2nd October - The Birth Anniversary of Indian Stalwarts, Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri

Today marks the 153rd birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Mahatma Gandhi or Bapu as he is lovingly called is the father of our nation.

We have grown up singing the words, " दे दी हमें आज़ाद बिना खड़ग बिना ढाल

साबरमती के संत तूने कर दिया कमाल "

Mahatma Gandhi is one of those leaders we know and are familiar with even before we start learning history. We are taught with his principles even before we start understanding the concepts of secularism, nationalism, and non-violence. As a nation, we have always aspired and tried to walk on the path he led and the values he tried to instill. 75 years after freedom and over 70 years since he died, Mahatma Gandhi continues to inspire our nation.

Mahatma Gandhi was born as Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi in Porbandar, in coastal Gujarat. He trained to be a lawyer in London, England, and then moved back to India. However, he moved to South Africa soon and started his legal practice there. He was shocked by the injustice that was met to Indians there and started fighting for their rights.

Interestingly, he was hesitant about coming to India and joining in the freedom struggle. He was later persuaded by Gopal Krishna Gokhale, whom the mahatma considered his political guru.

Who could have imagined that a lawyer who could not build a successful career in India and was hesitant to come back would take the country by storm and would haunt the British government till the very end? Leading the freedom struggle using strictly nonviolent means, Bapu inspired many future leaders. One such disciple of his was Lal Bahadur Shastri who shared his birthday with the Mahatma.

Lal Bahadur Shastri went on to play an important role in India's freedom struggle and also became our 2nd   Prime Minister. He led the country through the Indo- Pak war of 1965 popularising slogans like "Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan". He also championed the white revolution which is the reason why India is the biggest producer of milk in the world today.

Shastri, much like Mahatma Gandhi was a simple man. Down to earth and humble, he also had a steely resolve which was on full display during the war. In his quiet way, Lal Bahadur Shastri also brought about many economical changes in India. He was a man with no ideological blinders, he saw facts and what they were and used the best methods possible for solving the problem at hand. He introduced measures that decentralized decision-making and empowered the private sector.

India has been blessed with leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri who paved the way for the future generation to flourish. They instilled in us values like secularism and nonviolence. They taught us to hold our heads high while making sure that our feet are firmly planted on the ground.

I humbly pay my tributes to these two stalwarts of our nation.    

                                                           - Vaadasabha member

                                                              Yugandhara Barve