05

One wishing to have familiarity with Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of the world, or the world of his dreams, he, first of all, needs to comprehend the core spirit of his ideas in relation to humanity reflecting in the statement of the Mahatma himself (originally appeared in Young India on April 3, 1924 AD) quoted in the beginning of discussion in hand as well as his declaration, “My life is an Indivisible Whole, and all my activities run into one-another; and they all have their rise in my insatiable love of mankind.” (Harijan, March 2, 1934)

In a nutshell, the basic spirit of both the above-mentioned short statements of Mahatma Gandhi is on priority the service of the entire humanity –all the people, men and women, living on the planet Earth. Getting man to realize the truth that ‘Nar-Seva Narayan-Seva’, i.e., service to man without any kind of discrimination is the service to God Himself –the only way to become one with the Indivisible Totality. Considering one and all as equal, because of all existing in the periphery of the same Indivisible Totality and being an integral part thereof, this service is indicative of the prime human duty in this regard.

After getting familiar with the basic spirit of these two short statements, one needs to comprehend the essence of Mahatma Gandhi’s thought in this (the basic spirit) also. It has to be understood that Gandhiji’s thought is eventually dedicated to the truth of Indivisible Totality. Since all the movable and immovable emanate from that one Indivisible Totality, therefore, all of them exist in the periphery of that very Indivisible Whole, which is the evidence of the reality of Universal Unity. This is proved through the second of the quoted statements of Mahatma Gandhi himself (March 2, 1934 AD).

The acceptance of the truth of the Indivisible Totality and the reality of Universal Oneness is, in fact, the acceptance of the law of cosmic unity. It is the dedication to the highest truth. After this, all search for truth ends. There is no need for dedication to anything else.

Gandhian thought is, thus, a straight concept as opposed to a horizontal thought. It is, as Martin Luther King Jr. rightly stated, that it (Gandhi-Vichar) remained associated with inescapable universal moral values. The world of Mahatma Gandhi’s dreams can be properly analyzed by keeping this truth as the nucleus.

II

There is a direct-indirect mutual dependence of the entire humanity –each and every one, male and female, living on the planet Earth. Not only this, but all living beings are also interdependent in some form or the other. In the broad perspective, all the movable and immovable things present in the universe are also associated with each-other. This is the Law and the Order of the Creator.

All achievements –gains or losses in the world, big or small, are common. The Vedas, the interpreters of the Sanatana system, make it clear that in the universe, in which innumerable worlds beyond human imagination (subjects of creation-destruction) exist, all the elements are complementary to each-other, and they are made for mutual cooperation. The Mantras of the 129th Sukta of the Tenth Mandala of the Rigveda make it clear that space, and everything in this universe is emanated for the One and the Same source –the Indivisible Whole (Brahman) –‘Asyaadhyakshah –अस्याध्यक्षः.’ The Indivisible Totality and Universality are, along with inter-dependency arrangement, for that very ‘Asyaadhyakshah –अस्याध्यक्षः’ sake. Everything is based upon one Indivisible Totality, has one (Indivisible) form, and is unified.

Making this eternal truth the basis of his thoughts and also keeping it at the centre of his actions, Mahatma Gandhi proceeded further in his life. Standing firm in his confession, “I believe in the essential unity of man and, for that matter, of all...that lives”, he called upon fellow beings (all women and men, the superior and most capable creatures of the universe) to realize and accept this truth in their thoughts and actions. He expected them to make human service on priority an essential part of their life without any kind of discrimination, taking it as the best way of building the world of his dreams. In other words, Mahatma Gandhi wished to build a world dedicated to the greatest possible welfare of all through the way of service to humanity.

III

Service to everyone in general and to the needy and downtrodden in particular, without any kind of discrimination is, in fact, the service to the Creator. Respect the Creator by respecting His Creation and whatever is there in it. This is an act of worshipping the Lord. It is the pathway of realization of the Indivisible Whole (the One and the Same source of origin of all and everything) and the establishment of oneness with This (Indivisible Whole). It is a prime expectation from a human being who is the possessor of unique qualities like intellect and creativity and is, thus, the best-known creature in the universe. It is the acid test of humanity.

Service has been declared as ‘Dharma’ in the basic Indian philosophy. “Sevaa Paramo Dharmah –Service is the Dharma in grandeur.” This is the best –the highest Dharma, i.e., the human duty. Service is the pathway to God’s realization. Brahman is attained by service to His creation. Mahatma Gandhi made this proclamation a cornerstone in his life. He kept service as the nucleus of his actions with persistence and determination. Service to the poor entered his heart. Gandhiji has written in his Autobiography (page 120), “Service to the poor has been my heart’s desire and it has always thrown me amongst the poor and enabled me to identify myself with them.”

Tolerance is clearly manifested in selfless and pure-hearted service. Tolerance is the best practical expression of non-violence –Ahimsa. Mahatma Gandhi, therefore, considered service to be necessary for the practice of non-violence. He accepted selfless service as indispensable for the development of human qualities such as self-control, patience and faith in life and becoming egoless, which were the basic teachings of his ideal Maryadapurushottama Shrirama. 

— Dr. Ravindra Kumar is a Former Vice Chancellor of CCS University, Meerut; he is also the Editor-in-Chief of Global Peace International Journal.