'It is not your fault' - Mahatma Gandhi.

Today is Mahatma* Gandhi's birthday. Love him or criticize him but you cannot ignore him, nor deny his incredible impact on humanity. Based on the highest of principles, blended with a singularity of purpose, a purity of heart and sharp intellect Gandhi ji was and remains a powerful influence on many people. 

The Mahatma has enriched our world with his greatness, and humility.  His unconventional and yet truthful approach is an example of how to Channelise a vision into action to achieve great impact. 

A defining feature of a Mahatma (great soul)  is the humility and compassion for all beings and God's creation. Born out of great spiritual courage and truthfulness a Mahatma is always courageous in thought, utterances and deed. 

Often harsh in their truthful criticism,  there is never the slightest trace of malice in what a Mahatma says and does. 

A Mahatma would blame himself rather than anyone else for their situation. This is a hallmark of a great leader, who never blames others but accept ownership and responsibility of all problems.

Here is an example, for your learning pleasure.

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Gandhi ji started his professional and mission for universal brotherhood and justice in South Africa in 1903. A Mahatma inevitably undergoes great hardships, but their spiritual courage prevails.

Gandhi ji had many supporters and one of his great admirers and followers was a German industrialist named Hermann Kallenbach. In 1912 Kallenbach bought eleven hundred acres of land near Johannesburg and gave them to Gandhi ji, who founded a settlement called Tolstoy Farm (Gandhi ji was a great admirer of the Russian writer Leo Tolstoy and they corresponded frequently.)

One day Gandhi ji, had to travel from Tolstoy Farm to Johannesburg for some meetings and the car that they used at Tolstoy farm needed to be serviced at the garage. He asked his son Manilal to accompany him to town. Gandhi ji instructed Manilal that while he attended the meetings Manilal should get the car serviced and then return to pick up Gandhi ji for the journey back home at 5:30 pm.

After delivering the car to the garage young Manilal decided to pass the time by going to watch an entertainment show, where he lost all sense of time. When Manilal had failed to arrive at the appointed time Gandhi ji had contacted the garage and had been informed that the car was ready since 4:00 pm and they were waiting for it to be picked up.

Manilal panicked when he suddenly realised it  was 6:00 pm as  the show ended. He hurried to the garage to collect the car and then Gandhi ji.  His father Gandhi ji would be waiting and Manilal thought it best to just tell an innocent lie. He told Gandhi ji that he was delayed because the garage staff could not finish the servicing in time.

Gandhi ji looked at his son with dismay and said; " That you must lie,  disappoints and deeply saddens me. However I do not blame you, it is all my fault. There must have been some lapses or deficiencies from my side and I must have made some mistake in your upbringing." "I will have to atone for my mistake  and I wonder what I must do?" Gandhi ji continued.

Manilal felt ashamed, and apologised. However Gandhi ji refused to accept Manilal's apology saying that it was not Manilal's fault and blamed only himself. After a minute spent deep in thought Gandhi ji declared; "I will punish myself by walking home rather than drive there. Manilal, you take the car home and I will come walk home." Gandhi ji immediately started walking toward home which was 27 kilometres away.

Understanding parents is normally a challenge and understanding a Mahatma almost impossible. Manilal sought his father's forgiveness and kept apologising profusely. Gandhi ji simply turned a deaf ear and kept on plodding along.

After walking for many hours all night long, Gandhi ji arrived home early in the morning with Manilal trailing in the car the entire way.  Gandhi ji did not complain about Manilal to anyone, and offered no explanation for the reason for the delay to the questioning residents of Tolstoy Farm.

The ashamed Manilal confessed to the worried residents of Tolstoy farm of what had transpired. Manilal was filled with remorse by his poor conduct, and vowed never to tell a lie again. From that day on Manilal devoted most of his life spreading the message of the Mahatma.

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My thanks to the compassionate and talented Dr. Naresh Thukral who also happens to be my brother in law for narrating this incident to me.

*Why do we call Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi a 'Mahatma'? 
We are all just little souls 'athma' and tiny fragments of the one soul, 'Param Athma,' the Creator. With divine blessing an ordinary soul becomes a 'Maha Athma,' a great soul. Ordinary souls may touch you now and then but a Mahatma transforms you.