GANDHI’S LEGACY LIVES ON

NDTV.com, India
Oct 2 2007

Nearly 60 years after his death, Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy still lives
on, and his message of non-violence resonates with people across
the globe.

Consequently, October 2nd has been declared as the International Day
of Non-Violence – a fitting tribute to the Father of the Nation.

However, as the world celebrates his values and contribution to
humanity, it is only apt to pay tribute to all those people around
the world who followed the path of non-violence while fighting for
what they believed in, thereby ensuring that the spirit of Gandhi
continues to live on.

One such individual was Rachel Corrie, a peace activist at Rafah in
occupied Gaza, who died at the age of 23.

She was crushed by a US-make Israeli army bulldozer on March 16,
2003 as she knelt in front of the machine, opposing the destruction
of Palestinian homes.

The nine tonne bulldozer slashed her face with its blades, ran her
over, backed up and ran her over again. The Israeli army said it was
a mistake, but her friends call it cold-blooded murder.

In one of her last emails to her mother, Rachel had said:

"I’m witnessing this chronic, insidious genocide and I am really
scared, and questioning my fundamental belief in the goodness of human
nature. I think it is a good idea for us all to drop everything and
devote our lives to making this stop. I don’t think it’s an extremist
thing to do anymore."

Strong belief

Rachel’s life became proof of the belief she died fighting for –
the power of an individual as demonstrated by Mahatma Gandhi and
many others, which went beyond just fighting for a cause and implied
becoming a weapon.

Another individual who continued to fight for what he believed in
was Turkish Armenian writer Hrant Dink, who was shot dead outside
his office in Istanbul in January 2007.

Dink had been targetted for writing about the Armenian genocide of
1915, when thousands of Armenians were killed or driven out of Turkey.

For many people, his murder was a bullet fired at freedom of
expression, but his writing lives on and further his cause.

Similarly in India, Shankar Guha Niyogi remains in the hearts and
deeds of his followers, even 16 years after he was murdered by a
hired killer.

Niyogi set up the Chhatisgarh Mukti Morcha to spearhead a new Left
movement using the conscience of people, inspired by Gandhi’s idea
of socially constructive work.

What was remarkable about Niyogi was that he fought for more than
economic demands. He worked towards changing lives at every level by
launching drives against liquor and gambling.

He was shot dead while sleeping in his hut.

Niyogi’s followers have since kept his cause alive. He was the
inspiration for activists like Binayak Sen, who has been in jail
since May 15, 2007, and has become a rallying point for the fight
against state suppression.

Clearly these three lives from three different parts of the world
demonstrate the message of the Mahatma is still igniting fires and
inspiring change all over.