How much relevant is Gandhi now in this terror-stricken world? The Taliban, the face of the world terror, are back again in Afghanistan as a ruling class. The Al-Qaeda and Laskar-e-Taiba (LeT), two deadly outfits, are seemingly jubilant after re-emergence of the Taliban. The question therefore, is if Gandhi is required at all which was seriously debated after the 9/11 terror attacks in the USA. Notably, two big terrorist attacks happened in the world in the first decades of 21st century. These two attacks shook the world with devastating effect. The one was 9/11 and the other was 26/11. The 9/11 stands for September 11, 2001 which occurred in the USA and the 26/11 stands for November 26, 2008 which happened in Mumbai.
On September 11, 2001, approximately 3,000 people were killed as the civilian aeroplanes were converted into weapons of mass destruction. Two planes were crashed into the World Trade Centres in New York and another plane dashed into Pentagon in Washington DC. Four civilian planes were used as weapons for destructions. The Al-Qaeda and its leader Osma bin Laden had planned these attacks and took credit for this 9/11. The USA responded with its war on terrorism; attacked Iraq and later waged a war in Afghanistan. To this day, the USA and its allies conveniently justified the USA's violent policies and curtailment of civil liberties maintaining that these things changed with 9/11.
On November 26, 2008, ten Pakistanis associated with the terror group, Laskar-e -Taiba( LeT), launched a terrorist attack in Mumbai whichcontinued for 4 days. As many as two hundred people were killed in the terror strikes at the Chatrapati Shivaji Terminals, the Taj hotel, Oberoi and Trident hotels, besides at several other places in Mumbai.
Nine of the attackers were killed and the lone survivor, Mohammad AjmalKasab was captured on the spot; later, he was tried and executed in 2012. Although India is used to frequent terrorist attacks, this Mumbai terror -strike shocked the nation and the world as well. Since 9/11 and 26/11 curious people ask the question what Gandhi would have done about this kind of terrorism ; what Gandhi would have done to stop the naked terrorism happening all over the world from Paris to Syria, from London to Florida and in other locations like schools, churches, universities, and public gatherings.
These people who question seriously conclude with answers that Gandhi has nothing relevant to offer at these situations. Instead, Gandhi would have worsened the situation because Gandhi would not have applied violence to deal with the violence.But can one win anger by anger, hatred by hatred and passion by passion, thus the counter questions are asked. The world has already seen that thousands of wars have been waged to end war in a bid to bring peace. The 20th century was the century of violence and it was the most violent and destructive century in human history. Over 90 million people had died in two world wars, in Arab - Israel and India -Pakistan wars and in hundreds of local conflicts in different parts of the world. The suicide bombers now are the new symbols of terror.
The world has seen the devastation caused by the atom bombs dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan in August, 1945. But still wars happen. The modern technological surveillance is not capable to prevent terror strike and nuclear bomb has not become a deterrent too.
The use of violence by USA using its powerful State force for over 20 years proved futile in Afghanistan. The mighty USA had occupied Afghanistan in 2001 after 9/11 terrorist attacks in America. Ironically, every time when a terrorist from abroad or from the nation inside strikes, Gandhi is repeatedly questioned as to what would have been his approach to societal, national or global peace. Yes, Gandhi does not have all the solutions.
But surely, Gandhi's approach integrated with the modern approach offers real hope for dealing with the contemporary terrorism. If one really wants peace, one has to strive for peace rather than preparing for war, Gandhi says.
And it must be kept in mind that Gandhi is not a person, Gandhi is a vision. Undoubtedly terrorism is a dreadful scourge, an unwelcome punishment but it can neither be wished away nor bombed off the face of the earth. It is well known that much of the terrorism emanates from various branches of religious fanaticism or perverted ideologically masked political extremism. At the deeper level lie the gross social and economic inequalities, and the political economic and cultural domination by a few. Unless these inequalities are dismantled, there cannot be any hope.
In order to mitigate inequality, and thereby fear and violence, Gandhi propagated Satya (Truth), Ahimsa (Non violence) and Talisman. In Talisman for the rulers to make policy to build an egalitarian society, Gandhi urged to think of the last marginalised man of the society. In Gandhi's words, "I will give you a talisman.
Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man [woman] whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him [her].And peace will come, Gandhi further states, when truth is pursued for justice and non-violence will be meaningful in mutually accepted agreements between the rivals.
Gandhi never denied revolutionary heroism, but never accepted violence in name of heroic sacrifices. Gandhi rejected both the organised violence of the State and the unorganised violence of the people where millions die in an act of killing others.
But in the ‘Young India’ dated August 11, 1920, Gandhi gave a strong view that 'I do believe that where there is only a choice between cowardice and violence, I would advise violence.' and the State in order to defend its honour rather should resort to arms than that of cowardly and helplessly witnessing to its dishonour.
The writer is a Gandhian author and a lawyer based in Puri)