Mahatma Gandhi

02/Oct/2012 Woke up and turned the T.V on. Was surprised to see a news broadcast doing a full report on Gandhi. And then it struck me. It's his birthday today. 140 years later, and here he is, still in our hearts, still in our minds. Or is he..? Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on 2 October 1869 in Porbandar, a coastal town in Gujarat, to Karamchand Gandhi and Putlibai. His father was a senior government official under British India. Jain ideas and practices powerfully influenced Gandhi, particularly through his mother, who was a devout Jain. He grew up to become a barrister by profession. But in course of time, he rose to become the preeminent leader of Indian nationalism in British-ruled India. Employing non-violent civil disobedience, Gandhi led India to independence and inspired movements for non-violence, civil rights and freedom across the world. An impeccably thorough gentleman and sturdy of character, he was a constant source of inspiration to some and an epitome of righteousness to others. A great philosopher and a visionary, his ideas and principles have influenced some of the greatest people from all over the world. His lifestyle, his principles and his unique approach to different aspects of life have been the greatest lessons to the millions who were his contemporaries and to the millions who still revere him as the Father of our Nation. Gandhi's socio-economic principles and ethics have spawned schools of economic thought which are still of great relevance today. Gandhian principles (or Gandhigiri) represent an alternative to mainstream economic ideologies as a way to promote economic self-sufficiency without an emphasis on material pursuits or compromising human development. Gandhi's emphasis on peace, "trusteeship" and cooperation has been touted as an alternative to competition as well as conflict between different economic and income classes in societies. Gandhian focus on human development is also seen as an effective emphasis on the...