Why Gandhi Matters for Young Indians

Mahatma Gandhi’s 152nd birth anniversary is, perhaps, an appropriate occasion to reflect on what he means to young Indians and the lessons he holds for them. 

For most young Indians, Gandhi and his ideas are ubiquitous. From an early age, we are taught about his ideals of truth and non-violence; our history textbooks make the story of Indian nationalism synonymous with Gandhi’s satyagrahas and movements. His image decorates our currency notes and his statues, our streets. The customary speeches and competitions organised on Gandhi Jayanti make him an omnipresent, saint-like figure. 

Perhaps that makes it difficult for millennials and generation Z to relate to a moralist and idealist who is placed on a pedestal.     

The ‘Father of the Nation’ appears more like the grandfather whose ideals are no more than mere platitudes to be paid lip service to. Some of it is understandable; you can’t expect a man who walked around in a loincloth to be an icon for today’s generation. Some of his practices, such as brahmacharya, would appear regressive and outmoded and, in some respects, Gandhi might even appear patriarchal, casteist or, one who held racist views into his 20s. 

The pursuit of truth itself seems irrelevant in the post-truth age. Why then, should young people of today, born in the late 1990s, care about a man who passed away in 1948?

Also read: Gandhi the Futurist

I must confess to being a bit of a Gandhi fanboy myself.  I admire his ideals and have a deep interest in Gandhian thought and praxis. His life and writings continue to speak to me in innumerable ways. But beyond my fascination with and admiration for Gandhi, I feel his life has some important lessons for the young people of today.  

Gandhi was a very mediocre student. His mark sheet testifies to how poorly he fared during his school examinations, scoring a modest 40% during his matriculation. Even as a young man he was extremely shy, awkward and lacked confidence. But through his relentless ‘experiments’ he not only managed to transform himself, but also bring about massive socio-political change. 

Students who find it hard to navigate a marks-driven education system can perhaps draw some inspiration from Gandhi’s life. It does not matter how much you score; what you become in life depends upon how hard you are willing to work on yourself. 

A Gandhian value that is of particular relevance today is abhaya or fearlessness. We live in a political climate of fear where universities and students are attacked, dissenting voices are put in jail or labelled ‘anti-national’ and there is scant regard for civil liberties and democratic freedoms. 

Gandhi’s abhaya resonates with students and protestors shouting slogans of azadi (freedom) for, above all else, they demand freedom from fear. Abhaya or fearlessness gives us the capacity to speak truth to power.   

Young Indians might also admire Gandhi’s ability to forge friendships across borders and sectarian boundaries. He could count amongst his closest friends and mentors, Muslim and Jewish South Africans, a Christian priest and a Jain jeweller, among several others. 

Gandhi (center) with his secretary, Miss Sonia Schlesin, and his colleague Mr. Polak in front of his Law Office, Johannesburg, South Africa, 1905. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Gandhi’s friendships contributed to his brand of non-chauvinistic nationalism and his ecumenical approach towards religion. Gandhi can appeal to young people who harbour a cosmopolitan outlook and have little regard for identities based on birth. 

Maybe some of Gandhi’s ideas also need to be reinvented or reimagined. Ahimsa could imply a more civilised discourse on social media which eschews language which is violent or derogatory. In fact, Gandhi’s silence is the most eloquent response to troll armies, for they are meant to be ignored. 

Swaraj in today’s context would also include safeguarding digital rights and freedoms along with civil liberties. The Gandhian ashrama itself needs to be reinterpreted as a form of ethical living which recognises the principle of interdependence (ashrit) and the balance between intellectual and manual labour (shrama). 

Social media has the same potential today which print journalism had in Gandhi’s days. Using social media to popularise Gandhian ideas could be a good place to start. For if the Mahatma started journals like Young India to communicate his ideas, why can’t we have Instagram or Facebook pages on ‘Gandhi for Young India’? 

Madhav Nayar has completed his Masters in Modern South Asian History from SOAS, University of London and is a freelance writer. He can be reached at madhavnayae@gmail.com.

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