"Why Mahatma Gandhi?"

I'm still amaze on how Mahatma Gandhi discovers himself as a person and freeing India from the British rule. To summed up Mahatma Gandhi life's, he was born in 2 October 1869, he got married when he was only 13 years (a fate decided by his family), matriculated in the year 1887, studied law in England and became a barrister, moved to South Africa to practice law but was discriminated because of his skin color yet he was defiance and he played an important role in helping the blacks gained the right to vote, came back to India and the rest is history.

Boring? I can understand however I can assure you that Mahatma Gandhi is a very interesting character and personality. I have let you know in advance that this blog is not about his biography or about the politics during those days. Maybe, it will only take 3-4 minutes of your time to read this blog but I'll ensure that it is worth your time.

I find it very incomprehensible to see that our today's generation hardly considers Mahatma Gandhi as role model. Try asking anyone starting from senior high school students to university students. If I'm not wrong, most of the students will consider, the Ambanis brother, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs, etc., as their role models. It's not that these people are bad role models, and in fact, I don't have a say with anyone choice. However, if the reasons for not considering Mahatma Gandhi as role model are the following 3 pointers below then I'll explain why it is worth reconsidering.

1. Mahatma Gandhi sounds too ancient/old and seemed very conservative to be a role model.

2. Gandhism is totally in contrast with our present day popular culture.

3. How can I consider Mahatma Gandhi as role model when I'd never offer my other cheek if anyone has slapped me?

In my opinion, Mahatma Gandhi stands above all the other renowned leaders when it comes to progressiveness and future. In fact, in the year 1921, Gandhi led nationwide campaigns for expanding women's rights, building religious and ethnic amity and ending untouchability. Campaigning for women's right in 1921 in India! Can you believe it? His campaigns during those days defied all logic and our conservative culture. Mahatma Gandhi generation may be old but "India" as we see and live today is the result of what he envisioned for us at that time. Literally, Mahatma Gandhi was very futuristic and progressive minus iDevices, Twitter, Facebook, etc... :)

Well, you got to look in two ways, i.e., Gandhism and his personality differently. If you consider Gandhism as role model, obviously, it is tough and undoubtedly clash with our present day's popular culture. And of course, nobody would want to be the odd one (though I'd still prefer Gandhism). Anyway, Mahatma Gandhi personality is the role model. In short, Mahatma Gandhi was simple, remains true to himself, grounded, and many other good qualities which will take years for me to complete this blog... :) It is either the Gandhism or the personality of Mahatma Gandhi for role model.

This is the hardest part; and frankly, I even don't know how I will react if anyone slap me. But I willing to risk myself and find it out for myself. The truth is "if there is no risk, there is no reward."

Food for Though: "Nobody can hurt me without my permission." Mahatma Gandhi.

Thank you.

"Savages"

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." Mahatma Gandhi.

Good afternoon!

I was wondering how did the British empire in the 19th century was able to ruled us for more than a century? It creeps my mind despite the fact that India used to be a rich country during those days. But thank God! Mahatma Gandhi was born in India and for helping the nation unite as one against the British rule, and thereby, paving the future of our nation under democracy on 15 August, 1947. After India's independence, in my opinion, more or less the freedom of the entire population is rather prerogative with no accountability. What kind of freedom is it when we've been unable to choose a leader capable of leading our nation in the right path for more than 60 years until recently when we all blindly believed Modi will lead us to "Achhe din anne wale hain (English: Good days are coming)"? The good days should have happen right after the British rule!

What really disgust me the most is the politics starting from grass-root level, i,e, villages, Panchayat, council, etc. In the grass-root level, the politics revolves around only Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Gurantee Act, Rural area development fund, council election, etc. But in the end, all the funds ended up in the pocket of few selected parties instead of the larger population wherein some few good people really deserve the funds after sweating for it. I'm not writing this just because it comes in my mind rather it is fact that this is happening in my village as well as in other villages in Manipur. The so called ignorance and innocence that used to be associated with village is long gone and I would rather termed it "savages" now. We don't need to be the savages rampaging on each other when we can do things in a rightful way.

The problem is not the politicians or the leaders starting from grass-root level rather it is 'we'. There is a saying, you can't help a person who step on a dog shit even though he sees the shit that was lying right in front of his way. Whatever the piece of pie thrown upon at us from the central government, we all ended up fighting like a dog ready to hurt each other for an ounce of the pie. This the reason why we deserved all the brickbats from our own politicians we have elected since India's independence. Although it hurts but we can do nothing because we let our mind function like a frog in a well. There is this politician in Manipur who commented about his fellow opponent who used to be professor in a University like this, "My dear friend, you do not need to always thinks like an educated person because many people doesn't think like the way you do!" The comment make sense but know that it is directed towards us.

Obviously, the truth is that we never think about the future like Mahatma Gandhi did for us. And he'd be really ashamed of us to witness our current situation from up above. The days of Roti Kapda Aur Makaan (English: Food, clothing, and shelter) are long gone. For God sake! We are living in the 21st century and if let our mind revolves around "Roti, Kapda Aur Makaan", the conniving leaders from the grass-root level and the politicians will continue to exploit us. Our father of nation, Mahatma Gandhi, thought about the future of our nation so we can live our life with honor and respect besides food, clothing, and shelter. We need to learn from our history so we do not repeat. Throughout the history for humankind, there has been Adolf Hitler, Osama Bin Laden, Saddam Hussein as well as the other tyrants and murderers. For a time of they were invincible. In the end, they always fall. It is high time for us to think and act in a wider frame unlike the savages.

Food for thought: “It's the action, not the fruit of the action, that's important. You have to do the right thing. It may not be in your power, may not be in your time, that there'll be any fruit. But that doesn't mean you stop doing the right thing. You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result.” Mahatma Gandhi.

Thank you!