Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948)

Mahatma Gandhi gave up his career as a lawyer to campaign for justice and peace in
areas such as the alleviation of poverty, religious tolerance, economic self-sufficiency,
the rights of the untouchables and - above all for swaraj, Indian independence from
foreign domination. However, his greatest legacy lies not solely in his actions but in the
way that he chose to live. This is why he became known as the Mahatma or great
soul.
Gandhi was intensely interested in the issue of contentment, which he associated with a
return to traditional values and a simpler way of life. There is more to life than
increasing its speed, he said. He combined the role of an international statesman with
a highly disciplined spiritual life that included lifelong vegetarianism, spending one day
each week in silence, living as a celibate, and undergoing frequent fasts. My life is my
message, he said. We must be the change we want to see in the world.
The most visible and memorable example of Gandhis personal commitment to
simplicity was his decision to adopt the traditional Indian loincloth or dhoti as his style
of dress. He also chose to weave it himself. On a visit to the UK, he was accused of
being disrespectful for not wearing more clothes at a meeting with King Edward VIII.
The King was wearing enough for both of us! was his response.
Gandhis commitment to simplicity permeated his life. In the political arena, it was a
symbol of the differences between traditional Indian values and those of the British
colonizers. In the social and economic sphere, he encouraged Indians to respect each
other as equals, irrespective of caste, wealth or religious observance. He was also a
passionate advocate of environmental sustainability.
Simplicity is not the same as contentment, although the two qualities often reinforce
each other. It can be argued that Gandhi was never content with the political or
economic developments that India went through in his lifetime. He could be
judgemental about himself and about other people, and was always ready to speak up
and campaign
for change.
However
Mahatma
Gandhis
Quotes he combined this with a deep level of personal
contentment which seems to have underpinned his capacity to be active in the world.