Gandhi was someone whom the nation calls the Father but does not consider. Long gone are the days when he was respected and his ideals agreed to and followed-without force. But does it seem that, after 56 years after his death, anyone will agree to even listen to them, let alone being forced to?
As a man Gandhi was born of a middle-class family at Porebunder in Gujarat on the 2nd of October 1869. After getting his primary education and spending his college life in Gujarat he went to England to study Law. After his return from there he began his practice as a lawyer at Bombay. Later on he shifted to Rajkot. But after all he was never successful lawyer.
He got an opportunity to go to Africa to conduct a big lawsuit in a court. He was burst to see the pathetic social life of the Blacks in Africa. It put a serious impact on his mind and he revolted against it. He got mass support. He succeeded in his battle. He came back to India. Later on he led freedom movement. After a very long struggle he succeeded in his mission. As he was the only leader who could very successfully organized the freedom movement and got the mass support largely. For his contribution to the nation he was named as the Father of Nation.
Is Gandhi forgotten? Yes, he is except for that 'a. –minute silence' on 30 January and that so-called national day, 2 Oct.
If the Orient Longman in London considers him to be a man who changed Britain's history in a newly published
encyclopedia of such people's biographies, much more is expected from the Indians who call him the Father of their nation. They do show full devotion and nationalism on these aforementioned two days, but forget him for the rest of the
363 days. And hence arises the question, whether after all, are his philosophy, ideals and teachings valid in the present day context ?
Well, the world has changed, the nation has changed, the society has changed, the people have changed, and even the culture has also not been left out.
Well, let's ask another question; Who was this Gandhi after all? Isn't this knowledge limited even today, just 56 years after his death? For a child answers, "the father of the nation", an adult answers, "an idealistic man with a great confidence and admirable qualities" and an old man answers, " a man too great to be described".
Once Dr. Zakir Hussain said, "Gradually the number of such people is decreasing who saw him, worked with him, and followed him. The time will change, situations will change, and the world will face new challenges. If this happens that
the new generation forgets everything about him, we will lose our most precious treasure."
Gandhi, a simple man with his native socio-religious ' background rose on the world scene to challenge the great mighty British Empire with his tremendous capacity aimed with his ideals of Satyagraha, non-violence and peaceful ways of protest. The whole of the world was stunned to find the extraordinary courage, charisma and confidence of Gandhi who represented India in half-clad cloth at the Round-Table Conference in front of gentlemen wearing coats and pants. In the present day context of life the whole world is facing great crisis at all fronts. Terrorism has become a way of life. The world seems to be marching towards its doomsday. No possible solution is in sight to the problems of dangers to life. Had there been Gandhi there would have been peace certainly. Gandhian way and his ideals seem to be the only solution to overcome the present crisis of the world. His relevance is increasing day by day and a day will come when the whole world will revive his philosophies.
Gandhiji was leader of the past, runs into the present and marches towards the future. He had always been a leader of the time ahead. No leader, even today and nor in future can match him with the charisma and caliber that he had.
