Gandhi's spinning wheel became a symbol of India's struggle for independence and adorns the Indian national flag."The light has gone out, and darkness is everywhere," Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru told the shocked nation. Today, 60 years later, in a world ravaged by violence, hate and bigotry, Gandhi's message of non-violence may seem irrelevant.
But in his time it was the most potent weapon in his struggle against British rule in his homeland. Armed with his deep religious beliefs and a conviction than Indians must be masters of their own destiny, this tiny "half-naked Fakir" in a loincloth took on the might British empire and won.
But for Gandhi the victory was hollow. Independence on August 15, 1947 was a day of mourning for the Mahatma because it was the day the Union Jack came down, to be replaced by flags of an Independent India and a new nation, Pakistan, a Muslim state, carved out of two sections of India.
Watch Mahatma Gandhi's funeral on YouTube
Read Jai Parasram's tribute to Mahatma Gandhi
Millions attended the Mahatmas's funeral. Kings, presidents and other world leaders joined the man in the street to pay homage to this apostle of peace whom the U.S. Secretary of State, General George. C Marshall described as "the spokesman for the conscience of all mankind." Gen. Marshall said, "He was a man who made humility and simple truth more powerful than empire." And in an editorial, The Times of London wrote: "No country but India and no religion but Hinduism could have given birth to a Gandhi."
In a tribute to the "great soul" Albert Einstein said: "Generations to come... will scare believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth."
At the close of the 20th century TIME magazine named Einsten the person of the century, with Gandhi as the runner-up for the title.
Read the TIME eassy on Gandhi
View a photo essay of Gandhi's life
Read Nelson Mandela's tribute to Gandhi
No comments:
Post a Comment