Gandhi Jayanti

I know the path. It is straight and narrow. It is like the edge of a sword. I rejoice to walk on it. I weep when I slip. God's word is: 'He who strives never perishes.' I have implicit faith in that promise. Though, therefore, from my weakness I fail a thousand times, I will not lose faith, but hope that I shall see the Light when the flesh has been brought under perfect subjection, as some day it must.

"I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man [woman] whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him [her]. Will he [she] gain anything by it? Will it restore him [her] to a control over his [her] own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to swaraj [freedom] for the hungry and spiritually starving millions?
Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away."

After Gandhi's death, Albert Einstein said: "Generations to come will scarcely believe that such a one as this walked the earth in flesh and blood." He also once said, "I believe that Gandhi's views were the most enlightened of all the political men in our time. We should strive to do things in his spirit: not to use violence in fighting for our cause, but by non-participation in anything you believe is evil."

Today is Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary. It has become fashionable to belittle Gandhi (Munna Bhai 2 notwithstanding), and was exemplified in an article in The Hindu yesterday where the author pointed out that the Dandi march wouldnt have lasted a mile had it been held in Nazi Germany for instance. As He was quoted as saying:

"When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall — think of it, always."

It has to be admitted that non violence as a philosophy is one of extreme courage, it galvanised all sections of society and made for the first time in the history of the world, a freedom struggle that was accessible to all.

Gandhi Bhawan- Punjab University- A Building with Infinite Photographic Possibilities.

Anyways Happy Dashera to all and have fun/