Antananarivo: Oceans made Gandhi the person he was. Gandhi saw the Atlantic Ocean that was a symbol of imperialist and colonialist mindset during that time and the Indian Ocean as an area where values of friendship, truth, reciprocity thrived. Metaphorically, Gandhi was a personality who was open to new ideas; he was a cultural cosmopolitan but a staunch nationalist, thus reflecting that different currents merged in him.
Talking on the theme “The Oceanic Gandhi”, noted Gandhian scholar Professor Makarand Paranjape, Director of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, explained how Gandhi believed that society should be like an ocean where each individual was a centre, capable of expressing himself/herself fully and thus expanding emotionally in concentric circles with acceptance to animate/inanimate objects. He spoke about the influences of oceans on the life of Mahatma Gandhi both metaphorically and literally. He explained how Gandhi’s life was influenced by the characteristics of the Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean. Mahatma Gandhi travelled as a young student across the Indian Ocean and through Atlantic Ocean to England for studying law. Thereafter he came back to India, only to travel to South Africa in 1893. He came back to India in 1915.
Prof. Paranjape was participating in a Gandhi Katha organised by the Embassy of India, Antananarivo, as a part of the celebrations of the grand finale of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Participants from Madagascar and Comoros attended the event which was also telecasted live on the Facebook page of the Embassy. According to the professor, Gandhi believed that the greatest force that can bring change is the human spirit and not arms or human mind. He harnessed this force and gave birth to the practice of Satyagraha. He also shared interesting anecdotes from Mahatma Gandhi’s life.
The Katha was followed by a question-answer session where Prof Paranjape explained other aspects of Gandhian values.
Speaking on the occasion Ambassador Abhay Kumar informed that Madagascar has over 18000 people of Indian origin, mostly from Gujarat. Comoros also has a small community of about 250 persons of Indian origin, also from Gujarat. He added that Mahatma Gandhi’s words and teachings are even more relevant today in the 21st century when our planet faces the unprecedented triple crisis of Climate Change, Environmental Pollution and Biodiversity loss.
– globalbihari bureau
