While flipping channels on TV I came up against the movie 'Gandhi' and decided to watch it again - after all it is India's 60th Republic Day today! I also invited Ipsi to sit and watch it with me as I wanted her to learn about the struggle for Independence and Gandhiji's role in it.
But as I watched the movie I started questioning myself about the manner in which he fought for our independence. In trying to explain the concept of Ahimsa to a 7 year old, I struggled to make myself believe that it can actually be done that way. I tried to explain to my daughter that Gandhiji taught that if someone hits you don't hit him back even though that is your most natural reaction. He taught that you take his beating not once, not twice but many times, but never lift your finger. It will hurt but in the end the 'evil' person will recognise their mistake and bow down to you.
Even when I was explaining this to her and showing her the specific scenes in the movie to drive home the point, I was wondering how the people of India believed in his words and actually practiced it and followed it. What made the millions of Indians leave their natural tendencies of fighting and retaliation and follow an unknown path outlined by an unknown person and dedicate their lives to it? What made them love this frail old man in a loin cloth and agree to follow him on the most difficult path?
Some of the answers are there, of course. He was the only man who spoke about the people and for the people, who traveled to understand the people, who lived with them and translated their pains into actionable items.
The other obvious question is Would we follow his path if it was offered to us? In a way the question is quite invalid since it is not the same world and the same circumstances. But if the situation so demanded would we be able to fight a fight the ahimsa way or does power-of-strength rule the way today? Is might right or would Gandhiji's words that 'Injustice should be made visible' the right way? Would you teach your kid to fight their battles the ahimsa way and walk the long path or the violent way and try to walk the shorter path?
Its a difficult question to answer but one worth thinking about!
Posts
I would think it is relevant, in fact more so, today. Movies likes Munnabhai etc have showed us that the concept will work even in the war-mad world of today. Like in those days, it would still take guts to stand up for it.
ReplyDeleteAhimsa is not just non-violence in a literal, reactive way...there are many more ways in which one can practise Ahimsa...Living a simple life, being kind, not accumulating things, being inclusive and most importantly, not being mindlessly competitive...these are forms in which one can practise Ahimsa. Here's a writer who writes rather well about it - http://articles.ushajesudasan.com/?page_id=10
Enjoy!