World needs a Gandhi

The world desperately and urgently needs a man of peace like Mahatma Gandhi, in our turbulent times. In almost every nook of this world, there is strife, conflict or war. Human life has become cheap and the number of dead are becoming just numbers. In the meantime, food is desperately short in many developing countries, medical costs are augmenting and inflation is becoming untameable. Higher education is also becoming more expensive and only the upper classes and the affluent can afford it. These are issues with which global leaders should be wrestling. Sadly they are not.

A man like Mahatma Gandhi taught us that every human life is more important than any political or economic ideology. He firmly believed that all wars and conflicts are subordinate to a human life, irrespective of religion, belief or conviction. Now, the world has forgotten this simple message of a great sage of peace.

It is not easy to find a Gandhi in every country. But in every country, there are people who value human life and values. They should make their voices heard. These voices, even if they are whispers across countries, could eventually impact events. Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King were inspired by Gandhi’s message and built their movements around it. Gandhi’s message of non-violence and respecting lives is timeless.

Rajendra Aneja
Mumbai, India