World Non-violence Day

॥ अहिंसा परमो धर्म: ॥

2nd October - the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi has been declared as 'International Day of Non-Violence'! This is in recognition of his major role in promoting peace and non-violence around the world.

As a technique for social struggle, non-violence has been described as "the politics of ordinary people", reflecting its historically mass-based use by populations throughout the world and history.

Non-violence in its dynamic condition means conscious suffering. It does not mean meek submission to the will of the evil-doer, but it means the pitting of one's whole should against the will of the tyrant. Working under this law of our being, it is possible for a single individual to defy the whole might of an unjust empire to save his honour, his religion, his soul and lay the foundation for that empire's fall or its regeneration.

Gandhi did not claim to be a prophet or even a philosopher. "There is no such thing as Gandhism," he warned, "and I do not want to leave any sect after me." There was only one Gandhian, he said, an imperfect one at that - himself!

Unfortunately people consider non-violence as cowardice. Gandhiji defined both the terms...

"Non-violence and cowardice are contradictory terms. Non-violence is the greatest virtue, cowardice the greatest vice. Non-violence springs from love, cowardice from hate. Non-violence always suffers, cowardice would always inflict suffering. Perfect non-violence is the highest bravery. Non-violent conduct is never demoralizing, cowardice always is."

(The above-mentioned text is a word-to-word excerpt taken from various websites on the net) The portrait of Mahatma Gandhi's statue shot at Mani Bhavan, Mumbai. 2007!

॥ अहिंसा परमो धर्म: ॥