Professor Purushottam Agrawal gave a lecture on "बापू के पदचिन्हों पर"।

 

Prof. Purushottam Agrawal gave a lecture on "बापू के पदचिन्हों पर"।

Prof. started his talk by mentioning about one of his most celebrated talks, published as a monograph, and that was the Gandhi Peace Foundation lecture, titled 'Majbooti ka naam Mahatma Gandhi' (2005), which throws new light on the issues of violence and power. Some of the points which Prof. highlighted about Gandhi Ji and his own views are as follows:

-Gandhi Ji questioned even PURE VIOLENCE also (पवित्र हिंसा). Prof. told that we need to understand the meaning of 'Truth and Ahimsa' in real sense. Also, what we need to learn is that "how to learn with having a sense of reason and rationality."

-"When it comes to ethical principles, nothing is indigenous and foreign", Prof. said.

-According to Dr. Agrawal, the most important lesson which we (especially "the youth") can learn from Gandhi Ji is: to recognise the FEAR & to learn how to overcome and conquer the same using the MEDIUM of our own choices on the basis of our belief. इसी के साथ-साथ 'विवेक का विकास कैसे किया जाएं', यह पाठ भी हमें गांधीजी से सीखना चाहिए।

FEAR is natural. The way we regulate our thirst, hunger and other things; FEAR can also be regulated.

[Gandhi Ji used RAMA as a medium (निर्भय का प्रतीक) to overcome his fears during his childhood days and in later times also.]

-Gandhi Ji was asked once (in a debate) about his sources or authority. He said, "My authority resides inside me, that is my CONSCIENCE."

-The concept of GROWTH, GROWTH, GROWTH (which Prof. called 'हप्पूपन' in a local dialect) without 'Conscience of Justice' is nothing but waste and will lead us nowhere.

-Gandhi Ji emphasised upon "Authentic moral living"

-Industrialisation with moral discipline (नैतिक अनुशासन) should be done.

-not only "consistency" is important, as it is the result of the little minds (according to Gandhi Ji). Consistency with development is more important. To add on this Dr. Agrawal said, "वैचारिक विकास जब अवसरवाद का परिणाम बन जाएं, तो वो किसी भी रूप में विकास की परिभाषा के अनुसार उपयुक्त नहीं होता"।

-Ideologies or opinions on any topic change with time. It is better to make a judgement or opinion for someone on the basis of his/her later declaration about any topic rather than his/her early views about the same.

-Gandhi Ji was against EXCLUSIVE NATIONALISM.

Prof. further remarked–

-"महानता, सफलता में नहीं होती"।

-"जिस चीज़ के मैं सख़्त खिलाफ रहता हूं और जिससे मुझे सख़्त घृणा है, वो है 'कृतघ्नता’, यह अपराध के समान है"।

-"हमें अपना ओछापन, इन बड़े लोगों पर आरोपित नही करना चाहिए"।

-"AUTHORITARIAN CHARACTER" लोगों को डराता है, क्योंकि वो स्वंय भी डरता है।

-"सीखने का विवेक" भी बेहद ज़रूरी है।

-When you criticise a historical character, do criticise him/her but in a historical way, considering the contemporary political, socio–religious conditions in your mind.

This lecture was organised by National Movement Front on 28-01-2023.

Purushottam Agrawal is a visiting faculty at Ashoka University. He served as member of the Union Public Service Commission of India from 2007 to 2013. Prior to this, he was chairperson, Centre of Indian Languages, Jawaharlal Nehru University. He has also served as visiting professor at the Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Oxford, EL Colegio de Mexico and the University of Cambridge.