Mahatma Gandhi represented spirit of India - Indian HC

Remarks by the High Commissioner for India, Ms. Nirupama Rao at the Sri Lanka India Society, Colombo on the occasion of the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Oration organised by the Society on October 8.

"We are gathered here to reflect on the memory of a man who unquestionably represented the spirit of India, with the ability as Sir Mirza Izmail, the late Dewan of Mysore, once said, "to voice her sentiments as probably no one else can do". Mahatma Gandhi, whose soul force inspires us into the 21st century, was at once the greatest of spiritual leaders and saints, and at the same time an inspiring leader of a resurgent India. Unquestionably, Mahatma Gandhi was the maker of the Indian nation.

Even in today's day and age, when India is becoming identified with the cutting edge of information and communication technology, Gandhiji personifies India in so many ways. (The President of the Society just referred to Gandhiji's years in South Africa.

I am reminded of what Mr. Nelson Mandela once said in this context. He said, and I quote, "India gave to South Africa Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. South Africa gave to India, Mahatma Gandhi.") There are many in the remotest corners of the world who think of Gandhiji when they think of India.

The two coalesce into one another. It is that purity of thought and soul, nobility of sentiment and sensibility, that the Mahatma stood for in his life and work that should be our model to emulate, and strive for in our daily lives.

He claimed no exclusive validity, as Dr. S. Radhakrishnan once noted, for his creed or religion - he believed that all religions aim at the same goal of the inner life, the inner truth, and he recalled always the age-old tradition of India, the tradition, again to quote Dr. Radhakrishnan, not of mere tolerance but of profound respect for all faiths. God for him, was the Lord of Truth, satyanarayana.

Most importantly, Gandhiji looked upon politics as a branch of ethics and religion, not as a struggle for power and wealth, but a continuous effort to raise the quality of human beings, "train them for freedom and fellowship, spiritual depth and harmony." His sorrow at the religious conflict that was fanned in the aftermath of the Partition of India knew no bounds. He was the true friend of the minorities, he strove always for reconciliation, and the removal of suspicion, bitterness and resentment.

He did not want us to think in water-tight compartments as Hindus, Buddhists, Christians or Muslims but as one people, whether in India or for that matter in any other country.

It was Jawaharlal Nehru who remarked that the voice and message of Mahatma Gandhi sounded so often to us as a reiteration of the Buddha's. It is by studying the message and teachings of the Buddha, and of leaders like Gandhiji, that we can look at our problems in the right perspective, draw back from conflict, violence and hatred. Gandhiji often laid stress on the manner of doing things, on the means employed. It was not enough, he used to say, to have a right objective, to have right ends in view, but also to adopt the right method and right means.

The true test of leadership is to draw out the best in those who work with you. Gandhiji was always able to spot the good in any person and lay emphasis on that good. The result as Pandit Nehru remarked was that the poor man thus spotted had to try to be good. He could not help it.

Mangala Moonesinghe is the perfect choice to deliver today's oration. His knowledge of India and its history and politics is profound. His years of most distinguished service as the High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in India have provided him with deep insights into the soul of India. He is a devoted karma-yogi in the cause of friendship between our two nations.

We look forward to his address with keen interest and attentiveness. I also felicitate the Sri Lanka India Society on this special occasion.

I shall end with a reference to the "seven blunders". Lest you think that I am venturing into undiplomatic speech, let me assure you I am not but that I am merely recalling Gandhiji's renunciation of the cause for the violence that plagues the world:

These then are the seven blunders:

"Wealth without work.

Pleasure without conscience.

Knowledge without character.

Commerce without morality.

Science without humanity.

Worship without sacrifice.

Politics without principles".

I believe that just a reference to these seven precautionary points of awareness, and avoiding any such actions, or tendencies, or behavioural traits as listed therein, can make us finer persons, better human beings, exemplary members of society, and citizens of the world.

I can think of no more fitting occasion to reflect on the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi, especially since we are commemorating this year, the seventy fifth anniversary of the Salt Satyagraha, the Dandi March. That was a great awakening, led by Mahatma Gandhi and the spirit and sacrifice of those times should be our guiding light as we search for solutions in our day to day lives, as we search for inner and outer peace."