Western Civilisation

In 1928, at a high point of the agitation for independence during British rule in India, the besieged British government received Mahatma Gandhi ji as their guest in London as the representative of the Indian people to try to resolve the crisis.

Fearless in his principles, Gandhi ji was firm but polite in his manner, disagreeing without being disagreeable. 
During an interview, a British reporter asked Gandhi ji; "What do you think of western civilisation?"

Gandhiji replied, "I think it will be a good idea."

Apparently amusing, the statement revealed an ugly facet of what is commonly misunderstood to be progress and civilisation. 

Industrialisation gave mankind a huge leap in material progress, lifting millions out of poverty and misery. Unfortunately it was mainly confined to Japan, Australia, Europe and America, placing them in a powerfully advantageous position over non industrialised nations. This led to a skewed global power balance grossly in favour of America, Europe, etc.

Power unfortunately is a dangerous addiction, and those who acquire it will try not only to maintain it but enhance it at all costs. When driven purely by greed the best of people can and often do turn savage. This is what Gandhi ji was referring to as “The Western Civilisation’. 

This civilisation led to the global destruction of indigenous cultures and their people by numerous ways. Not only justifying but legitimising slavery, colonisation, apartheid, world wars etc. 

Mindless industrialisation has exploited and ravaged the earth, despoiling lands and poisoning the air and water. The greater tragedy is not that Western civilization has fallen way short and committed great blunders, but that the other developing nations have learnt nothing from history and plunge headlong to repeat the same blunders. As the enslaved nations became free they followed the same model as the West followed, of mindless and often inappropriate industrialization. This trend has made our environment and relationships toxic. 

    

Now India and China are the fastest rising economies in GDP and sadly the most rapid in decline in quality of life. Environmental degradation and stress related diseases have reached alarming levels. 

Apparently huge material gains have been realised on the back of uncontrolled and irresponsible industrialization but at a terrible price to humanity and to the world. Many sacrifices have been made but none greater than selling our souls. 

Modern civilization has given birth to unbridled materialism. Now things matter more than people and nature. The soul after all differentiates humans from other living creatures and if our soul is lost then all is lost.

If Gandhi ji were present today he might correct himself and say “Human civilization would be a good idea.”

The root cause of the problem is greed and exploitation. Exploitation of people, and nature is always counterproductive and will always come back to haunt the exploiters and eventually harm us.

Replace exploitation by sustainability, greed by compassion, confrontation by cooperation. If we think and practice win-win approaches, respecting nature and people so that there is inclusive benefit, then we will always be winners.

  

Appearing an alarmist or a pessimist is one of the ways to appear intelligent. However that is not helpful beyond the point of drawing attention to important issues.

We often underestimate the power of 'One'. That is the ability of each individual to make a difference.  

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Appearing an alarmist or a pessimist is one of the ways to appear intelligent. However that is not helpful beyond the point of drawing attention to important issues.


We often underestimate the power of 'One'. That is the ability of each individual to make a difference.  

Humility is more effective than aggression

It is a good habit I guess, to reflect on all what we say or do.
This is an excellent way to learn from our actions and thoughts, and thus to better ourselves.

We Punjabi's are naturally hot blooded, therefore for us physical action and violence is normally the first thought and course of action rather than the last..
I have however learnt that this approach often yields bitter fruit and only temporary respite.

Most people face problems in understanding and handling power.
Is being violent or belligerent a sign of power or is it the ability to command resources to achieve desired goals and objectives that can be considered to be a sign of power?

Are brutal and aggressive people without scruples powerful or does the person who wins your heart with kindness, humility and morality more powerful?

When faced with moral and spiritual dilemma, I often turn to Sant Baba Ishwar Singh ji my teacher and spiritual guide.
I asked Baba ji, about use of aggression and violence to seize power and control
How could anyone rule and maintain power without being aggressive?

Smilingly and with his usual softness he asked me a question "Can you name me one incident or issue that was resolved by violence?"
I was embarrassed to say I could not think of even one issue.
"Violence only begets more violence. Sure you must be prepared for self defence. Violence is prevented not initiated", Babaji remarked. "You can beat to death a violent man but it is near impossible to keep on attacking a humble and defenceless person".

"You have to be aggressive for what you want, by persevering and relentlessly pursuing your goals, but not by being aggressive in your behaviour and conduct", he concluded.

I found it hard to swallow this advice, but I had faith in Baba ji.

So began a journey into managing my anger and aggressive behaviour and learning more about one of the most negative of human traits. My introspection and study eventually led me to agree with Baba ji.

To illustrate, I draw your attention to a great man Shri. Mohandas Gandhi popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi ji, the father of the Indian nation.
Gandhi ji taught the world, that, humility is infinitely more powerful than violence and aggression. Here is an illuminating example of this philosophy of real power.

The British exploited India during its rule of nearly three hundred years. Like all exploiters they ruled with an iron hand.
As per Lord Hastings the British Viceroy that by the year 1900 an amount of 1,000,000,0000 Pounds had been earned from India by the British Crown. This amount is valued at 1 Trillion pounds by today's standards. This is greater than India's current GDP (Gross Domestic Product).

It was natural that the majority of Indians yearned to be free from the British yoke. The restless Indians united under the banner of the Indian National Congress party (INC).
Late in the year 1929, the INC agreed to Gandhi ji's advice to start a civil disobedience movement to make India ungovernable by the British and thus force them to leave India.
The INC requested Gandhi ji to lead the movement.

Gandhi ji had observed that Indians had neither the weapons nor the training for an armed conflict. Any attempt by his more violent colleagues would lead to unnecessary deaths and provoke the use of excessive reactive force by the British. The British could easily justify it as self defence.

In any event violence was not an option for Gandhi ji, for he believed in 'A-Hinsa' that is the path of non-violence.

Early in 1930 Gandhi ji wrote an open letter to Lord Irwin (the British Viceroy in India) of his plans to lead a march from his ashram in Mumbai to the coast in Gujarat to collect salt from the sea in defiance of the salt tax imposed by the British on its monopoly of the salt trade.

The British laughed at Gandhi ji and decided to let him do what he wanted. They were sure that it would be a non starter and everyone could sleep easy. In any event it would not look good for the British to attack an old, frail and half naked man with his ragtag band of followers.

This was a fatal mistake of the British. Even members of the Indian National Congress were dismayed at Gandhi ji's seemingly timid form of resistance.
We should not judge such people too harshly, for it is easy for most people, particularly aggressive and violent men, to mock and underestimate the capability and capacity of peace loving people, mistaking non-aggression for weakness.

Gandhi ji called press reporters from all over the world and made a grand event out of the march to Dandi in Gujarat. He converted a civil disobedience program into a spiritual war. He called on the citizens of India , businessmen, civil servants, labourers, villagers and students to join him on the march to protest against injustice.

By the time the crowd arrived at the sea shore they were nearly an electrified hundred thousand strong. The event ignited hope and courage in the marchers and in all Indians.
The marchers gathered salt from the sea. The salt was sold at nominal price and often freely distributed to Indians in the cities.

Eventually the British arrested Gandhi and came down heavily on most Indians. However it was too late for the British, for the fire of freedom was now burning ever so strongly in the hearts of most Indians. This was a turning point in history and started the end of the British Raj.

Using great intelligence and tenacity, Gandhi ji prepared and executed a brilliant strategy. It was a powerful spontaneous mass movement where every Indian irrespective of caste, creed, social status or religion could participate. In addition the movement required very few material resources. It drew on the human spirit for strength and effect.

It is the ruled who grant authority to the rulers by obeying and cooperating with them. Power is bestowed on the ruler by the ruled people who obey rulers. Stop obeying and cooperating and the rulers have no authority .
Gandhi ji chose the right battle with no violence. Touching issues close to the heart of most Indians he demonstrated the vulnerability of the British Raj's incapacity to rule a united and charged people of India. Gandhi ji was thus able to unite Indians in their goal to drive the British out of India.

Sure Gandhi ji had human failings. Not every decision he made was perfect or politically beneficial. He however lived by a noble and high spiritual code delivering spectacular results.

Today the 2nd day of October is Gandhi Jayanti the birth day of the Mahatma.
Gandhi ji, we say we bow to you. Unfortunately most of us find it easier to live by the code of hatred and aggressiveness rather than love and humility.