Contributions as a lawyer
Gandhiji worked as an expatriate lawyer in South Africa. He started giving a thought to the cruelties of the British people in India on witnessing the racism and injustice being meted out to Indians in South Africa. He stood for truth and said that, ‘Truth is God’.
September 18th, 2008 at 3:52 am
Contributions as a lawyer…
Gandhiji worked as an expatriate lawyer in South Africa. He started giving a thought to the cruelties of the British people in India on witnessing the racism and injustice being meted out to Indians in South Africa….
September 29th, 2008 at 8:27 am
Gandhiji was a total failure as a lawyer even as an agent of Dada Abdulla in S.Africa. His status can be assessed as a social reformer only. Even in courts he created uneasiness by not obeying the norms prescribed for lawyers. Grama seva, service to Harijans(untouchables), Service for the status improvement of women, a work-oriented education system known as Basic Education,dream for a self-reliant village desire to maintain non-violence, desire for amity between religions, experiment for Nature cure and a strong adherence to principles can be counted as his plus points. But alas he was a never fit to be called a lawyer and his arguments in courts were a fiasco.
September 29th, 2008 at 8:33 am
Of course he fought in S.Africa as well as in India to break the law in a peaceful manner and he confessed his guilt in courts begging for punishment. Non-cooperation also was a law-breaking exercise. He was against salt-tax and fought against the Govt. to stop it. Rumour is rife that Gandhiji could have averted the punishment to Bhagat Singh had he intervened properly. So also he had a prejudice against Netaji. Quit India Movement failed as he withdrew the struggle Inspite of the drawbacks, he was a great man
September 29th, 2008 at 8:40 am
D.F.Karaka wrote that he extracted money from the Birlas for political ends while Birla was producing thousands and thousands of yards of Khaki cloths in his factory.(I’ve Shed My Tears) An irony of this kind is a part of his Trusteeship principle. Definitely spinning cannot help to alleviate poverty and he seemd to know this when we see his calm posture towards great industrialists. Cottage industry, as envisaged by him, served no purpose. But vocational education in a different form will help to improve the financial position. Electronic equipments as cottage industry in the modern world is a panacea for unemployment and for this China is a model and also Japan
October 19th, 2008 at 3:56 am
Sharice…
People are as happy as they make up their minds to be….
December 19th, 2008 at 2:37 am
Gandhiji lamented that he was not the coin of the day when nobody cared his wishes. He was against the partition of India, but as a conciliation, almost all the leaders of the Congress surrendered to the will of Gandhiji.
And the poor man had to travel alone to appease the warring religious groups. It was a torture for a man like Gandhiji. Nobody could save his life, or rather the Govt. did not take meticulous care to save his life. Of course the speech after his death was commendable as it was soaked in regret in not being able to save his life. How many among the leaders of those days found time to think about the security of Gandhiji, except perfumctory lip service? I feel that it was a sin, unpardonable sin to let a man shoot him point blank from Birla Mandir. Mahatmaji, you were benevolent and the relevance of your teachings become more and more significant these days.
December 19th, 2008 at 2:45 am
Mahatmaji’s words and deeds coincided. He belongs to the class of Jesus, Sri Budha etc. His messages should form part of the syllabus of schools and colleges so that all the students imbibe good qualities. Other ideologies interfere to view Gandhiji as a reactionary and even our independence is viewed as a heroic deed of some people who did not believe in non-violence. Interpretations on historical facts ought to be factual, not biased. indians by nature seem to be thankless and too selfish. Our country should follow the principles of this great man giving importance to Gramaswaraj. Then we are with God and with virtue. The menace of terrorism within India will not last if a change on these lines is made for educating the new generation
I don’t mean to say that modern technology need not form part of the curriculum. Definitely it should be. But values always should have a Gandhian touch.
December 21st, 2008 at 3:55 am
Gandhiji was a social revolutionary. He never wanted to flourish as a lawyer. Gandhiji had great respect for the Jesus of Nazareth.(says Thomas Hyslop) J.B.Kripalani says that Gandhiji’s philosophy of life for the individual as well as for groups and nations in all their activities was based on the idea of the supremacy of moral law. No court can pass judgement on the basis of ethics and morl laws. Courts interpret the laws framed by the legislature and they cannot decide the moral aspects of the law if it has constitutional sanction. God’s court is different. The innocent man gets the graceful fondling of God. Gandhiji believed in the omnipotent and omniscient God. He believed that the evils that men do outlive them. Sathyagraha is the path of God. Meand and ends should be pure. So Gandhiji could not advocate Marxian principles.
V.V.Ramanamurthi says that Rolland and Gandhiji belonged to the panhumanist confraternity. Action and words coterminate in Gandhiji.Gandhiji’s life was a homage to all that is benevolent. God’s law is the true law, not the law interpreted in a court. Truth has a scintillating briliance in Gandhian thought. Gandhiji was an enlightened anarchist in another sense.
December 21st, 2008 at 4:11 am
Gandhiji demanded theological recognition for all actions. That means his logic is based on religion. When he says that all religions are true, he supports religious doctrines. Who can argue a case in thecourt of law of God other than Gandhiji? In that sense he is the greatest among the lawyers. He can argue spontaneously and brilliantly in the court of God.
Maganbhai P. Desai points out that liberal and practical definition of truth is the unique gift of Gandhi to the art of life or ethics. That implies truth is God. Conversely, God is Truth. If everyoneistruthful in this world, it would have been Heaven. The theism of Gandhiji has logic in it. Unwavering faith in truth is the essence of his logic. Gandhiji upholds human dignity. A Harijan and an uppercaste are the two sides of the sme coin. Both deserve the blessings of God. No economic misery is allowed by him. So his Trusteeship policy is worth emulating. This principal also is logical in thecourt of God. As a judge God will always be with the downtrodden. “Reform without destruction” (Chester Bowles) was the maxim Gandhiji followed. No one could propose such a thought provoking idea beforehand. Hatred is spread by Marx against the bourgeoisie. He ignored human dignity. Gandhiji upheld the dignity of the individual. For that he isblamed as subjective. Idealism alone can make us refined and cultured. Gandhiji was a pragmatist also as far as his theory of Basic Education is concerned.Earn while we learn is a modern principle.
And the education of women make thewhole society educated. Motherhood is the gift of God. As a good lawyer he argues for providing education for women.
January 7th, 2009 at 12:18 am
Gandhiji’s arguments have a logical flavour. The topic he discusses have reason in every point, even if we cannotagree with it. His indomitable faith in Hinduism on one side and his faith in other religions on the other have logical connotations. He says that all religions are true, andthen he also asserts his faith in Hinduism better than in other religions. This seems to be a conundrum, yet Gandhiji’s logics convince that what he says is correct.
Another example: In the paraphrase to ‘Unto This Last’ he says: People in the Westgenerally hold that the welfare of the majority is of utmost importance. The whole duty of man is to promote thehappiness of themajority of mankind. And the minority is ignored. He always defends thehapless minority. His career as a lawyer might have helped him to assert hispoint of view forcefully and reasonable. In that sense he might be a good lawyer of strong standing.
February 17th, 2009 at 1:23 am
A humanist like Gandhiji never deserved such a creul death. Govt. of India could not protect the life of this great man. After his assassination, Nehru and others lamented over his death and regreted in their inability to protect him. In embellished words Nehru said that he lives in the hearts of millions and millions of people. Of course the poetic speeches he made has historical value. But why were these people recalcitrant when Gandhiji wanted to prevent the partition of India? Jinna and the Congress leaders were too hasty to acquire power and the British also contributed for the inevitable partition. Gandhiji, as he claimed, was not the coin of the day. All leaders were power hungry and this poor man was callously ignored. History had not pardoned them as evidenced from the subsequent events. Jinna had a miserable life, Nehru was criticised by his own Congressmen and that party was subsequently weakened to such a state that they cannot rule the country without the help of other political parties. Everything was topsy-turvey and a democracy was born where multi party system played havoc. When a large number of candidates contest, the winner need not have the support of the majority.
Panchayat Raj was introduced and implemented. But is it on line with the views of the Father of the Nation? Corruption is rampant here also. Deserving people are often sidelined on political considerations. Here also he is ignored.
The dream of Gandhiji was never fulfilled due to the callous indifference of those who ruled the country. May be some of his ideals are impracticable, but the humanitarian aspect deserve due consideration. When amassing wealth happened to be the aim of the leaders, kindness evaporated and the path we tread now leave before us a bleak future. Perhaps change may be necessary with the time, but values should not disappear. That is culture!
March 31st, 2009 at 9:56 am
Prof N.R.Malkani’s “Ramblings and Reminiscences of Gandhiji” makes interesting reading. He has a lot to say about his personal contacts with Gandhiji. And his reminiscences of Gandhiji is realistic , factual and convincing. Malkani actively participated in the struggle for freedom. Under Gandhiji’s strict instruction, Malkani reduced his allowance from Rs.200/- to Rs.125/- Malkani had been the Secretary of Sindh Provincial Congress Committee Malkani was also in charge of the great Harijan tour of India with Thakkar Bapa. Malkani had always been close behind Gandhiji.
Though Gandhiji was not a good lawyer, he was an adept in arguing with people andconvincing them. He had extensive argument with Pro Malkani on birth control, on economic ideal, social change etc. Gandhiji was able to convince on the technology of Satyagraha by his persuasive style and erudition. For Gandhiji, life was a great experiment in asceticism. Gandhiji maintained that the strict control of the senses was necessary and possible. Also Sarvodaya and Antyodaya. Even thecoining of these terms tempt us to be a part of themovement.
Gandhiji was always for a silent social revolution. The prevalent laws and rules of not only the different countris but also the religious rules were thorough for a lawyer like Gandhiji which helped himimmensively to establish his views