Prepared by Ankush Singh Virender Singh Manish Mahajan Vishawdeep Singh
Contents Biography of Gandhiji Values of Gandhiji: Truth (Satya) Non-Violence (Ahimsa) Vegetarianism Brahmacharya (Self Discipline) Simplicity Faith Aparigraha (Non-Possession) Equality(Sarva Dharma Samanata) Swadeshi ( Use locally Made Goods) Gandhiji on Bhagwad Gita Films on Gandhiji Gandhi The Great Soul Memories of Bapu
Introduction Name : MOHANDAS KARAMCHAND GANDHI Date of Birth : 2 nd October 1869. Place of Birth : Porbandar, Guajarat, British India. Date of Death : 30 th January 1948. Place of Death: New Delhi, India. Father : Karamchand Gandhi Mother : Putlibai Wife : Kasturba Sons : Harilal, Manilal, Ramdas, Devdas Biography of Gandhiji Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born in the town of Porbander in the state of what is now Gujarat on 2 nd October 1869. He had his schooling in nearby Rajkot. At the age of thirteen he was married to Kasturba, who was even younger than him. In 1888 Gandhi set sail for England, where he had decided to pursue a degree in law. After completing law, Gandhi decided to accept an offer from an Indian businessman in South Africa, Dada Abdulla, to join him as a legal adviser, and it is in South Africa that he first coined the term satyagraha to signify his theory and practice of non-violent resistance. Gandhi returned to India in early 1915, and was never to leave the country again except for a short trip that took him to Europe in 1931. Values of Gandhiji Truth ( Satya) Gandhi stated that the most important battle to fight was overcoming his own demons, fears, and insecurities. Gandhi summarized his beliefs first when he said "God is Truth". He would later change this statement to "Truth is God". Thus, Satya (Truth) in Gandhi's philosophy is "God". Values of Gandhiji Non Violence (Ahimsa) The concept of nonviolence (ahimsa) and nonresistance has a long history in Indian religious thought and has had many revivals in Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Jewish and Christian contexts. Gandhiji explains his philosophy and way of life in his autobiography The Story of My Experiments with Truth. He was quoted as saying: "There are many causes that I am prepared to die for but no causes that I am prepared to kill for."
Values of Gandhiji Vegetarianism The idea of vegetarianism is deeply ingrained in Hindu and Jain traditions in India, and, in his native land of Gujarat. Before leaving for his studies in London, Gandhi made a promise to his mother, Putlibai and his uncle, Becharji Swami that he would abstain from eating meat, taking alcohol, and engaging in promiscuity. As Gandhi grew into adulthood, he became a strict vegetarian. He wrote the book The Moral Basis of Vegetarianism and wrote several articles on the subject. It was noted in his autobiography that vegetarianism was the beginning of his deep commitment to Brahmacharya; without total control of the palate, his success in Bramacharya would likely falter. Values of Gandhiji Brahmacharya (Self Discipline) The philosophy of Brahmacharyaspiritual and practical puritylargely associated with celibacy and asceticism. Gandhiji saw brahmacharya as a means of becoming close with God and as a primary foundation for self realization. In his autobiography he tells of his battle against lustful urges and fits of jealousy with his childhood bride, Kasturba. He felt it his personal obligation to remain celibate so that he could learn to love, rather than lust. For Gandhi, brahmacharya meant "control of the senses in thought, word and deed." Values of Gandhiji Simplicity Gandhi earnestly believed that a person involved in social service should lead a simple life which he thought could lead to Brahmacharya. Gandhi spent one day of each week in silence. He believed that abstaining from speaking brought him inner peace. This influence was drawn from the Hindu principles of mauna (Sanskrit: silence) and shanti (Sanskrit: peace). He dressed to be accepted by the poorest person in India, advocating the use of homespun cloth (khadi). Values of Gandhiji Faith Gandhi was born a Hindu and practised Hinduism all his life, deriving most of his principles from Hinduism. As a common Hindu, he believed all religions to be equal, and rejected all efforts to convert him to a different faith. Gandhi wrote a commentary on the Bhagavad Gita in Gujarati. Gandhi believed that at the core of every religion was truth and love (compassion, nonviolence and the Golden Rule). Values of Gandhiji Aparigraha (Non Possession) Non possession means that we should not hoard anything that we do not need today. Gandhiji told that, The less you possess, the less you want, the better you are. And better for what? Not for your enjoyment of this life but for enjoyment of personal service to your fellow beings; service to which you dedicate yourself, your body, soul and mind.
Values of Gandhiji Equality (Sarva Dharma Samanta) Gandhiji strongly believed that every person in the world is similar. Nobody is bound by religion or caste. Every person is equal whether he is Hindu or Muslim or Sikh or Christian or of any other religion or caste. Because of Gandhiji, we are now living in the secular country in which every person is free to celebrate his festivals and free to adopt another religion from which he is inspired.
Values of Gandhiji Swadeshi (Use Locally Made Goods) Swadeshi means to use the things which are produced in our own country and which are made by our national people. Gandhiji always wear Swadeshi cloths which were made of Khadi. Gandhiji advocated that one should always buy Swadeshi cloths. From that our own country men get more revenue and that will help our country to grow.
Gandhiji on Bhagwad Gita The Gita is the universal mother. She turns away nobody. Her door is wide open to anyone who knocks. A true votary of Gita does not know what disappointment is. I find a solace in the Bhagavad-Gita that I miss even in the Sermon on the Mount. When disappointment stares me in the face and all alone I see not one ray of light, I go back to the Bhagavad-Gita. I find a verse here and a verse there , and I immediately begin to smile in the midst of overwhelming tragedies. Films on Gandhiji Gandhi by Richard Attenborough (1982) The Making of Mahatma by Shyam Benegal (1996) Hey Ram by Kamal Hassan (2000) Lageh Raho Munnabhai by Rajkumar Hirani (2006) Maine Gandhi ko nahi mara by Jahnu Barua (2006) Gandhi my Father by Feroz Abbas Khan (2007)
Gandhi The Great Soul Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the great soul, the Father of our Nation, physically died in 1948 but he still alive in the hearts of the people of the World. He still alive in our society through his Values and Ethics. Now 2 nd October is celebrated as The World Non- violence Day by whole world in tribute to the great Man of the Century. At last I must say that Gandhiji will alive till the last mans death on the earth. BAPU AMAR RAHO. Bibliography http://www.ssinha.com http://www.leader-values.com http://media.michigandaily.com http://www.mkgandhi.org http://en.wikipedia.org/mahatma_Gandh http://www.kamat.com/mmgandhi/gandhi.htm http://web.mahatma.org.in http://www.gandhiserve.org