“All those who came in contact with him including those who were ranged against him perceived that there was something unique about Gandhi” (Varma, 2000). What is it that is unique about Bapu? I believe it is his continuous experiments in his life where he moved from inconsistencies towards perfection by being truthful to himself time to time. “His first and, undoubtedly, his most successful experiment was with himself” (J.M.Upadhyaya, 1965) and those experiments are written by Bapu himself in his autobiography.
In his autobiography, Bapu wrote about his childhood in great detail and frankness. Bapu was born in a well-heeled[1] and highly respectable family. He was born in a middle caste family, the Banias and as a student, he is middle ranked and a mediocre student.
He ate meat, despite coming from strict vegetarian family, tried smoking and stolen a bit of gold from his brother to finance it. He gave up both because it affected him morally and physically. Once, he tried to commit suicide because of his perception that he doesn’t have independence and can’t do anything without his parents’ permission, but abandon that idea realising “that it was not easy to commit suicide as to contemplate it” (Gandhi, 2016). Once he visits a prostitute, sat near the woman on her bed, but woman shouted at him to get away seeing his crisis of confidence. Married at the age of 13, he had a huge urge for carnal pleasures and to exercise authority over his wife. But at one point of time, realised the glory of Brahmacharya and treated wife as an equal partner in all joys and sorrows.
Bapu got primary glimpses of religion with stories of Ramayana, Bhagavat, and got closer acquaintance with religion in England where he met Madam Blavatsky[2]. It is in England, where Bapu resolved to get more familiar with all principal religions. After his father’s death, with advice of an old friend of his father, Bapu decided to study Bar in England and his mother agreed to this only after he took a vow not to touch wine, women and meat to which Bapu strictly adhered throughout his life. Bapu started his experiments by following adamant vegetarian dietetics in England, despite of his friend’s huge persuasion against it.
One incident that fascinated me is when Bapu went against order of his community headman. After Bapu decided to go to England, his caste people were agitated as no Modh Bania, the caste that he belongs to, had been to England up to then. A caste meeting is held and ordered him not to go. But Bapu disregarded their orders and told in that meeting that caste should not interfere in the matter. The Sheth, headman of community pronounced that Bapu shall be treated as an outcaste and whoever helps him will also lose caste. Bapu was unmoved. He had his family permission and zeal to go. The courage that is shown by Bapu towards his commitments, despite hinderances amazed me. Bapu wants no separation between his resolutions and actions. “His manner is gentle and courteous even when dealing with adversaries, and he is of immaculate sincerity” (Rolland, 2018). Any inclination from his beliefs, however minute or unimportant it is, was intolerable for Bapu.
One of the core principles of Gandhian ideology contemplated in these chapters is being truthful to oneself. Bapu says: “If I am true to myself from moment to moment, I do not mind all the inconsistences that may flung in my face” (Guha, 2018). So, life is not about being a perfect, but moving away from imperfections through self-corrections[3]. Being truthful to oneself also means speaking truth always, adhering to parents and showing gratitude to people who showered kindness and solicitude on us[4]. Another aspect found in this chapters is importance of the ability to confess our mistake for emancipation[5]. This is pure Ahimsa.
The ideas reflected in these chapters become hugely relevant today because of their luminous virtue. First, Bapu emphasised on religious tolerance, which is need of the hour in todays polarised world. Taking good in every religion and trying to incorporate into once own religion is way to religious tolerance. Second, Bapu stressed on simple living because it harmonise inward and outward life rather than mankind a life a dreary affair. This conviction becomes important in today’s life where humans urge for luxuries. Third, being fearless in pursuit of truth. If dogmatic thoughts of others need to be kept away from influencing once self, one should be courageous enough to do what is right and be truthful to himself. They act as guiding light in our confused and troubled times.
“If humanity is to progress, he is inescapable. We may ignore him only at our own risk”
– Martin Luther King, Jr.
Footnotes:
[1] “His grandfather and father were both leaders of the people and met with persecution because of their independent spirit” (Rolland, 2018).
[2] Founder of Theosophical society.
[3] The similar thought is found Gita, where Krishna says that it is better to be imperfect in our own ways, rather than trying to be perfect in other’s ways. This is Interpretation of Chapter 18, Verse 47 of Bhagavad Gita. The original verse is as below:
śhreyān swa-dharmo viguṇaḥ para-dharmāt sv-anuṣhṭhitāt
svabhāva-niyataṁ karma kurvan nāpnoti kilbiṣham.
[4] Bapu stood adamantly on vows he had given to his mother while going to England. This reflects his adherence to parents. He disclosed the truth about his marriage for the first time in England with an old widow who introduced Bapu to young women and draw him into conversations with them.
[5] Bapu said,” A clean confession, combined with a promise never to commit the sin again, when offered before one who has the right to receive it, is the purest type of repentance” (Gandhi, 2016)
References
Gandhi, M. (2016). The story of my Experiments with truth. Rajpal &Sons.
Guha, R. (2018). GANDHI the years that changed the world 1914-1948. Penguin Random House.
J.M.Upadhyaya. (1965). Mahatma Gandhi as a student. The Director Publications Division.
Rolland, R. (2018). Mahatma Gandhi. Maple Press Private Limited.
Varma, R. (2000). In R. Varma, GANDHI-A Biography for children and beginners (p. 9). Navajivan Publishing House.
rishvanth.com 
Leave a comment