Mahatma Gandhi and his unbeatable stroke: Dandi March by Juhi Meshram

What made a common looking man, walking with wooden stick and draping a loincloth on his thin body, inspire generations to see the world through his glass? Amid the war of liberty when every other patriot was seeking for ways to fight British, he chose the path of non-violence. The great writer Arnold Zweig had once said, “Then rose the star of Gandhi. He showed that a doctrine of non-violence was possible.”  On a land full of riots, killings, blood hence red… he walked in white, he walked in peace.

From Gandhi to Mahatma Gandhi, each step of his journey inspires many to lead a life that is less of desires and more of ideals. His political tactics gave us way to swaraj whereas his personality offered a minimal living. As a political figure, his efforts went extraordinary with one movement to another, but the one that shook the British roots in India was the Salt March and the same movement left a lasting impact on me.

I do not even remember in what standard I was studying when the chapter of Salt March was fetched to my text book. But it never went off my mind since then. It changed my perception for my surrounding and taught me a lesson for lifetime. Today, decades later when I was asked to write about the great soul, I would love to convey what inspire me the most about him… the Salt March & it’s after effects.

At dawn on March 12, 1930, Gandhi started the march from Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmedabad to Arabian Sea at Dandi, a 241 mile march. At that time, British had a salt Monopoly that prohibited Indians to produce salt. Indians were bound to purchase expensive salt. Gandhi, after several unsuccessful attempts to release this ban, finally decided to launch this protest. This was my first lesson, that strikes and fights are not the only way to stand for what is right, a thoughtful approach by Gandhi showed the power of Indians without raising voice.

At the beginning, they were few, but during the march, thousands joined the movement. Gandhi not just concentrated on salt march but also worked against discrimination on the basis of caste. In a village, he took bath in an ‘untouchable’ well and in another, he denied to start speech unless ‘untouchable’ join the arena. Notable fact is that, ‘untouchable’ is the lower Hindu caste. There, I learned my second lesson, any traditions, even if age old, which is harming the dignity of living being, should be forbidden.

They walked 12 miles a day, stopped at villages to make people a part of it and ended being 80,000 together at Dandi. British feared the consequences of facing the mob and stayed away of the march. and what happened at the end is a history. Gandhi broke the law and collected salt form beach side. But not alone that he could perform this. The collective effort of marchers succeeded in protest. Here, another lesson hit me, ocean is infinite, but it needs droplets to be formed.

On April 6, 1930, Gandhi’s words came, “I am shaking the foundations of the British Empire.” But this was not the end. Over weeks, more people joined and harvested mineral. Women were actively participating. They walked the miles, boiled water to make salt and sold salt in market. And no one  assaulted them, raped them or told them to sit home. Another lesson, that women were never weak, they were fearless and were equally responsible as the men were.

The march was not over yet. Gandhi was arrested by British rulers for disobedience, so were the other 80,000s. But the moment did not seem to end. No violence by the officials could make them stop. Even after Gandhi’s arrest people kept on harvesting minerals from sea side. At that age, I could not get that how people kept going when the leader himself was absent. But with time, I got my lesson; it is never a person but an idea that change generations. But yes! There must be a great personality to hold a great ideology.

Gandhi was chosen “Man of the year” by Time Magazine. A man, a simple looking old aged man, who quit his profession and lived in an ashram, an activist who chose non-violence and used the weapon of will not guns or bombs. He shook not just British Empire but the whole world with his principles. The world was talking about him, was following him.

The journey of becoming a great personality is never easy; it takes a lot to reach a greater position. The two principles that may sound two simple words to us gave us father of the nation. They were; simple living and non-violence. It could not be easy for Gandhi to choose nation over profession or a saint living over the glory he could get being a politician. It could not be easy to choose a path where no one was walking.

The pre-independence era was harsh, more than our imaginations. The path of patriotism was the path of sacrificing, sacrificing everything even life. After so many movements and law breaking, British could not dare to harm Gandhi but an Indian assassinated him, ended a life that still gives life lessons to many, including me, a person who was born 45 years post his death.

We still talk, discuss and debate about Gandhi was right or wrong. Many claim his non-violence did not contribute to the freedom we have got and many say he is the sole reason of our independence. But what I believe is that the collaborative efforts of all our patriots gifted us a free India. It was not done by Gandhi alone, but his presence could never be unnoticed, not any time.`

Albert Einstein rightly said:

“Generations to come, it may well be, will scarce believe that such a man as this one ever in flesh and blood walked upon this Earth.” 

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