Page 95 - DENG201_ENGLISH_II

Unit 5: Comprehension from Seen Passages

Gandhiji is rightly called a universal man, an internationalist who, above the narrow loyalties to Notes
some religion, believed in the great ideals of Truth and Love in which he found a way leading to the
welfare of mankind.
Gandhiji, in true sense, was not a nationalist rafter he was an internationalist. His conviction was that
violence deception were not the only means to achieve the political objectives. If he employed the
weapon of non-violence to set India free, it was not only because he loved India but because he
wanted to extend the same weapon to the rest of the world. He wanted to show how freedom could
be won through non-violent methods.
Gandhiji believed In universal brotherhood. His cosmopolitan outlook made him to believe that
despite having certain conflicts with the British, Indians should not develop any permanent harted
for them because the Indians as wall as the English are the children of God Besides, he believed in
hating the evil and not the evil-doer.
This ardent faith in love made Gandhi to regard other religions as valid as his own since Truth
happens to be the essence of all religions. If indian constitution assigns equal importance to all
religions, it is because of Gandhiji’s teachings.
The wide-spread chaos in the modern world is on account of our failure to realise the universal truth
that all religions aim at the upliftment of men and the greatest religiosity lies in humanism. Gandhiji
wished people to love all irrespective of their caste, creed and religion. He said, “Our primary loyalty
must be to the human race”.
Unfortunately, this sort of common humanity is missing today. The world can be better off if we
inculcate in our young people the sense of world citizenship. The United Nations symbolizes the
concept of globalization.
Gandhiji’s ideals are quite relevant in the present day social contexts. Gandhi would have build a
world state. Moreover, he would have given to the world state a kind of police force to maintain the
normal civil life. He dreamt of a world state where the people of different nationalities would live
like brothers and not like rivals. not like rivals. This transformation of our society may be slow. The
best measure for this change is educating people for the practice of self-denial.
If we go to the prehistoric age, we find that man started his life as an individual, governed by his
individual concept of right and wrong. But gradually he learnt, how to subordinate the individual
interest to the group interests. He accepted the rule of law and then emerged a system, an order of
life. The Sanyasis or sages are above the national or the world goverments. But the common people who
want to live peacefully in a society need a world organization, world police, world bank world cournt and
so on in order to maintain internal order. All this is possible if people cherish belief in the doctrine of non-
violence and employ such ways that are good for the rest of the world. He concludes - “In this connection,
I would only add that Gandhi was anxious that means must be as pure as the end itself”.
Questions for Comprehension
I. Questions for Short Answers:
1. What happens to man when he becomes religious?
Ans. A religious man rises above all the particular group loyalties and becomes a universal man.
2. Name the ideals for which several religions, as mentioned in the essay, stand for.
or
What basic principles did Gandhiji follow?
Ans. The author refers to the Hindus’ principles of Abhaya and Ahimsa, fearlessness and non-
violence; the Buddhists’ doctrines of Prajna and Karuna, wisdom and compassion; the
Christians’ ideals of truth and freedom and also the Muslims’ belief in one God and one
family.
3. What distinguishes Gandhi from common man of the world?
Ans. Gandhi was a man of prophetic nature who lived in accordance with his preaching. An
ordinary man also talks about high ideals but never acts according to them.

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