Celebrating Mahatma Gandhi Day - Oct. 2, 2012

I didn't know it until I heard it on the CBC this morning that today was Mahatma Gandhi Day, a day to celebrate the life and message Gandhi had for the world. If you don't know about Gandhi, he was the leader of India's struggle for independence, a spiritual teacher who moved people to adopt a life of peace. Unfortunately Gandhi died on January 30, 1948 at the hand of an assassin.

He had an extraordinary life from a boy growing up in India, to a student of law in London, then working to achieve legal equality for Indians and Negroes in South Africa and his final years spent back in India helping to secure India's independence. In his later years he developed a great spirituality which attracted many followers and his teachings still live on today for those of us who seek a world where all people are equal and live without poverty. He lived a life of passion and non-violence and encouraged others to do the same.

Mahatma Gandhi made many pronouncements during his life which if followed today would result in a world of peace. I have included some of Gandhi's sayings that resonate with me and I know that if others took heed of Gandhi's words I am sure we would all be able to enjoy a harmonious world where all could live in equality.

Here are some of Mahatma Gandhi's thoughts and  sayings:

" Unity in diversity  - The need for the moment is not one religion but mutual respect and tolerance of the devotees of different religions."

"On the reduction of poverty - Industrialization will increase India's grinding pauperism. Instead of increasing mass production, let us look to production by the masses."

" His ideal village would be a complete republic, independent of its neighbours for its vital wants and yet interdependent for many wants in which dependence is a necessity including growing its own useful crops, providing clean water, schools, theatre, public halls and electricity in every hut. For Gandhi self governing and self reliant villages trading with nearby self-sufficient villages was his recipe for democracy."

" All my life I have stood, as everyone should stand, for minorities and those in need . . ."

The Ronnie Fund stands for those in need in Wongonyi Village, Kenya who need not a hand out but a hand up, for these proud African people really know the solutions to their own problems they just need a few ideas and perhaps a tool or two to help them realize their potential.

So today we celebrate all that Mahatma Gandhi stood for - for those in the minority, those in need, those who have not been treated justly, those without the simple basic necessities of life. Take a look at your own life, if you have been blessed then pass your blessings on to others go without.