by Anup Dixit

Created on: June 13, 2009

Mahatma Gandhi is a perfect example for 'Victory of Peace over Violence'. Practically single-handedly, he shook the roots of the all powerful British empire, and that too without even touching a weapon.

Probably Mahatma Gandhi was a great psychologist. He did not analyse the strength of the British empire. Instead he analysed the weakness of the Indians. He understood that the strength of the British empire is not really in its military power, but it is its fear in the Indian minds. He understood that once the British are convinced that Indians no longer fear them and therefore have refused to obey them (irrespective of dire consequences), the British will have no option but to retreat. After all, how many people can one kill? You can't possibly eliminate an entire nation, can you?

Gandhiji also understood that the might of British empire cannot be challenged in the battlefield, because that is the strength of the British. It is the fear of death which they can instill, that affirms their supremacy. So, to counter this supremacy, the challenge for Mahatma Gandhi was to eliminate the fear of death from the Indian minds. And, the only way to do that was to convince the entire population that it is better to die rather than accept slavery under the British empire. He had to give re-birth to a feeling for a burning desire of self respect in the Indian minds. Please note that the key word here is 'self respect'. Reason being, if you desire self respect, then you also need to act and behave responsibly. You cannot go out and start killing any Britisher on the road. Even if they inflict violence on you, you will not hit back. Come what may, you will peacefully deny to obey them anymore - because you want to live free. And, if you cannot live free, at least you can die a free man (or woman). Let us see whether they have more bullets or we have more chests to absorb them !

This was the strategy Gandhiji wished to employ, but one can understand (or probably no one can even understand) the magnamity of this challenge of motivating the entire nation on above grounds. Now, God only knows what he did, or how he did, but somehow he managed to overcome this challenge. He led by example. He was the first to declare non-cooperation against the British. He refused to use anything made of British origin. He started using only Indian made goods, and declared that he is proud to do so. He was arrested and sent to jail by the British several times on charges of trying to instigate people. But he did not succumb to any threat of dire consequences. He continued his movement of peaceful non-cooperation against the British empire (whenever he was out of jail). He had conquered the fear of death in his mind. He became a role model for an entire population which was starved of a national hero. Naturally, majority people followed his example. At least they were happier with self respect rather than suffering the humiliation of slavery (even if it meant being alive).

But why should Gandhiji be given Nobel Peace Prize? Apart from above factors, on a particular occassion, some of his younger followers went outside his path of non-violence and started attacking British establishments. Gandhiji was so saddened by these acts of violence that he went on indefinite fast unto death, till such attacks are stopped. Needless to say, the attacks stopped soon, and only then Gandhiji broke his fast.

The point is that Mahatma Gandhi not only preached peace, but also practiced it with equal intensity.

Therefore, I have no doubt that he should be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. In fact, it is surprising that it has not happened thus far!

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