Nation remembers Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri on their Birth Anniversary
A proud nation remembers father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi and former PM Lal Bahadur Shastri on their birth anniversary. October 2 is celebrated across India as Gandhi Jayanti. The United Nations has already adopted October 2 as the International Day of Non-Violence. Mahatma Gandhi, the apostle of peace and non-violence, has been a role model for billions of people worldwide.
All Indians celebrate the 140th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi with love and gratitude. Gandhi's principles of truth, non-violence and honesty are still remembered today and will remain so forever. Mahatma Gandhi was a leader of the masses. He is the best-ever leader any country has produced so far.
Former PM Lal Bahadur Shastri, who was a leader of farmers or kisans, always got less prominence because he was born on the same day on which Mahatma Gandhi was born. People remember October 2 as Gandhi Jayanti, but they often forget Lal Bahadur Shastri's birth anniversary and his achievements.
Shastri's contribution to India's growth and development was enormous. His slogan "Jai Jawan Jai Kisan" is still remembered by every Indian. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to circulate new coins of Rs 5 to mark the birth centenary of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri.
A proud nation remembers father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi and former PM Lal Bahadur Shastri on their birth anniversary. October 2 is celebrated across India as Gandhi Jayanti. The United Nations has already adopted October 2 as the International Day of Non-Violence. Mahatma Gandhi, the apostle of peace and non-violence, has been a role model for billions of people worldwide.
All Indians celebrate the 140th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi with love and gratitude. Gandhi's principles of truth, non-violence and honesty are still remembered today and will remain so forever. Mahatma Gandhi was a leader of the masses. He is the best-ever leader any country has produced so far.
Former PM Lal Bahadur Shastri, who was a leader of farmers or kisans, always got less prominence because he was born on the same day on which Mahatma Gandhi was born. People remember October 2 as Gandhi Jayanti, but they often forget Lal Bahadur Shastri's birth anniversary and his achievements.
Shastri's contribution to India's growth and development was enormous. His slogan "Jai Jawan Jai Kisan" is still remembered by every Indian. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to circulate new coins of Rs 5 to mark the birth centenary of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri.
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born in the Porbandar city of Gujarat, to Karamchand Gandhi, the diwan of Porbandar, and his wife, Putlibai. Since his mother was a Hindu of the Pranami Vaishnava order, Gandhi learned the tenets of non-injury to living beings, vegetarianism, fasting, mutual tolerance, etc, at a very tender age. Mohandas was married at the age of 13 to Kasturba Makhanji and had four sons. He passed the matriculation exam at Samaldas College of Bhavanagar. In the year 1888, Gandhi went to University College of London to study as a barrister.
He came back to India after being called to the bar of England and Wales by Inner Temple. In 1893, he accepted a yearlong contract from an Indian firm to a post in Natal, South Africa. There, he faced racial discrimination directed at blacks and Indians. Such incidents provoked him to work towards social activism.
The Champaran Agitation and Kheda Satyagraha of 1918 was the first major success of Mahatma Gandhi in his struggle towards India's freedom. The reason for the agitation was the levy of an oppressive tax by the British, which they insisted on increasing further. He organized his supporters as well as volunteers to protest against this atrocity and also began leading the clean up of villages, building of schools and hospitals as well as encouraging the village leadership to condemn the numerous social evils affecting the society. Mahatma Gandhi was successful in signing an agreement with the British, wherein the poor farmers were granted more compensation and control over farming.
Non-cooperation Movement of Mahatma Gandhi was one of his prime fights against the British. The massacre at the Jallianwala Bagh of Punjab was what instigated him to take this step. After the gruesome incident, he focused himself entirely on obtaining complete autonomy for the country as well as the control of all Indian government institutions. Soon, this movement turned into Swaraj (complete individual, spiritual and political independence). His association with the Indian National Congress (INC) was further strengthened in December 1921, when he was made the executive authority of the party.
Salt Satyagraha and Dandi March
During the period of 1920s, Mahatma Gandhi concentrated on resolving the wedge between the Swaraj Party and the Indian National Congress. Around 1928, Gandhi again started focusing on Indian freedom struggle. In 1927, British had appointed Sir John Simon as the head of a new constitutional reform commission. There was not even a single Indian in the commission. Agitated by this, Gandhi passed a resolution at the Calcutta Congress in December 1928, calling on the British government to grant India dominion status. In case of non-compliance with this demand, the British were to face a new campaign of non-violence, having its goal as complete independence for the country. The resolution was rejected by the British.
The flag of India was unfurled in Lahore by the members of the INC on 31st December 1929. January 26, 1930 was celebrated as the Independence Day of India. Soon, British government levied a tax on salt and Salt Satyagraha was launched in March 1930, as an opposition to this move. Mahatma Gandhi started the Dandi March with his followers in March, going from Ahmedabad to Dandi on foot, to make salt himself. The campaign became so successful that British ended up arresting over 60,000 people who participated in the March. Gandhi-Irwin Pact was signed in March 1931, where the British Government set all political prisoners free as an exchange for the suspension of the civil disobedience movement.
Quit India Movement
As the World War II progressed, Mahatma Gandhi intensified his protests for the complete independence of the Indian subcontinent. He drafted a resolution calling for the British to Quit India. The 'Quit India Movement' or the 'Bharat Chhodo Andolan' was the most aggressive revolt of the INC, with the aim of gaining complete exit of the British from India. Gandhi was arrested on 9th August 1942 and held for two years in the Aga Khan Palace in Pune. There, he lost his secretary, Mahadev Desai and his wife, Kasturba. The Quit India Movement came to an end by the end of 1943, when the British gave hints that complete power would be transferred to the people of India.
Freedom and Partition of India
The independence cum partition proposal offered by the British Cabinet Mission in 1946 was accepted by the Congress, inspite of being advised otherwise by Mahatma Gandhi. Sardar Patel convinced Gandhi that it was the only way to avoid civil war and he reluctantly gave his consent. After India's independence, Gandhi focused on peace and unity of Hindus and Muslims. He launched his last fast-unto-death in Delhi, asking for all communal violence to be stopped and the payment of Rs. 55 crores, as per the Partition Council agreement, to be made to Pakistan. Ultimately, all the political leaders conceded to his wishes and he broke his fast by sipping orange juice.
Assassination
The inspiring life of Mahatma Gandhi came to an end on 30th January 1948, when he was shot by Nathuram Godse. Nathuram was a Hindu radical, who held Gandhi responsible for weakening India by ensuring the partition payment to Pakistan. Godse and his co-conspirator, Narayan Apte, were later tried and convicted. They were executed on 15th November 1949.
Gandhi's Principles
Mahatma followed as well as preached the following principles throughout his life:
During the period of 1920s, Mahatma Gandhi concentrated on resolving the wedge between the Swaraj Party and the Indian National Congress. Around 1928, Gandhi again started focusing on Indian freedom struggle. In 1927, British had appointed Sir John Simon as the head of a new constitutional reform commission. There was not even a single Indian in the commission. Agitated by this, Gandhi passed a resolution at the Calcutta Congress in December 1928, calling on the British government to grant India dominion status. In case of non-compliance with this demand, the British were to face a new campaign of non-violence, having its goal as complete independence for the country. The resolution was rejected by the British.
The flag of India was unfurled in Lahore by the members of the INC on 31st December 1929. January 26, 1930 was celebrated as the Independence Day of India. Soon, British government levied a tax on salt and Salt Satyagraha was launched in March 1930, as an opposition to this move. Mahatma Gandhi started the Dandi March with his followers in March, going from Ahmedabad to Dandi on foot, to make salt himself. The campaign became so successful that British ended up arresting over 60,000 people who participated in the March. Gandhi-Irwin Pact was signed in March 1931, where the British Government set all political prisoners free as an exchange for the suspension of the civil disobedience movement.
Quit India Movement
As the World War II progressed, Mahatma Gandhi intensified his protests for the complete independence of the Indian subcontinent. He drafted a resolution calling for the British to Quit India. The 'Quit India Movement' or the 'Bharat Chhodo Andolan' was the most aggressive revolt of the INC, with the aim of gaining complete exit of the British from India. Gandhi was arrested on 9th August 1942 and held for two years in the Aga Khan Palace in Pune. There, he lost his secretary, Mahadev Desai and his wife, Kasturba. The Quit India Movement came to an end by the end of 1943, when the British gave hints that complete power would be transferred to the people of India.
Freedom and Partition of India
The independence cum partition proposal offered by the British Cabinet Mission in 1946 was accepted by the Congress, inspite of being advised otherwise by Mahatma Gandhi. Sardar Patel convinced Gandhi that it was the only way to avoid civil war and he reluctantly gave his consent. After India's independence, Gandhi focused on peace and unity of Hindus and Muslims. He launched his last fast-unto-death in Delhi, asking for all communal violence to be stopped and the payment of Rs. 55 crores, as per the Partition Council agreement, to be made to Pakistan. Ultimately, all the political leaders conceded to his wishes and he broke his fast by sipping orange juice.
Assassination
The inspiring life of Mahatma Gandhi came to an end on 30th January 1948, when he was shot by Nathuram Godse. Nathuram was a Hindu radical, who held Gandhi responsible for weakening India by ensuring the partition payment to Pakistan. Godse and his co-conspirator, Narayan Apte, were later tried and convicted. They were executed on 15th November 1949.
Gandhi's Principles
Mahatma followed as well as preached the following principles throughout his life:
- Truth
- Nonviolence
- Vegetarianism
- Brahmacharya (Celibacy)
- Simplicity
- Faith in God
However, the importance of 2nd October remains incomplete if we do not remember another great son of India - Lal Bahadur Shastri, who was born on the same date.
In my humble way, I would like to pay my tributes to Shastri ji by recalling a few facts of his life -
* His parents were quite poor. During his school days, LBS used to go across river Ganga ( near Varanasi ) to attend his classes. He did not have enough money to pay for boat,hence, he used to swim across, keeping the bag of books on his head.
* When he was Minister of Railways, a major train accident took place.Shastri ji owned up the moral responsibility and resigned.Despite requests for reconsideration from Pt JL Nehru, he did not budge.
* When he was Minister without portfolio, Nehru ji asked him to go to Kashmir, on the issue of holy relics. It was peak winter and Shastri ji did not have enough woolen clothes. Pt Nehru gave his own overcoat to Shastri ji.
* When Shastri ji was Prime Minister,India faced shortage of foodgrains. He appealed to all the Indians to skip evening meals every Monday. Such was the magic of his appeal that all restaurants, bakeries etc used to remain closed on Monday evenings in most cities.
* When he was Prime Minister, Shastri ji took loan to buy an Ambassador Car for his personal use. When he died, some part of the loan was still outstanding.
* It is still a mystery as to how Shastri ji died suddenly when he was attending Indo-Pak summit in Tashkent ( erstwhile USSR ). It is to the honour of this pint sized titan that the President Ayub Khan of Pakistan and Prime Minister Alexie Kosygin of USSR volunteered to be the pall-bearers of the mortal remains of Shastri ji when it was being taken out of the venue of summit meet.
My purpose of writing this mail is two fold -
* To remind all of us about this great man , Lal Bahadur Shastri
* To let the younger generation feel proud of being in the same country where such great men were born.
In my humble way, I would like to pay my tributes to Shastri ji by recalling a few facts of his life -
* His parents were quite poor. During his school days, LBS used to go across river Ganga ( near Varanasi ) to attend his classes. He did not have enough money to pay for boat,hence, he used to swim across, keeping the bag of books on his head.
* When he was Minister of Railways, a major train accident took place.Shastri ji owned up the moral responsibility and resigned.Despite requests for reconsideration from Pt JL Nehru, he did not budge.
* When he was Minister without portfolio, Nehru ji asked him to go to Kashmir, on the issue of holy relics. It was peak winter and Shastri ji did not have enough woolen clothes. Pt Nehru gave his own overcoat to Shastri ji.
* When Shastri ji was Prime Minister,India faced shortage of foodgrains. He appealed to all the Indians to skip evening meals every Monday. Such was the magic of his appeal that all restaurants, bakeries etc used to remain closed on Monday evenings in most cities.
* When he was Prime Minister, Shastri ji took loan to buy an Ambassador Car for his personal use. When he died, some part of the loan was still outstanding.
* It is still a mystery as to how Shastri ji died suddenly when he was attending Indo-Pak summit in Tashkent ( erstwhile USSR ). It is to the honour of this pint sized titan that the President Ayub Khan of Pakistan and Prime Minister Alexie Kosygin of USSR volunteered to be the pall-bearers of the mortal remains of Shastri ji when it was being taken out of the venue of summit meet.
My purpose of writing this mail is two fold -
* To remind all of us about this great man , Lal Bahadur Shastri
* To let the younger generation feel proud of being in the same country where such great men were born.
