Today is Gandhi Jayanthi. He was a great leader and a lawyer who did not lie. As a practitioner of ahimsa, he swore to speak the truth and advocated that others do the same. Gandhi lived modestly in a self-sufficient residential community and wore th...e traditional Indian dhoti and shawl, woven with yarn he had hand spun on a charkha.He ate simple vegetarian food, and also undertook long fasts as a means of both self-purification and social protest.
Gandhi first employed non-violent civil disobedience while an expatriate lawyer in South Africa, during the resident Indian community's struggle for civil rights. After his return to India in 1915, he organized protests by peasants, farmers, and urban labourers concerning excessive land-tax and discrimination. After assuming leadership of the Indian National Congress in 1921, Gandhi led nationwide campaigns to ease poverty, expand women's rights, build religious and ethnic amity, end untouchability, and increase economic self-reliance. Above all, he aimed to achieve Swaraj or the independence of India from foreign domination. Gandhi famously led his followers in the Non-cooperation movement that protested the British-imposed salt tax with the 400 km (249 mi) Dandi Salt March in 1930. Later he campaigned against the British to Quit India. Gandhi spent a number of years in jail in both South Africa and India.
The biggest tragedy of India is everyone respects Gandhi and no one follows his ideals....
Love the Gandhi mentioning.
ReplyDeleteI do love Indians. I'd love to have you on my blog.
Have a great day!!
Forgot to say I'm gladly following your blog:)
ReplyDeleteFarila, he was indeed a true leader and you are so right about no following his teachings, it is a shame
ReplyDeleteHi Betty.. Let me check out your blogs
ReplyDeleteHi Bob - I am having a blast on your blogs. I really regret meeting you while being so busy.