Gandhi Jayanti: Beyond Tributes, the Need to Practise His Ideals
By Rayees Jamil | Inside Kashmir Newspaper
Every year on October 2, India remembers Mahatma Gandhi, one of the central figures of the country's freedom struggle. His commitment to truth, non-violence and social reform continues to influence discussions about peace, justice and human dignity. The United Nations also observes October 2 as the International Day of Non-Violence.
Yet, Gandhi Jayanti raises a question that deserves more than a ceremonial answer: Are we willing to practise the values we celebrate?
Gandhi's legacy should not be confined to portraits in government offices, speeches at public functions or messages shared on social media. Its real significance lies in examining our own conduct and the condition of our society.
Truth in an age of misinformation
Gandhi placed truth at the centre of his personal and political life. Today, the principle has particular relevance as information travels rapidly through digital platforms. Unverified claims, rumours and misleading messages can spread before their accuracy is questioned.
Every citizen has a responsibility to pause before sharing information, verify facts and correct mistakes. Journalists must uphold accuracy and fairness, while readers must learn to distinguish evidence from opinion. Public debate becomes healthier when people value facts more than sensationalism.
Truth is not simply a virtue to be praised; it is a discipline that requires courage, patience and accountability.
Non-violence begins with how we treat others
Non-violence is often understood only as the absence of physical conflict. Its wider social meaning also calls for restraint, respect and a willingness to resolve disagreements without hatred.
In families, schools, workplaces and public life, differences are unavoidable. The challenge is to disagree without humiliating others or questioning their dignity. For a diverse society such as India, mutual respect is essential to peaceful coexistence.
This does not mean remaining silent in the face of injustice. Gandhi's approach of Satyagraha demonstrated how people could challenge unjust practices through organised, non-violent action. His legacy invites us to combine courage with restraint and conviction with respect for human dignity.
Communal harmony is a shared responsibility
India's social strength lies in its diversity. Different religious, linguistic and cultural communities have contributed to the country's history and everyday life. However, prejudice and suspicion can weaken the relationships that hold communities together.
Gandhi made communal unity and the removal of untouchability important parts of his constructive programme.
His message remains relevant wherever people are judged by their identity rather than their character. Families should teach children to respect people of different backgrounds, educational institutions should discourage discrimination, and community leaders should promote dialogue rather than division.
Harmony does not require uniformity of belief. It requires equal dignity, mutual understanding and the willingness to live peacefully with differences.
Education must produce responsible citizens
A society's educational progress cannot be measured by degrees and examination results alone. Education should also develop independent thinking, honesty, compassion and a sense of responsibility.
Gandhi's educational philosophy emphasised practical learning and the relationship between education and life.
For today's students, this means learning to question information intelligently, respect teachers and classmates, develop useful skills and understand their responsibilities towards society. Parents and teachers must lead by example because children often learn more from adult behaviour than from lectures.
An educated person should not merely know more; that person should also learn to use knowledge responsibly.
Development must reach ordinary people
Gandhi's emphasis on village development, self-reliance, sanitation and the dignity of labour offers another way to examine national progress.
Roads, technology, institutions and economic growth are important. But development must also be judged by whether ordinary families can access quality education, healthcare, livelihood opportunities and essential public services.
In rural and remote areas, including parts of Jammu and Kashmir, the needs of students, farmers, workers and small business owners deserve sustained attention. Public services must reach people effectively, and citizens should have meaningful opportunities to raise legitimate concerns.
Gandhi's legacy encourages us to look beyond impressive statistics and ask a more fundamental question: are the benefits of progress reaching the people who need them?
Simplicity, integrity and the dignity of work
Modern society often measures success through wealth, status and outward appearance. Gandhi's emphasis on simplicity and self-discipline offers an opportunity to reconsider these measures.
Simplicity does not mean rejecting ambition or material progress. It means recognising that success should be accompanied by integrity, contentment and concern for others. Honest work deserves respect, whether it is performed by a teacher, farmer, sanitation worker, journalist or shopkeeper.
A person's contribution to society cannot be measured by income or social position alone.
Remember Gandhi critically, not ceremonially
An intellectual understanding of Gandhi requires neither unquestioning admiration nor automatic rejection. Historical figures should be studied through their writings, actions, achievements, limitations and the circumstances in which they lived.
Students should be encouraged to read original texts, examine historical evidence and ask difficult questions. Respectful criticism is not the enemy of learning; it is part of serious intellectual engagement.
Gandhi's importance becomes clearer when his ideas are studied in context and assessed for their relevance to present-day challenges.
The real tribute begins after October 2
Gandhi Jayanti should encourage practical commitments. We can verify information before sharing it, refuse to participate in discrimination, treat workers with dignity, keep our surroundings clean, help those in need and raise concerns peacefully and responsibly.
These actions may appear small, but the health of a society depends on the everyday choices of its citizens as much as on the decisions of its institutions.
Ultimately, Gandhi's legacy is not merely a chapter in history. It is an invitation to examine the relationship between our principles and our behaviour.
The real tribute to Mahatma Gandhi is not measured by the number of speeches delivered in his memory, but by the honesty, compassion and responsibility we bring into our daily lives.
