delhi reads “Oh God” which are purported to be his last words.
Generations to come will scarcely believe that such a one as this walked the earth in flesh and blood.