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Mahatma Gandhi, fondly known as Bapu by his followers all over the Indian subcontinent, was an Indian lawyer, politician, social activist & writer who led our nation to freedom. He was a great soul, celebrated as the father of the nation who became a global icon for his adherence to the principles of truth and non-violence in our fight for liberty.
Gandhi Jayanti marks Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary and celebrates Babu’s legacy which continues to inspire millions even today. Born Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi on October 2, 1869, Gandhiji worked for our nation’s independence from British domination relentlessly and was a driving force in founding the world’s largest democracy, India, that we know today.
The principles of Mahatma Gandhi continue to inspire us in all aspects of our lives. The teachings of Gandhiji are still relevant even today and are imparted to young people as well as the older generations. 2nd October is also celebrated as the International Day of Non-Violence and acknowledges nonviolence, justice, peace, kindness, truth, and other Gandhian values that today’s generation can benefit from.
JBM Global School is among the top schools on Expressway Noida that helps integrate the valuable Gandhian teachings into the lives of young students through interactive Gandhi Jayanti activities. The celebration of this national festival opens up the opportunity for young minds to delve into Gandhi’s life and take from it what seems to be prominent to them.
Gandhi is deemed to be the most remarkable Statesman of India whose ideology and philosophy impacted the country’s policy and people in a significant way. His ideas still resonate with the masses. Take a peek at 11 principles of Mahatma Gandhi which are still relevant in current times as they take a humane approach to resolving social issues.
The ancient Indian principle of nonviolence, Ahimsa is one of the prominent teachings of Mahatma Gandhi that states humans should cause no injury to another living being which includes doing away with one’s deeds, words and thoughts that hurt others in a certain way.
Ahimsa was among the main principles of Mahatma Gandhi which is considered to be the path to truth. It is not just confined to no indulgence in physical violence but demands the removal of evil thoughts such as jealousy, hatred, judgement, and desire to cause harm. He thought unkind behaviour such as dishonesty and harshness to be the manifestation of violence and thus, they shall be given up to practise ahimsa.
Gandhi emphasised the power of truth at all times. He thought of it to be the most important vow which was the foundation of all the other vows he practised. The Hindi word for truth ‘Satya’ finds its origin in ‘Sat’, which means ‘Being’. To realise Satya or Truth in its fullness, one should practise it not just in word but there shall be truth in thought, speech, and action.
Mahatma Gandhi practised the principle of ‘Brahmacharya’ which he defined as ‘Moving towards, Brahma’ which is truth. He believed that chastity or Brahmacharya leads to control over all the senses which is necessary.
Brahmacharya means a complete lifestyle change, not just celibacy, and also includes strict control of diet and other aspects of daily life. In the most accepted sense, it is defined as ‘control in thought, word, and action, of all the senses at all times.
As per Gandhiji, people who enjoy comforts and affluence which are unavailable to the poor steal in a sense as they take away from those who lack those things, resisting the equal distribution of resources. So, an individual should apply Asteya to his/her life and lead a simple life, taking for the self that is needed to fulfil his or her bare requirements.
Thus, Gandhiji never wasted things and recycled and reused everything during his simple life in the ashram, encouraging others to do the same as well.
To realise the principle of Asteya fully, one shall practise Aparigraha which means owning as few possessions as possible. He asserted that one shall not store with oneself what is not needed today and in this way, an individual can simplify one’s life immensely.
Aparigraha helps in getting rid of the attachments one forms with worldly possessions. This practice of non-possessions reaffirms one’s faith in God.
Gandhi believed that every person should earn their wage (their daily bread) with some form of physical labour and use their intellectual talents in the service of society. Economic differences in society would be lifted this way.
Adapting this concept to shrama-yagna, Gandhi proposed that the ones who earned their livelihood through professions that involved no physical labour should devote at least one hour every day to labouring physically so they could experience oneness in spirit with the poor.
Gandhian principle of Asvadawas says that food shall only be consumed for the sustenance of the body. It meant that the observance of Brahmacharya would be much more simple if one conquered their sense of taste and had control over their palate. Indulging oneself in the diversity of culinary delicacies available was against the principle of Asvada.
Gandhi practised Abhaya or fearlessness which is considered to be among the divine attributes in Gita. He believed that one should practise fearlessness in spiritual life and not let their lives be governed by fears that are innumerable such as fear of disease, injury, death, loss of wealth, poverty, loss of prestige, loss of loved ones, death, of displeasing people, and so on.
Being a shy child with some reservations and fears, Gandhi endeavoured to be fearless and overcame most of his fears. We should also pursue a fearless life.
Following this principle is crucial in a multi-religious country like India. Respecting one’s religion comes naturally to us but practising the same respect for another’s leads to harmony and peace in society. People of different religions realise God in their own way to proceed with an ideal life and one should respect that as the driving spirit behind every religion is the same, the quest for truth.
This is a crucial principle for the rejuvenation of the Indian economy and self-respect as independence and self-reliance lead to confidence and self-sufficiency in every matter. As it is said that you can’t pour from an empty cup and can’t help others if you are in distress, Gandhi wanted India to become a strong country that can sustain itself with its resources, whether it be natural or human.
He empowered people to fulfil their necessities from their home country rather than relying on imports from abroad which didn’t benefit the country’s people.
Gandhi criticised untouchability which divided his country’s people into certain sectors and discriminated against and harassed a section of society. He thought of untouchability as the biggest blot on Hinduism and gave the name ‘Harijan’ to the untouchables.
In this way, he practised the founding principle of democracy which says that every individual no matter which caste, creed, gender, or race one belongs to shall be treated equally and should have equal access to opportunities. He did a lot to stop the inhumane treatment of untouchables just because they belonged to the lower strata of society.
We present to you 16 teachings of Mahatma Gandhi that parents & educators in good schools in Noida should introduce to their children.
Gandhiji said, ‘Where there is love, there is life. Where there is love, there is light.’ He said that love shall permeate everything that we do, be it our social, political, or personal life. Love is the foundation of life. Peace, love and kindness make this world a better place to live in. Thus, every student shall cultivate a positive attitude that helps them develop compassion toward themselves as well as others.
Gandhi lived a simple, minimalist life. He believed that there was enough for our needs but not for our greed. That is true, in many ways, as greed knows no end. Keeping his needs to the minimum, he consumed simple food, dressed in a plain loincloth, possessed just the bare essentials, and yet played a prominent role in walking our nation to freedom.
The lesson here is to not have extreme indulgence in the materialistic world as it won’t make one content. If you have everything and yet are unhappy, what is the point?
Dialogue can be the answer to all our problems and brute force shall be avoided at all costs. Gandhi proved this through his handling of our national struggle with diplomacy and open dialogue. He teaches all to remain kind, non-violent, honest, and compassionate amid challenging circumstances.
Gandhi ji believed truth had unprecedented power and one should always try to speak the truth which begs the question, ‘What is truth?’ It is what the voice within tells you and knows to be right. Kids should aspire to develop a true character and an honest disposition. Speaking the truth even when it hurts will eventually lead to peace & progress and minimise the barriers in your way.
It takes a deep sense of commitment and will to succeed in any pursuit. Kids should take inspiration from Gandhi’s perseverance in leading our nation to liberation which was a long road and took decades of resistance against Britishers. Kids can also succeed in their long-term endeavours if they keep at it and show persistence in their efforts.
Gandhiji believed that forgiveness is a trait of the strong as forgiveness liberates both parties – the one who caused harm becomes free from guilt and the sufferer, on forgiving, gives up bitterness & resentment to find happiness & peace. Forgiveness was a way to create unity and we should forgive others to create harmony in our worlds.
Gandhiji said that you must be the change you wish to see in the world and we can only be aware of the changes we want in our lives when we practice mindfulness. It is the state of being aware with no judgment. It was Gandhi’s mindfulness that made it possible for him to forgive and pursue what he thought to be right.
Gandhiji believed that every individual should take ownership of protecting and nurturing the planet that we live on. He said the Earth provides enough to satisfy our needs and not our greed so we should take only what is needed from Mother Nature and take good care of it.
It is not the quantity but the quality of your life counts. In a fast-paced, modern world with high-tech devices and comforts, students should live a life being fully present, doing what truly matters to them, and being productive rather than going through life’s motions.
Complaining, criticising, and saying that the system is rigged and corrupt just leads to excuses for our inaction. Students need to find faults but also the ways to fix them for good and drive the change that they wish to see in the world.
Take the flower philosophy to love. If you love a flower, you don’t pluck it but water the plant so that it may bear dozens of flowers. Love is presented in your actions rather than your words. Gandhi teaches us to love all, no matter the diverse differences in our caste, colour, opinions, or preferences and let it be displayed in our loving actions towards them.
Mahatma Gandhi said that one should learn like one will live forever as knowledge attained never goes to waste. So students should strive to become lifelong learners and enjoy every moment of it. Learn something new every single day.
The actions we take today make our future so it is important for students to be mindful of what actions they are taking. Let good intentions guide your acts and strive for constant improvement in every sector of your life. Be aware that each decision has created your present life and every choice you make in the present builds the future so think about the future you want to create through your actions.
Gratitude and positivity are the driving force behind progress and achieving goals. To persist in one’s pursuit, one shall realise that positivity can be one’s great weapon. As positivity in thoughts translates into positive action and in turn, positive outcomes for an individual.
Gandhiji always stood up for what he thought to be true and students should do the same. They should hold their beliefs firmly and stand by what they think is right no matter the consequences. Speaking your truth even when your voice shakes will give you peace and progress.
Gandhi put special emphasis on education as he believed that all-round drawing out of the best in every child -body, mind, and spirit can result through education only. Thus, it is important for students to always be in the pursuit of acquiring knowledge as children today are the future leaders of tomorrow.
Students can learn a lot from Mahatma Gandhi’s life. By inculcating his teachings in our lives, we can become responsible citizens of this society. Let Gandhi’s principles guide you in life and illuminate your spiritual path.
JBM Global School is among the best schools in Noida that imparts quality education to students and helps them achieve excellence in every sphere of their life. We are one of the schools near Sector-137 Noida that teach students Gandhian teachings of truth, peace and non-violence so they can flourish as responsible citizens of society.
Mahatma Gandhi’s main teachings include simple living, love for all, speaking the truth, practising non-violence, persistence in the face of challenges, being mindful of one’s actions, and forgiveness. Inculcating these, one becomes free in mind, body, and spirit.
The moral values taught by Mahatma Gandhi are speaking the truth, practising non-violence, forgiveness, non-stealing, and always pursuing knowledge.
