Gandhian Outlook by S. Radhakrishanan-SIMPLIFIED VERSION

 Gandhian Outlook by S. Radhakrishanan

SIMPLIFIED VERSION OF THE ESSAY

Gandhiji was basically a religious man. Being a religious man, he rose above all particular group loyalties and became a universal man. He made the world believe that religious and asked people to follow them. He became an example for the whole world that even in the present world, where cunningness and cheating are prevalent, following the path of truth, love, and peace is possible.

He practised the religious theories of truth and non-violence in the freedom struggle. He also motivated the whole world to follow these theories by setting an example himself. He followed the principles of all religions. Hindus followed the doctrines of Abhaya and Ahimsa, fearlessness and love. Buddhists give stress to Prajna and Karunas, wisdom and compassion. Christians follow the path of truth and freedom, and Muslims speak about one God and one family on earth. Gandhiji followed and implemented all these ideals of different religions in his whole life and lived for them.

Gandhiji wanted people to be humble and to understand and respect all religions, because all religions have the essence of truth. He believed that if we follow this doctrine, the feeling of brotherhood and peace will spread all over the world. He believed that other religions should also be regarded as respectable as his own. It is only love that can make us feel the same way. When he had to take some important action, he used to question himself, fast and pray, and explore his brain to find the way to take action. This was the line of action that Gandhiji used to follow. His ways were in accordance with religion.

Gandhiji's wide perspective (view) of thinking made him earn the image of an international personality. He used weapons of peace for the cause of India and set an example for the whole world that such peaceful methods can be adopted internationally. He gave the world the message that political freedom can be achieved without being violent. He proved that the earlier methods of achieving political motives, such as violence, deceit, and cunningness, are not acceptable in a well-aware and civilized society. He won freedom with non-violent methods and gave a lesson not only to the nation but to the rest of the world. He fought for the freedom struggle of India not just because of patriotism or because he belonged to India, but because of his deep love for humanity.

He wanted to enable mankind to see problems from different perspectives and way of thinking. His fight was not for India alone; it was for humanity. He believed that we may have conflict with Englishmen, but that doesn't mean that we ought to hate them, as both Englishman and Indians belong to the mighty Divinity. Gandhiji's point is that even though we have differences, we are still brothers. This feeling would make us love evildoers and hate the evil only. He performed his actions with the essence of truth and compassion for the humanity, which made him a universal man.

 

According to Gandhiji, widespread confusion, uncertainty, and fear is due to our unclear goals. The human mind needs a diet of truth and universal brotherhood to satisfy its hunger. Gandhiji stressed love and compassion for other people. He wanted humanity to rise above the narrow boundaries of minor divisions of religion, race, and region to get real human unity in this world. He asked people to take religion more seriously, as it preaches that our primary loyalty must be to the human race.

Looking at the last decade, though we have made great progress in intellectual penetration, wonderful scientific achievements, and leadership, these developments are not contributing enough to the appeal of universal brotherhood. A sense of world citizenship is required to be inculcated in young men and women. It is needed to make them understand that world brotherhood comes before national loyalties, just as family loyalty comes after national loyalties, if the world wants to escape disaster. Gandhian outlook single-mindedly appealed the whole world to unite together for the development and for the sake of humanity.

 

Gandhiji dreamed about an international society that has different nations as its branches and that a world state would possess executive authority, a kind of police force that would be used only to maintain normal local life and not military power. He visualized the sort of world state that would take initiatives to eliminate rivalries among nations.

 

Radhakrishnan too feels that it is necessary to establish a world organization, a world police, a world court, a world bank, etc. to maintain unity and brotherhood in the world. He further says that the idea of demilitarizing ourselves should be put into practice. And only police should be established to maintain internal order. This is possible only when people, particularly those in power, make non-violence their religion. Radhakrishnan says that history has proved that the military might have no solution for disputes. So it is our duty to find out the solution to the complex problems in a civilzed manner and permanently. He believes that demilitarizing is the only bitter pill that has to be swallowed by the world's nations to establish peace all around the world. He believed that efforts made to maintain world peace and unity should be truthful and fair so that they would result in a better outcome.

 

According to Radhakrishnan, it is the need of the hour for the world to unite under a single umbrella. And world organization is the means to achieve this. He says that world peace and unity are not dreams in a shrinking world. They are a necessity and an essential condition for the survival of the human race.