The Man behind Gandhi!

This week on Oct 2nd the Birthday of Mahatma Gandhi was celebrated as the Day of Non-Violence and peace by the United Nations. “Mahatma Gandhi is a personal hero”, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said. The day was celebrated to remember Gandhi and His principle of Non-Violence. This program was attended by Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, chairperson of India’s ruling United Progressive Alliance, Who spoke on the relevance of the teachings of M.K. Gandhi, “His teachings are very relevant and timely needed for all the people.”

Gandhi jee is famous for his teachings. The whole world knows him as a great man. His main contribution to the world was non-violence, peace, simple Life and truth. I have no problem respecting Gandhi jee as he indeed was a great man of his day. I also accept him as father of our nation.

But I want to question some of the things which I have been startling in my mind. The first thing is about Gandhi jee’s Non Violence; I want to you know where did He get this idea from?

Most of our country men consider, he was a worshipper of Ram god. Other’s point out that his insights came from Geeta. Well, it is the people’s idea but this is not mine. I don’t believe Gandhi learned Non-Violence from the gods of Geeta or Ramayana. Why? because Ram throughout his life killed uncounted people and fought for his kingdom and wife.
Krishna, the other god was also engaged in the Mahabharata (the famous battle) of Pandavas and Kouravas. He said that he will not fight directly but will simply a help (sarthi) to run the chariot. But the Kourvas forced him to take up his bow and fight.

Who else do you want to name? In Hindu religion, there is no god or goddess, who can be named a non violent being? Name any and you will find them in their scriptures fighting for their throne, fighting for their people, fighting for their kingdoms against people and demons etc. Their stories end when they win.So it is hard to say to that Gandhi jee’s role model was anyone from Indian soil.

Well, this is how I see Gandhi jee’s Non-Violence. He found His guiding principles in the Life of Christ. Gandhi jee read The Bible, specially the New Testament thoroughly and He saw Christ life and teachings. He himself said, “I’m very much influenced by the New Testament specially the Sermon On the Mount.” It is from the Bible, that Gandhi jee took the principle of Non Violence and practiced it.

We should honor Gandhi jee for his Non-Violence life and principles but I believe we must also ask the question who stands behind these principles giving us, a model of simple life, Non-Violence and practicing truth. The media and the people must know the God-man, who lived in history, two thousand years ago. The people who honor Gandhi jee and his principles must also pay honor and respect to the original source of Non-Violence and a simple life.

It was Lord Jesus Christ who became the model for the humanity. He never took physical weapons to kill anybody, indeed on one occasion, He taught His disciples, that that use swords, will be killed by swords”. He forgave the people who crucified Him. His disciples like Stephan and Paul and many others followed Him. The recent one is a famous Australian Christian missionary Glady Staines who forgave her husband Graham Staines and two little children’s killer.

It is good that Gandhi jee quoted Jesus’ teachings and practiced them but it is also equally important to give the proper credit to the original God-man, Jesus Christ. It is sad that Gandhi jee repeatedly talked about other things but forgot to acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Savoir. We must also know that Jesus was not just a good teacher or another good man as was stated by Gandhi jee but that Jesus is the unique way to bring peace between God and His people.