Philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi in "Waiting for the Mahatma" by R.K Narayan

R.K.Narayan in his noted novel "Waiting for the Mahatma" delineates the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi. Almost all the actions of this novel centre around his philosophy and all of the characters are seen motivated by his philosophy to free the country. And this philosophy is his philosophy of non-violence. It was a weapon he used to fight the odds, the evils and all the things bad with others and themselves, and this philosophy emerged as the powerful tool for positive social change.

Gandhi mainly focuses on the philosophy of non-violence but side by side he also includes other rules and regulations for establishing his philosophy and these sub philosophy includes Ahimsha, Absolute Truth, Satyagraha etc.

 

Gandhi’s Message of Nonviolence

Gandhi’s greatest contribution to humanity is his message of nonviolence as the way to peace, justice, and God. Gandhi took seriously the biblical commandments, “Thou shalt not kill” and “Love your enemies,” along with the Hindu tradition of ahimsa (non-killing), and applied this rejection of violence to his own heart and life as well as to South Africa, India and the world. But he taught that nonviolence is not just refusal to kill: it is the action of love and truth as a force for positive social change. Indeed, he insisted that nonviolence was the most active and powerful force in the world. Since he saw it as the force of God, the method of God, the power of God at work for good among the human race, he concluded that nonviolence is more powerful than nuclear weapons.

In this novel he says, "We, the citizens of this country, are all soldiers of a non-violent army."

Mahatma believed that they should drive away the British from India through non-violent way. And he explained how it could be practiced in daily life. He says in favour of non-violence that this procedure is very simple and people should have faith in oneself. And says that one should be aware of the fact that ones conduct should not cause “pain to other”.

When someone has wronged or has done something which appears to you to be evil, just pray for the destruction of that evil. Cultivate an extra affection for the person and you will find that you are able to bring about a change in him."

Mahatma does not believe that by maintaining a violent way they can attain freedom rather than he has some other opinion about this violent way.

According to his opinion, by arising sympathy to the enemy, one can establish friendship with his enemy. His philosophy is hate the sin not the sinner.

 

Mahatma also teach the people of India that at first they should make their heart pure so that only love can reside there. He believes  bitterness exists along with violence. So at first they should make their heart clean so that no hatred, and bitterness can exist there-

"I want you really to make sure of a change in your heart before you ever think of asking the British to leaves the shores of India. . . I want you to clear your hearts and minds and make certain that only love reside there, and there is no residence of bitterness for past history. Only then can you say to the British.”

 

While Gandhi was a brilliant political strategist and revolutionary, what set him apart from others was his unique reliance upon God in his public practice of nonviolence. Nonviolence for Gandhi was not just a tactic, but a spirituality, a way of life, the center of his religion. “Nonviolence succeeds only when we have a real living faith in God,” Gandhi insisted.

Gandhi preaches the theme of non-violence and tells the people to obey the rules of non-violence in such a way that the theme should cling to the heart. And he admonishes to not to let it go from their heart. Thus he compares it with a garment wear that we put on  and put off. He says, “non-violence is not a garment to be put on and off.” Rather it should be an inseparable part (of ) our very being.”

 

Absolute Truth:

“It is more correct to say that Truth is God than to say that God is Truth”  (Gandhi 2000, pp 35).

 

In this principle of non-violence Gandhi introduces technique of resistance to evil and untruth. His satyagraha is inspired by boundless love and compassion. It is opposed to sin, not sinner, the evil, not evil doer.

Gandhi says, “There is no half way between truth and non-violence on the one hand and untruth and violence on the other.”

Gandhi was a speaker of the truth and he does not like falsehood. As we see in this novel that when Sriram is waiting outside the hut of Mahatma, Bharati warns him that no one except close association is allowed to enter Bapuji’s presence. Sriram tells that he will tell that he is the friend of Bharati but Bharati denies and explains, “None except absolute truth speaker are allowed to come into Mahatma’s camp. People who come here must take an oath of absolute truth before going onto Mahatma’s presence.”

But for me, truth is the sovereign principle, which included numerous other principles. This truth is not only truthfulness in word, but truthfulness in thought also, and not only the relative truth of our conception, but the Absolute Truth, the Eternal Principle, that is God. There are innumerable definitions of God, because His manifestations are innumerable. They overwhelm me with wonder and awe and for a moment stun me. But I worship God as Truth only. I have2hatma Gandhi always insisted on Truth and Non-violence as the inseparable part of humanism.

 

Ahimsha: (to do no harm) SOME OF THE QUOTES REGADING AHIMSHA ARE GIVEN BELOW:

 

"If I have the slightest suspicion that your heart is not pure or that there is bitterness there, I'd rather have the British stay on. It's the lesser of the two evils."

“Whenever you are confronted with an opponent. Conquer him with love.”

 

“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible but in the end, they always fall - think of it, ALWAYS.”

 

 

Live Without Luxuries:

Mahatma does not like Luxurious life. He wanted to lead a life simply like thousands of other people. Narayan depicts in many situation where Mahatna did not accept the luxurious life rather he wanted to live with the poor fellow. We see at Magludi he does not accept the chairman’s proposal to live in his ‘Backingham Palace’ like house rather he stays in the sweeper colony.

Even we have seen that Gandhi walks bare foot and sits anywhere without hesitation. Even he wears handmade cloths.

He advocated daily use of the spinning wheel to make one’s own clothing, and a boycott against British clothing. He campaigned for the development of “constructive programs,” which would improve village life for ordinary, impoverished Indians.