Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will!
Mahatma Gandhi and His Spinning Wheel, Margaret Bourke-White—The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Gandhiji’s life, ideas and work are of crucial importance to all those who want a better life for humankind. The political map of the world has changed dramatically since his time, the economic scenario has witnessed unleashing of some disturbing forces, and the social set-up has undergone a tremendous change. The importance of moral and ethical issues raised by him, however, remain central to the future of individuals and nations.
We can still derive inspiration from the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi who wanted us to remember the age old saying, “In spite of death, life persists, and in spite of hatred, love persists.” Rabindranath Tagore addressed him as ‘Mahatma’ and the latter called the poet ‘Gurudev’. Subhas Chandra Bose had called him ‘Father of the Nation’ in his message on Hind Azad Radio.
9th June 1925: Mahatma Gandhi at a spinning wheel during a ‘Charlea’ demonstration in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)Gandhi leading his followers on the famous Dandi March to abolish the British salt laws in March 1930.Gandhi at Dandi, Gujarat, picking salt on the beach at the end of the Salt March, 5 April 1930. Behind him is his second son Manilal Gandhi and Mithuben Petit.Gandhi at his arrival from India at Marseille, France, on September 11th, 1931, going to England to attend the Round Table Conference. On his right is Madeleine Rolland, sister of Romain Rolland. On his left is Madeleine Slade, often called Mirabehn. Gandhi brought with him from India two goats to provide his daily ration of milk.12 Sep 1931: Boulogne-sur-Mer, France, Gandhi walks with Sarojini Naidu from the station at Boulogne to the quay where he embarked on the channel steamer for Folkestone.22nd September 1931: An admiring East End crowd gathers to witness the arrival of Mahatma Gandhi, in Canning Town, East London, as he calls upon Charlie Chaplin. Gandhi is in England in his capacity as leader of the Indian National Congress attending the London Round Table Conference on Indian constitutional reform. (Photo by London Express/Getty Images)Gandhi meets with Charlie Chaplin at the home of Dr. Kaitial in Canning Town, London, September 22, 1931. Sarojini Naidu is standing on the right.Gandhi outside 10 Downing Street, London.Mahatma Gandhi is greeted by a crowd of female textile workers during a visit to Darwen, Lancashire, September 26, 1931.(Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)Federal Structure Committee of the India Round-Table Conference at the St. James Palace in London, England. Lord Sankey is seen in the chair, with, on his left, Gandhi and Pandit Malaviya, will state the Congress case. British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald to the right of Mahatma Gandhi, and fourth from the left in the foreground is Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, representative of the “Depressed Classes.”December 1931: Indian thinker, statesman and nationalist leader Mahatma Gandhi with George Lansbury (1859 – 1940) and a group of children at Kingsley Hall in the East End of London. Gandhi stayed at the hall during his visit to London to attend the Round Table Conference. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)Gandhi at the Indian National Congress annual meeting in Haripura in 1938. Congress President Subhas Chandra Bose is wearing the ribbon, seated behind him is Dr. Rajendra Prasad, and to the right of Bose is Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.Rabindranath Tagore with Mahatma Gandhi and Kasturba Gandhi at Shantiniketan in 1940. On March 27, 1942 Mahatma Gandhi called at 3-Queen Victoria Road, New Delhi, and had an interview lasting over two hours with Sir Stafford Cripps. Sir Cripps sees Gandhi to his car, as numerous journalists surround the leader and ask questions.Mahatma Gandhi with Jawaharlal Nehru, during a meeting of the All India Congress, Bombay, India in 1946.Gandhi with Lord and Lady Mountbatten in 1947.Gandhi on his evening walk in Patna, March 22, 1947.In a gentle way, you can shake the world – Mahatma Gandhi.
“Man often becomes what he believes himself to be. If I keep on saying to myself that I cannot do a certain thing, it is possible that I may end up really becoming incapable of doing it. On the contrary, if I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it even if I may not have it at the beginning.” – Mahatma Gandhi
A rare studio photograph of Mahatma Gandhi taken in London at the request of Lord Irwin in 1931.
