What Did Gandhiji Say About English Education?
Mahatma Gandhi argued that colonial education created a sense of inferiority in the minds of Indians. It made them see Western civilization as superior and destroyed the pride they had in their own culture.
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What were Mahatma Gandhi’s view on English education?
Answer: Mahatma Gandhi was never opposed to the English education. He himself is a learned lawyer and used to speak fluent English. He believed that educating students with English language is necessary to compete in international level but he also supported the idea of encouraging regional languages too.
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What are Gandhi’s views on the use of English in India?
Gandhi’s firm opinion was that the ‘greatest service one can render society is to free ourselves and it from the superstitious regard we have learnt to pay to the learning of the English language. This belief in the necessity of English has enslaved us. It has unfitted us for true national service’.
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What did Gandhiji say about Western education?
Mahatma Gandhi said that western education was focused on and rather than, reading, writing, oral knowledge Right on! Give the BNAT exam to get a 100% scholarship for BYJUS courses reading, oral knowledge, writing No worries! We‘ve got your back. Try BYJU‘S free classes today! writing, oral knowledge. Suggest Corrections 7 : Mahatma Gandhi said that western education was focused on and rather than,
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What is Gandhi’s main message?
NEW DELHI India on Thursday will mark the 72nd death anniversary of its founding father Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. Mahatma Gandhi, as he is known by his followers with reverence, preached the philosophy of non-violence which has become even more relevant today.
- His commitment to non-violence and satyagraha (peaceful resistance) gave hope to marginalized sections of India.
- Rajmohan Gandhi, while remembering his grandfather, said his ideals and principles are much-needed in India nowadays where intolerance rules the roost.
- He told Anadolu Agency: “It seems that people are looking at or toward Gandhi.
The problems and troubles of the present times remind me of Gandhi’s struggle for the causes that were dear to him. And people are also taking inspiration from him.” “I traveled to many places and everywhere I see that people talk about the freedom of thought and expression and they want to speak and write fearlessly.
- And sometimes they talk about and remember Mahatma Gandhi’s struggle.
- It seems that Gandhi’s views are very relevant today,” said Rajmohan Gandhi, who is a well-known historian.
- India is witnessing widespread protests against a controversial citizenship law that is seen as discriminatory against Muslims.
Touching upon the status quo in India, he said: “See it is difficult to say that the whole situation of the country will change completely but people are trying. People are fighting bravely. “The situation today is much different from what it was during Mahatma Gandhi’s times.
But there is a struggle for a just cause today just as it was during the times of Mahatma. The issues may be different but the struggle of people today reminds me of Mahatma Gandhi.” TRN Prabhu, president of the Sevagram Ashram set by Mahatma Gandhi in 1936 in the western state of Maharashtra, echoed the view.
“The present situation of unrest is undesirable and should not have been allowed to develop. The ruling party has a majority and they can make any law in the Parliament. We don’t have any problems. But when most of the people disagree, they should think about it,” he said.
- He added: “The youth will revolt and this has been going on since those days when India was fighting for independence.
- Gandhi becomes more relevant at this time.” Mahatma Gandhi was shot dead on Jan.30, 1948 by a gunman who was identified as Nathuram Godse.
- He was later executed for the murder.
- Anadolu Agency website contains only a portion of the news stories offered to subscribers in the AA News Broadcasting System (HAS), and in summarized form.
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What is Gandhi’s argument about language?
Gandhi also argued that there was a cultural spirit in the languages of India that separated them from English ; ‘Our languages is a reflection of ourselves, and if you tell me that our languages are too poor to express the best thought, then I say that sooner we are wiped out of existence, the better for us. ‘
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What is the main message of Gandhiji?
Special Feature (2) on Gandhi Jayanti Mahatma Gandhi : My Life is My Message *Justice C.S. Dharmadhikari Mahatama Gandhi summed up his philosophy of life with the words, “My Life is my Message”. His multifarious and dynamic personality was based on truth and nothing but the truth. Non – violence was another intrinsic element of this philosophy.
At the All India Congress Committee meeting in Bombay on 8 th August, 1942, that is, on the eve of Quit India Movement, Mahatma Gandhi declared, “I want to live full span of my life and according to me, the full span of life is 125 years. By that time, India will not only be free but the whole world will be free.
Today, I do not believe that Englishmen are free, I do not believe that Americans are free. They are free to do what? To hold other part of humanity in bondage? Are they fighting for their liberty? I am not arrogant. I am not a proud man. I know the distinction between pride, arrogance, insolence and so on.
But what I am saying is, I believe, in the voice of God. It is the fundamental truth that I am telling you.” Gandhi was the most normal of men. He was universal, such a man cannot be measured, weighed, or estimated. He is the measure of all things. Gandhi was not a philosopher, nor a politician. He was a humble seeker of truth.
Truth unites, because it can be only one. You can cut a man’s head, but not his thoughts. Non – violence is the only other aspect of the sterling coin of truth. Non – violence is love, the very content of life. In this principle of non–violence, Gandhi introduced technique of resistance to evil and untruth.
His Satyagraha is inspired by boundless love and compassion. It is opposed to sin, not sinner, the evil, not evil doer. For him truth was God and in that sense he was man of God. Truth is not yours or mine. It is neither Western nor Eastern. Gandhi’s prayer stands for invoking the inner strength of men for the good of one another, his spinning wheel for dignity of productive labour, and broomstick for abolition of social inequalities based on birth.
He wanted freedom from rule of merchandise. He wanted rationality in productive system, which should be based on human rationality. He was not an orthodox economist. His plan was peace, security and progress for human race as a whole. He believed that the planning should be based on ‘Man Power’ rather than horse power.
- These issues are not restricted to India, but are global in nature.
- These principles are universal.
- He insisted on individual code of conduct.
- He introduced an entirely new dimension in technique of social transformation.
- One cannot comprehend Satyagraha without connecting it with Constructive Work or the Ashram observances.
Gandhi, the statesman and the fighter for freedom, could not have been like what he was, had he not been Gandhi, the social reformer, and Gandhi, the saint. It is the quest for truth in all its glory that creates Gandhi, the man. Gandhi never pretended to be consistent with previously held views in his life.
He readily abandoned his stands when he felt the need to do so. These “inconsistencies” often infuriated his antagonists, who felt that he was a “slippery” politician. I think his inconsistencies were more a reflection of an ever – growing personality to whom consistency was less important than being true to the inner voice of truth as understood at any given point of time.
Gandhiji took up the ancient but powerful idea of ahimsa or non – violence and made it familiar throughout the world, particularly in political and economic field. However, non – violence means more than the mere absence of violence. It is something more positive, more meaningful and dynamic and Gandhiji combined it with a sense of responsibility for the welfare of people.
- His great achievement was to demonstrate through his own example that non – violence can be implemented effectively not only in the political arena, but also in our day – to – day life.
- His whole life was his experiment with truth.
- He knew that human dignity cannot be preserved on charity.
- Mutuality and well – being is the essence of life.
It is therefore S+G that is “Science plus Gandhi”, which alone can save a planet earth. Gandhi was an apostle of peace and brotherhood. The modern nuclear weapons, not only pose a grave threat to world peace but will destroy mother earth. Apart from the ecological sustainable model of development preached by Gandhi, decentralistion of socio – economic power based on non – violence, and building up of people’s power, communal harmony based on people’s initiative, rather than the state power is the only alternative.
- The 20 th century was the most violent period in human history.
- More people have suffered and have been killed by organized violence than any other time before.
- The wars, the genocides, the weapons of mass destruction have created such an enormous mass misery and agony that it is difficult to find any trace of hope.
Therefore, Gandhi’s teachings of non – violence are most relevant today. Now, though late, there is a realization that there is no other alternative. This is the reason why amidst report of increasing teenage violence across the United States, a bill have been introduced in New Jersey Assembly seeking to include Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings of non – violence in the school curriculum.
On 12 th May 2000, on Mother’s Day in New York, several thousand mothers resolved and demanded a ban on the manufacture of arms, and its use. Therefore, in my view the teachings of Gandhi are not only relevant but also the only alternative. Some people seem to think that compassion or non-violence is just a passive emotional response, rather than a rational stimulus to action.
They forget that Gandhi combined it with a sense of responsibility. He was not a mere onlooker but was an active participant. He first followed and then preached. He was a leader in real sense of the said term. Whenever there was a risk to life he was at the fore front and never had a desire for power or wealth.
Sacrifice was key word of his life. He lived a simple need based life because he knew that needs have an end whereas greed is endless. Gandhiji knew that “In times to come people will not judge us by the creed we profess or label we wear or the slogans we shout, but by our work, industry, sacrifice, honesty and purity of character.” He also knew that man who wants freedom has to take tremendous risk.
That was essence of his life, that is why he could say that “My Life is My Message”. **** *Author, formerly the Acting Chief Justice of Bombay High Court, is currently the Chairman, Institute of Gandhian Studies, Wardha and Gandhi Research Foundation, Jalgaon.
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Who started first English education in India?
On this day in 1835, Lord Macaulay successfully westernised education in India; English was made the official language for the government and courts, and was adopted as the official medium of instruction. – Macaulay v/s traditional languages : Ever wondered why we use UK English in India? Thomas Babington, better known as Lord Macaulay, is the man who brought the English language and British education to India. His highly debatable introduction of the English language and the approach to minimalise the use of traditional languages makes an interesting read.
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Who proposed English education in India?
English was introduced by Lord Willaim Bentinck as a medium of higher education in India on the advice of Thomas Babington Macaulay who was also his council member.
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What is the slogan of Mahatma Gandhi in English?
Mahatma Gandhi on the power of truth, love and non-violence –
“It is better to be violent, if there is violence in our hearts, than to put on the cloak of nonviolence to cover impotence.” “Love is the strongest force the world possesses.” “All the religions of the world, while they may differ in other respects, unitedly proclaim that nothing lives in this world but Truth.” “Nonviolence is a weapon of the strong.” “Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man.” “A ‘No’ uttered from the deepest conviction is better than a ‘Yes’ merely uttered to please, or worse, to avoid trouble.” “Power is of two kinds. One is obtained by the fear of punishment and the other by acts of love. Power based on love is a thousand times more effective and permanent then the one derived from fear of punishment.” “I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent.” “An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind.” “When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love 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.”
What is Gandhi’s famous line?
Remembering Gandhi: Top 10 quotes by the Mahatma
- There’s not a single person in the world who is untouched by the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi — the father of our nation — the chief advocate of ahimsa and satyagraha,
- As the nation remembers Gandhi on his birth anniversary, take a look at some of his teachings
- “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”
(Photo by Planet News Archive/SSPL/Getty Images) “An ounce of patience is worth more than a tonne of preaching.” (Photo by Planet News Archive/SSPL/Getty Images) “In a gentle way, you can shake the world.” (Photo by Daily Herald Archive/SSPL/Getty Images) “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” (Photo by Imagno/Getty Images) “A man is but a product of his thoughts. What he thinks he becomes.” (Photo by Daily Herald Archive/SSPL/Getty Images) “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” (Photo by ullstein bild/ullstein bild via Getty Images) “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” (Photo by Shailesh Raval/The India Today Group/Getty Images) “An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind.” (Photo by Margaret Bourke-White/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images) “You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.”
- (Photo by Imagno/Getty Images)
- “See the good in people and help them.”
- (Photo by ullstein bild/ullstein bild via Getty Images)
Views expressed above are the author’s own.
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What was Gandhi’s slogan?
‘ We shall either free India or die in the attempt,’ were the historic words of Gandhi that echoed throughout the country during the Quit India Movement. ‘Do or Die’ was thus, a slogan that was used to rally the masses.
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Why do we say English is the language of opportunity?
The Language of Opportunities In today’s world it’s not enough just to talk; you need to talk well and make a good package of it. That’s where language plays an important role. Effective Spoken and written English has become the critical and solitary tool of business communication, not just within the country but across continents.
- With the world shrinking everyday with internet and technology, English has stood out as the single language of global communication.
- No wonder that English is the most widely spoken language across the globe and has become the universal business language.
- Speaking English allows you to actually broaden your world, from job opportunities to the ability to relate to people from every country.
There are many, many reasons why learning a new language is a good idea. It allows you to communicate with new people. It helps you to see things from a different perspective, or get a deeper understanding of another culture. It helps you to become a better listener.
1.It’s the Most Widely Spoken Language in the World One in five people on the planet speak or understand at least a little bit of English. There are about 375 million, English as a first language, speakers and 750 million, English as a second language, speakers. English has an official or special status in at least 70 countries. Just hearing the numbers must have given you an inkling of how important English is. English is the fourth most widely spoken native language in the world, and in terms of sheer number of speakers, it is the most spoken official language in the world. It is the primary language used in international affairs. The English language has official status even in nations where it is not the primary spoken language. English is indisputably the primary language of global trade and commerce. In many countries, most tourism authorities and other officials in contact with the public speak English to interact and engage with tourists and immigrants. Simply put, we must recognize that English is an international language, the main language of this planet. 2. To Get a Better Job Companies are becoming more international, and English is listed as an essential skill for more and more jobs. There are some organisations that now conduct all their business in English, no matter where in the world they are based. If you want the best paid opportunities, learning English is a great idea. Effective communication in English is one of the most sought after skill in an employee at all work places. Interpersonal communication at workplaces includes public and small group communication through which we can communicate our needs and requirements in different situations. It does not matter if you are a junior level employee, salesperson, manager or something else. If you are a sales person, then most probably you will have to speak to customers efficiently or if you are a manager, you are expected to communicate in English in the most effective way. One can face enough difficulty in networking if you cannot communicate in English proficiently. Proficient English speaking skills can give you liberating confidence and the ability to express yourself in English at work. It gives added benefits and more opportunities to expand your career prospects. A study indicates a steep growth in the number of companies throughout the world that require employees with excellent English speaking skills. Even if the job or course you are applying for is technical and doesn’t need language as a main requisite, presenting yourself well will give you an edge over others. It will improve your chances of climbing the ladder. In short, an individual with command over this global language will prove to be an asset to the organisation and will have a guaranteed career growth. 3.For Higher Learning In universities and colleges in Great Britain, the Unites States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore, which attract the most number of international students, the primary language of instruction is English. In all the top business schools, medical centers and advanced-study institutes in the country and outside, English is the language used in every activity at these institutions of higher learning. Most peer-to-peer journals and technical periodicals that give international acclaim to scientists, engineers, technologists, and technocrats are printed in English. If you want to move to an English-speaking region or work in one—a student visa can get you there. Or you may simply want to take a few classes abroad. A successful English test will show colleges and universities that you’re ready. 4.It Makes It Easier to Travel As I said before, English is the world’s second language. This means that learning English makes it much easier to travel anywhere you want. For example, aeroplane announcements, train timetables, emergency information and street signs are often translated into English, particularly in countries that use a different type of alphabet. Plus, even if you don’t find other travellers or local people that speak your mother tongue, you are practically guaranteed to find someone who understands some English. 5. It’s the Language of the Media Most of the content on the internet is written in English. The primary language of the ubiquitous and all-influential World Wide Web is English. English is typically the language of latest-version applications and programs and new freeware, shareware, peer-to-peer, social media networks and websites. Software manuals, hardware-installation guides and product fact sheets of popular consumer electronics and entertainment devices usually are available in English first before being made available in other languages Many of the world’s biggest news outlets, including TV, newspapers, magazines and radio, are produced in English. Some of your favourite films, TV shows and pop music are probably in English-language. Go to any international film festival in the world and you will see that all films are either in English or have English subtitles. English is the international language of media and arts and so, if you want to access as much as possible for yourself, without relying on translations, it’s the most powerful language you can learn today! English is one of the most dominating languages of the world which has its impact on every field of work. English has become the global language for communicating in all streams such as politics, finance, education, entertainment culture and international relations in almost every country of the world. Undoubtedly, English plays such a great role in the world across facets that it is inevitable for people to ignore it. In fact, ignoring it or not adopting it or not being able to communicate in it may lead to professional hara-kiri
01 January 2018 Posted by: Sunita P (Sr Trainer) : The Language of Opportunities
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Can Mahatma Gandhi speaking English?
Rare Gandhi Recording In English Surfaces A rare recording of Gandhi speaking in English has been found in Washington D.C., and more news worth an honorable mention.
- MIKE PESCA, host:
- And now let us wend our way through the wily stories of yesterday and today, in The Ramble.
- (Soundbite of music)
PESCA: Special guest Rambler and returning champion, Dan Pashman, is here. Dan, start us off. DAN PASHMAN: Yeah, Mike. Starting today, tobacco is illegal in Dutch restaurants and coffee shops. This means customers will no longer be able to get high on nicotine.
- Instead, they’ll have to get really, really high on some other drug, which has not yet been invented.
- In the meantime, most folks are expected to settle for something called marijuana, which is still legal in Holland.
- But the preferred type of joint is one cut with a bit of tobacco, so that’s no longer allowed.
So the cafe owners, you see, they’re worried that this cigarette ban will push them out of business. No, I don’t know. To me, cafes in Amsterdam, going out of business, I’ll file that under a thing that’s least likely to happen ever, although I do find it interesting.
- The catering industry says 1600 coffee shops in the Netherlands have been put up for sale.
- So, take note of that, Mike, you could finally realize your dream.
- PESCA: It’s that bottomless cup of coffee that’s finally driving them out of business.
- It’s madness.
- Soundbite of laughter) PASHMAN: But the Food and Consumer Products Safety Authority is responsible for enforcing the ban, meant to protect citizens from the ill effects of smoke from tobacco.
They’ve trained 200 inspectors. Ian Chillag adds that a couple of workarounds are water bongs and vaporizers, which reportedly allow the smoother toke Dutch smokers are looking for. PESCA: You credit that to Ian. I see. (Soundbite of laughter) PESCA: OK.
- So, a rare recording of Mahatma Gandhi speaking in English has come to light.
- Gandhi preferred to talk to Indian audiences in Hindi, because, you know, they speak Hindi.
- So he was only ever recorded speaking English twice in his lifetime, one in the ’30s, and again in 1947, barely 10 months before he was assassinated.
It’s that 1947 speech that resurfaced in Washington, D.C. A journalist recorded it in New Delhi. He made four copies, passed one on to John Cosgrove of the National Press Club. He didn’t realize what he had on his hands until this spring when Gandhi’s grandson came to the club to promote a new Gandhi biography.
- Much of the speech is a message of peace to the West, and let’s hear some of it.
- Soundbite of speech) Mahatma MOHANDAS K.
- GANDHI (Political and Spiritual Leader, Indian Independence Movement): If you want to give a message appealing to the West, it must be a message of love.
- It must be a message of truth.
PESCA: If you want to give a message appealing to the West, it must be a message of love. It must be a message of truth. (Soundbite of speech) Mahatma GANDHI: There must be a conquest. (Soundbite of applause) Mahatma GANDHI: Please, please, please. That will interfere with my speech and that will interfere with your understanding also.
PESCA: Did you hear that? He got some applause. PASHMAN: He – this was the one with the clap, right? PESCA: He says, don’t applause it will interfere with my speech and your understanding. Go ahead, Dan. PASHMAN: All right, opposite end of the spectrum from Gandhi, a drunken Swede discovered he didn’t have the money to get home on the ferry back to Denmark – or from Denmark, he had to get back to Sweden.
He was drunk. He did what any drunken Swede would do when faced with that predicament. He stole a dinghy, and tried to row back to Sweden. That’s a journey of about three miles across the Oresund strait. The 78-year-old man reportedly grew tired. PESCA: Seventy-eight! That’s another important detail PASHMAN: Yeah, right, a whole other story.
- (Soundbite of laughter)
- PESCA: One drunken Swede or more.
- PASHMAN: Right.
PESCA: Moe, the chimp, he’s vanished. After decades of living among humans, Moe has apparently escaped into the mountains of California. He went missing on Friday. He was a celebratory in West Covina, California, since the ’60s. He was rescued by Tanzania poachers there.
He showed up dressed in people clothes to ribbon-cutting ceremonies, so they put Moe to work. I wondered why he escaped. (Soundbite of laughter) PESCA: He did maul a police officer’s hands. He did bite off a woman’s finger tips in the late ’90s. That got him shunned, banned from the community. He’s been living in wild animal refuge ever since.
Most recently, he was staying at Jumble – Jungle Exotics in the mountains of San Bernardino County, which houses wild animals used in movies and TV. The search is on. County sheriffs and firefighters have signed on, because there are no fires in California, so they have the time.
A helicopter is flying over the area. You know, perhaps they’re waving their fingers outside the side of helicopter, trying to get him to come on board. Most handlers warn the general public, if they see Moe, do not go near him, as he can be a very angry chimp. And that is your Ramble. These stories and more at our website, npr.org/bryantpark.
(Soundbite of music) PESCA: Coming up on the show, a school in Harlem that has set records for how well they do on standardized tests. We’ll talk to the founder and the principal of that school on the Bryant Park Project from NPR News. Copyright © 2008 NPR.
All rights reserved. Visit our website and pages at for further information. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.
: Rare Gandhi Recording In English Surfaces
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Did Gandhi know how do you speak English?
26. The knowledge of language Gandhiji knew so many languages. He learned the languages not because he wanted to be a scholar but for serving the people. As his mother tongue he knew Gujarati. In the school he learned English. Later, his stay in England and South Africa helped him master it.
- In South Africa he had to work with the Muslims.
- So while serving them he learned Urdu also.
- Later, in our country, a large number of labourers from Madras (now Chennai) took part in his Satyagraha.
- So he learned a bit of South Indian languages too.
- He had traveled all over India to convey his message to the people.
He had come to know the importance of Hindi during it. People from any state could understand his message in Hindi. In the beginning he could not speak Hindi very well but later he learned it properly. It wasn’t that Gandhiji deliberately tried to learn these languages.
- Instead he learned them through experience.
- Still he tried to learn them better whenever he had an opportunity.
- Whenever he was sent to jail for long durations he would work hard to learn Urdu and Tamil better.
- Gandhiji did not know Marathi very well.
- In South Africa he once prepared a lecture in Marathi with the help of Gokhale and translated it too.
Later he made remarkable progress during his stay in Yerawada jail and at Shegaon. During childhood he had learned a bit of Sanskrit in the school. Afterwards he learned it better in jail. While during his study in England, he acquired essential knowledge of Europe’s ancient language – Latin and then he also gained working knowledge of French.
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What is the role of English in India’s freedom struggle?
In such a situation English helped in bridging the gap between state to state and region to region. Many popular freedom fighters started using this language as a terrific tool to reach the mass. English worked not only as a language for communication but also as a language for unity and interrelation among Indians.
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Who is Mahatma Gandhi essay in English?
Mahatma Gandhi Essay 1 (100 words) – Mahatma Gandhi is famous in India as “Bapu” or “Rastrapita.” His full name of him is Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. He was a great freedom fighter who led India as a leader of nationalism against British rule. He was born on the 2 nd of October in 1869 in Porbandar, Gujarat, India.
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What were Gandhi’s views on class 8?
Distinction between education and literacy – Gandhi distinguished education from literacy. Gandhi said, “By education, I mean all-around drawing out of the best in child and man-body mind and spirit. Literacy is not the end of education, not even the beginning. It is one of the means whereby men and women can be educated. Literacy in itself is no education.”
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What was the views of Gandhiji on?
Religion – Gandhi described his religious beliefs as being rooted in Hinduism as well and the Bhagavad Gita: “Hinduism as I know it satisfies my soul, fills my whole being. When doubts haunt me, when disappointments stare me in the face, and when I see not one ray of light on the horizon, I turn to the Bhagavad Gita, and find a verse to comfort me; and I immediately begin to smile in the midst of overwhelming sorrow.
My life has been full of tragedies and if they have not left any visible and indelible effect on me, I owe it to the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita”. He professed the philosophy of Hindu Universalism (also see Universalism ), which maintains that all religions contain truth and therefore worthy of toleration and respect.
It was articulated by Gandhi: “After long study and experience, I have come to the conclusion that all religions are true all religions have some error in them; all religions are almost as dear to me as my own Hinduism, in as much as all human beings should be as dear to one as one’s own close relatives.
- My own veneration for other faiths is the same as that for my own faith; therefore no thought of conversion is possible.” Gandhi believed that at the core of every religion was truth (satya), non-violence (ahimsa) and the Golden Rule.
- Despite his belief in Hinduism, Gandhi was also critical of many of the social practices of Hindus and sought to reform the religion.
“Thus if I could not accept Christianity either as a perfect, or the greatest religion, neither was I then convinced of Hinduism being such. Hindu defects were pressingly visible to me. If untouchability could be a part of Hinduism, it could but be a rotten part or an excrescence.
- I could not understand the raison d’etre of a multitude of sects and castes.
- What was the meaning of saying that the Vedas were the inspired Word of God? If they were inspired, why not also the Bible and the Koran ? As Christian friends were endeavouring to convert me, so were Muslim friends.
- Abdullah Sheth had kept on inducing me to study Islam, and of course he had always something to say regarding its beauty”.
He then went on to say: “As soon as we lose the moral basis, we cease to be religious. There is no such thing as religion over-riding morality. Man, for instance, cannot be untruthful, cruel or incontinent and claim to have God on his side”. Gandhi was critical of the hypocrisy in organised religion, rather than the principles on which they were based.
- Vaishnav jan to Call them Vishnava, those who understand the sufferings of others.
- Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram Call him Rama or God or Allah.
