GANDHI JAYANTI FOR PEACE, NON-VIOLENCE & EMPOWERMENT.

Jugal Kishore Gupta.                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                  Ex Associate Editor, Panchayat Sandesh.

Mankind is seeking peace and happiness perched on a pedestal, ironically, raised on bricks of violence and materialism. Purity in public life is fast dwindling. There is felt need to re-establish fundamental values of life. The teachings and practices of Mahatma Gandhi become relevant and assume importance. 
In India Gandhi Jayanti is celebrated to mark the birthday of Mohan Das Karam Chand Gandhi which falls on 2nd October every year. The day is celebrated to honour Gandhi’s role in Indian independence. Gandhi espoused Philosophies of Non-violent resistance. The people were greatly inspired by the ideologies of Mahatma Gandhi and had dedicated their lives for the welfare of the people. 2nd October is celebrated by the United Nations’ as INTERNATIONAL DAY OF NON-VIOLENCE.

  Mostly referred as the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi had been one of the greatest political, social, spiritual and reformative leaders of Twentieth Century.  It was under his leadership that India won freedom on 15th August’1947.  His empathy for the poor, oppressed, and lower caste people is absolutely unparallel. He continues to command respect not only in India but all over the world.  All of us, particularly the young and budding generations can learn much, including the values and practices of Non- Violence, Truth and Honesty, Mindfulness, Forgiveness and Perseverance from him. Gandhiji’s Talisman is a clarion call to those in powerful positions to think about the poor when taking decisions that affect their lives. 

 Gandhian concept of self-governance has two interrelated elements. The first one concerns the polity-a decentralised apparatus with pattern of “building from below”, characterised by a pyramidal structure having a broad and strong base at the village level and gradually narrowing down one towards the upper layers, with delegation of essential functions to the upper tiers. The second element is that a republican village shall be self-sufficient and self -reliant in respect of basic necessities of life including food, clothing and shelter. Mahatma Gandhi’s NaiTalim System of Basic Education has the potential to be an alternative and complimentary system to the present system of education.
2nd October is an important day in the history of India. It is also the birthday of Sh. Lal Bahadur Shastri- the 2nd Prime Minister of India. He was an Indian politician and statesman who was Prime Minister of India from 1964-1966.  Shastri ji was born on 2nd October’ 1904 at Mughalsarai (Presently Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Nagar), Uttar Pradesh. He was a man of strong will, wisdom and vision.  Simple living and high thinking, was his way of life.  He struggled much in his life. He had to walk many miles to reach his school. As he grew up, he became more interested in country’s struggle for freedom from foreign yoke. Shastri ji was a true nationalist. He was greatly impressed by Mahatma Gandhi.  He gave up his studies to the Mahatma’s call. He took part in the Non- Co Operation Movement at the age of 16. He led many defiant campaigns and remained in jails for about 7 years.  
The people held the Prime Minister Lal Bahadfur Shastri in very high esteem and followed what he said. He promoted the green revolution in India in 1965. He is also remembered for composing the slogan of ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kissan.’  Pakistan waged a war against India in 1965. India fought the war with great bravery, sacrifices and great wisdom under his dynamic leadership and won the war. There was a shortage of food grains in India. On his appeal the people of India began to keep fasts once in a week. Soon the food shortage disappeared.
 He is widely accepted as a man of peace. ‘We believe in peace and peaceful development, not only for ourselves but for people all over the world.” He was awarded the Bharat Ratna- India’s highest civilian Award Posthumously in 1966. 

  There is much, for the modern politicians to learn and practice, when Shastri ji say-the basic idea of governance, as I see it, is to hold the society together so that it can develop and march towards certain goals. We can win respect in the world only if we are strong internally and can banish poverty and unemployment from our country.  
2nd October also reminds us of Bharat Rattan Sh. Gulzari Lal Nanda who had been a staunch follower of Gandhi ji. His death anniversary falls on this day.  Simple living and high thinking had been his way of life. At a time when even a fresher in politics could enjoy the best of heaven and earth, Sh. Nanda never accepted any undue favour or facility from the government. Nanda ji did not even accept the Freedom Fighter pension saying that he did not participate in India’s Freedom Movement to avail this facility. However, later on, at the request/suggestion of some of his well-wishers that he did not have any alternate means to sustain, he agreed to accept that and continued to live in a rented house.

Born on July 4, 1898, in Sialkot (Now in Pakistan), Gulzari Lal Nanda was an Indian politician and economist who specialised in labour issues. He became Professor of Economics at the National College Bombay in 1921.  He joined the Non- Cooperation Movement, the same year. 
 He was the acting Prime Minister of India twice for thirteen days each following the deaths of Jawahar Lal Nehru in 1964 and Lal Bahadur Shastri in 1966 respectively. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, in 1997. Earlier he had worked as Union Minister of Home Affairs, Union Minister for External Affairs, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission.
Mahatma Gandhi, Shastri ji and Nanda ji wished Panchayati Raj to flourish in India. In 1958, he guided the formation of All India Panchayat Parishad- an apex body of the elected Panchayati Raj Institutions at National level when Late Balwant Rai Mehta- former Chief Minister of Gujarat, Bharat Ratna Lok Nayak Ji Prakash Narayan and Dr Lal Singh Tyagi had founded it.  Nanda ji had said that India had the sovereign Parliament at the top and with the establishment of the Panchayati Raj, there is a democracy at the grass roots also. They are to be harnessed for the national task of eradicating poverty with all its attendant ills. 
2nd October reminds us the life and achievements of Sher-e-Duggar Lala Hans Raj Mahajan- considered as a friend, philosopher and a guide by all. He dominated the entire social reform movement in Jammu region for about half a century from 1892, when he entered into public life to 1944 when he died. He campaigned for Swadeshi, rights of women, spread of education, economic development of the people belonging to weaker sections of the society living in backward areas. He also campaigned for the social reforms, help to widows and orphans, cow protection, health and redressal of public grievances, which proved vital for the success of National Freedom Movement going in British India under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi. 

 Mahajan Sabha, Dogra Sadar Sabha and Ved Mandir like monuments were constructed with the cooperation of Lala ji. Prince of Wales College (G.G.M. Sci. College) was established because of his sustained efforts.  His life and role in the betterment of civil society has left an indelible impression and is a continuous source of inspiration for the young and budding generations of Duggar Land in particular. The people held him in high esteem and call him She-e-Duggar. Lala Hans Raj Park in Jammu and a big building in Delhi are monuments raised in his memory.