Icons of the 20th Century

2. Mahatma Ghandi 

(October 2, 1869 - January 30, 1948) 

Famous for: a political and ideological leader of India during the Indian Independence Movement. Mahatma 

means "Great Soul". Preached for freedom,kpeace and a world without violence.Led India to independence and inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world. Gandhi was born a Hindu and practiced Hinduism all his life.As a common Hindu, he believed all religions to be equal, and rejected all efforts to convert him to a different faith.Later in his life, when he was asked whether he was a Hindu, he replied, "Yes I am. I am also a Christian, a Muslim, a Buddhist and a Jew."When Gandhi was 16 his father became very ill. Being very devoted to his parents, he attended to his father at all times during his illness. However, one night, Gandhi's uncle came to relieve Gandhi for a while. Gandhi retired to his bedroom and had sex with his wife. Shortly afterward a servant came to report that Gandhi's father had just died. Gandhi felt tremendous guilt and never could forgive himself. He came to refer to this event as "double shame." The incident had significant influence in Gandhi becoming celibate at the age of 36, while still married.This decision was deeply influenced by the philosophy of Brahmacharya — spiritual and practical purity — largely associated with celibacy and asceticism. Gandhi saw Brahmacharya as a means of becoming close with God and as a primary foundation for self-realization. In his autobiography he tells of his battle against lustful urges and fits of jealousy with his childhood bride, Kasturba. He felt it his personal obligation to remain celibate so that he could learn to love, rather than lust. For Gandhi, Brahmacharya meant "control of the senses in thought, word and deed.  

Gandhi's birthday, 2 October, is a national holiday in India, Gandhi Jayanti. India observes 30 January the day of his assassination, as Martyr's Day, to commemorate those who gave up their lives in service of the Indian nation. There are two temples in India dedicated to Gandhi.

"Gandhi remains India’s patriarch, the founding father whose face is printed on the currency, but modern India is hardly a Gandhian nation, if it ever was one. His vision of a village-dominated economy was shunted aside during his lifetime as rural romanticism, and his call for a national ethos of personal austerity and nonviolence has proved antithetical to the goals of an aspiring economic and military power ... Gandhi is still revered here, and credited with shaping India’s political identity as a tolerant, secular democracy. But he can sometimes seem to hover over modern India like a parent whose expectations are rarely met."

                                                                                          — The New York Times, November 2010

                                                                                                                                                                            *source:  Wikipedia

 Quotes: "Be the change you wish to see in the world."

             

"An eye for an eye will only make the world blind."

"First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, and then you win."

"When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it - always."

"Seven Deadly Sins:

Wealth without work 

Pleasure without conscience

Science without humanity

Knowledge without character

Politics without principle

Commerce without morality

Worship without sacrifice."

"The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong."

"A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes." 

"Your beliefs become your thoughts, 

your thoughts become your words, 

your words become your actions, 

your actions become your habits, 

your habits become your values, 

your values become your destiny."

"Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed."

"You may never know what results come of your actions, but if you do nothing, there will be no results." 

"Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable mind." 

"Truth is one, paths are many."