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'Rediscover Gandhi by emulating his ethos'

Last Updated 22 September 2011, 18:04 IST

Delivering the key note address on the occasion of UGC sponsored national seminar on “Gandhian principles-Relevance to the contemporary period” organised by Mahatma Gandhi Memorial College on Saturday, he said Gandhi is the embodiment of understanding oneself. Gandhi has never identified himself with any religion. Lots of courage and spirit is required to emulate Gandhi. He himself was careful enough not to identify with any school of thoughts. Gandhi transcends all sorts of isms, time and boundaries. His way of life itself becomes immortal, he said.

Asserting that Gandhi stands apart from all those saints and other greater personalities who have been identified and branded, Patil said however Gandhi was cosmic and universal in his approach towards the way of life.

“Mahatma is the embodiment of truth. He always supported the idea of listening to intuition. Gandhian principle of ahimsa is the weapon for way of life. The concept of non-violence existed and was used since the inception of civilisation of Indian society some 4000 years ago against different fascists. The same was redefined and redesigned in orchestral form by Bapu as a weapon of independence.”

 “The story of independence is the only success story in the history of human civilisation, where a mighty power was made to surrender to the weapon of non-violence. It is an absolutely unexplainable power built in humans,” he asserted.

“Stating that Gandhi used Khadi as a way of life and symbol of freedom, Patil said Gandhi’s call to renounce the mill cloth and accept handmade Indian cloth is an indigenous tool used against the imperial power which is highly acceptable even today.”
One of the most recalled principles of Gandhi is Satyagraha, urging for truth by not injuring others, but by injuring oneself. Gandhiji is deeper and wider than the ocean who has become virtually classic, he opined.

He urged not to reduce Gandhi to books. He was absolutely practical. Gandhian study centres should be ambassadors of life delivering the message of peace, he added.
Speaking on “Gandhi’s decentralisation,” Mangalore University Political Science Department Head Dr P L Dharma said Gandhi was always bothered about the concept of power.

He believed that there is no need for the thought of centralisation and decentralisation. For Gandhi, the idea of decentralisation was nothing but internalising. Decentralisation and Swaraj are absolutely complimentary to each other, he stated.

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(Published 22 September 2011, 18:04 IST)

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