Source: Google Image
Today is 2nd October, the birthday day of Mahatma Gandhi. The word
MAHATMA has its root in Sanskrit and is made of two words – ‘Maha’ meaning
great and ‘Atman’ meaning soul. I often find myself wondering hard about the
person named Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, his life, his principles and most
importantly his ethics & also as to the greatness of his soul so as to refer him as "Mahatma". The life of Mahatma Gandhi is truly an institute in
itself and the fact that he stood to his principles and ethics through-out the
life is truly commendable. It’s fairly easy to have set of governing principles
in life but what’s actually demanding is to able to stick to them come what
may. We know from what we have learned and studied about the man, that Bapu (as
he was fondly called) has indeed sacrificed his personal and public life for
his principles and for the people around (though there exist a considerable
amount of debate from some sects of people over his unfair and unjust approach
towards his family and children – Read Mahatma vs. Gandhi, for example, which
deals with his relationship with his eldest son).
While there have been plenty of writings available on Bapu’s
writing, his thoughts and his opinions. One of the most profound and deepest
thought that he left behind is his TALISMAN. The Talisman also assumes
relevance as it is one of those pearls of wisdom which a person is confronted
with during his early phase of life, thanks to its incorporation in (almost) all the prescribed text books. It’s actually a nostalgic feeling to think
and recall Gandhiji’s Talisman as it takes me to those NCERT school books whose
front page always had this piece of writing bordered with tiny sketches of
flowers & Bapu walking with his sticks, with his signature appended at the
bottom. Though I remember the thought and message of the talisman, I couldn't recall the exact verbiage of the same. So I resorted to 'Google Baba' and entered
the text “Gandhiji Talisman” only to realize with a smile that Google don’t
bother about the suffix “Ji” attached by me to the name. But it was kind enough
to consider my other inputs and yielded result about the exact wording of the
talisman, which goes like this:
"I will give you a talisman. Whenever you
are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following
test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man [woman] whom you may
have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any
use to him [her]. Will he [she] gain anything by it? Will it restore him [her]
to a control over his [her] own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead
to swaraj [freedom] for the hungry and spiritually starving millions? Then you
will find your doubts and your-self melting away."
Just a plain reading of this is so soothing to the heart and soul
– just read it once more and you will realize that how thoughtful and beautiful
are the thoughts embodying these words. Right or wrong, valid or invalid,
practical or theoretical - I don’t know.
And frankly speaking I don’t care as I strongly believe that if something is soothing to your heart, it
ought to be right. It’s also pertinent to note here that this is one of the last
notes left behind by Bapu sometime in 1948 expressing his deepest social
thought.
Its again worthwhile to understand the backdrop of 1947-48 which, perhaps, has got relevance to the talisman itself. That was the time when the whole nation was going through one of
its worst phase, bearing the agony and suffering of partition. The office
bearers agreed to divide the territorial borders of India and Pakistan by
drawing a line on the map, without realizing that it divided not only the
people but also their thoughts, not only their house but also their homes and not only their possessions but also their heart. One fine morning someone wakes up with the
eyes still moist with the dream they saw last night and heart still pumping
with the desires half risen from the sleep only to find themselves on the wrong
side of the line. The home, the people and the neighborhood with whom they have
grown and shared their joys, sorrows and dreams have suddenly become an alien
as they figure amidst one of those unfortunate souls whose nest have found
their perch on the other side of the line. The effect of the partition was so
horrendous and so gruesome that its vibrations are still felt by the people of
both the countries – directly or indirectly.
The Talisman was written during that traumatic period when society
and the people were bashed and inflicted with the horrors of separation and communal
carnage. Though the situation now has improved much from then, the talisman can
still be practiced as the oppression and struggle within continues.
Let us try to understand the talisman - Whenever we find ourselves
lost in the sea of doubt or whenever our own self start hovering our head, we
should stop and ponder as to whether the step we are taking, the spend we are
planning would do any good for the oppressed & deprived, to lend their face
a smile and heart the contentment. If we at times, follow this and actually do
practice, we will find that this really provides pleasure to the heart, the
feeling which is really hard to explain (just try to recall the last time when
you gave food to the hungry across the roadside & the feeling which kindled
your heart seeing the smile on his face and the wishes on his lips). And this
is true in almost all spheres of life - consider, for example, the case of an
organization. If the top management keeps in mind the interest of the lowest
grade employees while framing personnel policies, the policy and procedure
would surely prove beneficial for the Company as a whole. Similarly, while
devising product, giving utmost importance to the ultimate consumer needs and
preference always pays well to the Company.
However, the unfortunate part remains that we have forgot to apply
this simple rule to our actions and deeds in any aspect of life. The biggest
irony remains that this is despite the fact that we are confronted with the
talisman right from the early age when we start our schooling and this continues
for next 12 years when almost on a daily basis we come across that piece of
writing, but (guess) we choose to just flip it over.
The world still has its own share of griefs and sorrow with many souls
still striving hard, hard and harder for meeting their ends of life. We are
fortunate enough to have home to live, clothes to wear, food to eat, clothes to
wear and bed to sleep, there are masses who are even struggle to survive leave
alone living. Let us all resolve to do our bit and give something back to the
society. Our effort might appear like a drop in the ocean but during a drought
every single drop count. And every ocean is born out of a droplet and one
yearning soul can actually lighten up thousands of souls with a simple act of
kindness and concern.
Be the change you want to see in the world – it’s high time that
we actually introspect and search the Mahatma within us. While pondering over
these things, I am just remembering few lines which says. .
“Dekh Taj Ke Paap Raavan, Raam Tere
Mann Mein Hai
Raam Tere Mann Mein Hai, Raam Mere
Mann Mein Hai
Mannse Raavan Jo Nikaale, Raam Uske
Mann Mein Hai”
The crux of above
lines is that every heart has its own share of the angel (the Mahatma) and the Satan
(the Shaitaan). To realize the angel (Mahatma) within we need to bury and overpower the Satan (Shaitaan) & then there will be Mahatma in all the hearts. Let us all search that Mahatma within and make this world a bit
better place to be in. Let us make a difference to at least one life, let us
bring a smile to at least one face, let us lend a dream to at least one eye and
its only then our life would have some meaning & Bapu would be truly remembered.
Let us all resolve to search the Mahatma within in, in remembrance of the Mahatma who
have shown us the path.
Closing with a thought from Swami Vivekananda that is sure to kindle the heart to ponder. . .
“The essential thing is renunciation. Without renunciation none can pour out his whole heart in working for others. The man of renunciation sees all with an equal eye and devotes himself to the service of all. Does not our Vedanta also teach us to see all with an equal eye? Why then do you cherish the idea that the wife and children are your own, more than others? At your very threshold, the Narayana Himself in the form of a poor beggar is dying of starvation! Instead of giving him anything, would you only satisfy the appetite of your wife and children with delicacies? Why, that is beastly!”
~Shubh Life . . . Om Sai Ram
© 2014 Manish Purohit (Reserved)
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