Transformation of Mohandas to Mahatma

Born on October 2, 1869, Mohandas K Gandhi was like any other person growing up in a relatively orthodox Hindu family. By all accounts he was not brilliant academically. However, he was fortunate enough to travel to the Queen’s land (the U.K.) some 100+ years ago during the British Raj for higher education, which even today remains an unachievable dream for many young persons from poor families. There Mohandas became a lawyer wearing suit and tie, but keeping the traditional Gujarati turban. Then he moved in search of a livelihood to South Africa where a minority whites ruled a country belonging to majority native blacks.

At the beginning Gandhi gave his opinions in local Indian newspapers. His writing implied superiority of Indian immigrants over the blacks and at the same time showing an inferiority complex towards the white rulers; the same white rulers who were running his country, India. However, he soon experienced discrimination and prejudice first hand. He was kicked out of a first class train compartment reserved for the whites, in spite of having a valid ticket to travel in the 1st class. He was also asked to remove his turban by the judge in a court house. These were the turning points in his life. During his prison term in South Africa he began to realize the age old discrimination against the native blacks. Soon he began to soften his views about the blacks.

His transformation was just beginning. An ordinary Gandhi was on his way to becoming an enlightened person. His evolution was gradual but fast, his denunciation to material world was taking shape, his stand for justice, fairness, and equality was beginning to take a solid footing. Then he returned to his homeland – a homecoming that was strange after so many years. Soon he realized the basic needs for his country folks. He understood the importance of self rule and to get his people out of bondage. But how do you fight the mighty British Empire where sun never set? He found the greatest weapon available to mankind – “Ahimsa” (non-violence). With peaceful, non-violence protest and the mantra of self-reliance for basic needs (salt, cloth, etc), he was able to bring the mighty Raj to its knees. He practiced what he preached. The foreign educated lawyer replaced his suit with loin cloth. He taught the value of homespun cloth to the multitude to be self reliant. He made a symbolic peaceful march to the sea to make salt defying the rule. He was imprisoned time after time. Soon, the country in bondage united as one following the Gandhian principles. Someone addressed him as the Mahatma (the Great Soul); others called him Bapu (Father). In 1947 the rulers went back home and India became independent on August 15 with an unfortunate partition. Soon, the same people forgot Gandhian principles. There was enormous bloodshed and mother India was bleeding giving birth two twins. Some people turned against Gandhi. On January 30, 1948 Mahatma was assassinated. His transformation was complete and he returned home.

The greatest peace lover, peace maker never received a Nobel Peace Prize. There was protest in South Africa when there was talk about installing a statue of Mahatma, because of his earlier opinion in Indian newspapers in South Africa in 1890s. However his legacy lives. Martin Luther King led civil rights movement in America in 1960s following Gandhi’s principle of non-violence and was able to force state and local governments to uphold the constitution for fairness and justice for all. Nelson Mandela spent 26 years in prison in his peaceful movement to end apartheid and restore majority rule in South Africa. Justice prevails if one stands its ground with the ideals of love, peace, and non-violence. The world needs more Gandhi, MLK, and Mandela.