Accents
Be the change you wish…
One quotation I used to hand down to my students when I was then teaching was Mahatma Gandhi's "Be the change you wish to see in the world." By this saying, Gandhi has influenced me much that I welcome with enthusiasm the UN's declaration of October 2, Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary, as International Day of Non-Violence.
As I write this, Oct. 2, here at Redding, California, the TV has just shown a picture of Mahatma Gandhi, one of the eminent figures crossing the 19th and 20th century. There was no heavy raiment, no damask or gold, no scepter or crown, just a cane and white piece of cloth draped over bare shoulders. A most disarming appearance of peace and quiet and repose. That was the image of Mahatma Gandhi I knew since I got introduced to his philosophy and strategy of non-violence.
The newscaster followed up with an announcement that the United Nations General Assembly has declared the first observance of the International Day of Non-violence on October 2 to coincide with the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi it was who mobilized a massive populace for his country to gain independence through non-violent civil disobedience. Bloodless, mighty, all-powerful—the civil disobedience that Gandhi led wrested India from the hold of the far-reaching British Empire.
In a tribute, India's Minister of State Anand Sharma stated that Gandhi's "novel mass mobilization and non-violent action brought down colonialism, strengthened the roots of popular sovereignty, of civil, political and economic rights, and greatly influenced many a freedom struggle and inspired leaders like Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr." Nelson Mandela of Africa and Martin Luther King, Jr. in America. And maybe Cory Aquino, too. Movements for civil rights and freedom across the world resonate in our own people's historic struggle at EDSA that toppled a dictator minus the violence.
"To secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence," the UN invites all States, regional and non-governmental organizations and individuals to commemorate the Day, "including through education and public awareness," every year thereafter. In a press release, the UN says it is observing the first International Day of Non-Violence today with an informal plenary meeting of the General Assembly at the UN Headquarters with speeches from the President of the General Assembly, the Secretary-General, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of South Africa and Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance, India. A photo exhibition titled "Gandhi & Global Non-Violent Awakening" is on display in a lobby at the UN building in New York.
This piece on Gandhi would be incomplete without my mentioning a most serendipitous find at Monterey here in California. Displayed in a world imports store along with many other knick-knacks from different countries was a poster titled The Seven Deadly Social Sins. Below the name of Mahatma Gandhi as author are the enumerations: Politics without Principle, Wealth without Work, Pleasure without Conscience, Science without Humanity, Knowledge without Character, Conscience without Morality, Worship without Sacrifice. Don't you think the first of these deadly social sins is for politicians of all stripes to mull over? In the same way that it behooves everyone of us to scrutinize our own personal records to see where we went wrong? Trespassers should undergo acts of contrition accompanied by well-deserved punishments and/or community service to compensate for the infractions.
What of the revolutionary spirit who believes that he/she cannot take the iniquities anymore? that non-violence is futile, that civil disobedience won't work? At the most trying times, this is what Gandhi has to say to calm down the raging passion for swift justice: "When in despair, remember that through all history the ways of love and truth have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it—always." Also for tyrants, murderers, dictators, Marcos copycats, and enforcers of disappearances to bear in mind because—always there is a day of reckoning. In the end, they always fall.
But for his legacy, Gandhi (1869-1948) in the other life had no more chance, individually or as a leader, to strive for more changes he wished to see in the world. We still have ours. (Comments to lagoc@hargray.com)