FROM MAULANA'S DESK

Gandhism was based on peaceful struggle. At that time Gandhi opted for mass mobilization, a technique he used against British power. For this purpose he adopted such methods as hunger strikes, street demonstrations, non-co-operation, civil disobedience, etc. This method was a kind of mob activism. Our present leaders have also adopted the same tactics. But the fact is that this kind of method has lost its relevance in modern India. A commentator has rightly said that protest activism generates more heat than light. I am a Gandhian, I believe that Gandhism is relevant in modern India also, but not on the old pattern. Now we have to apply Gandhism to the new situation. This new application of Gandhism may be called Neo-Gandhism. Neo is a prefix, meaning an old idea in modern form. There are several examples where scholars have used this prefix, that is, accepting the old with some modifications, for example, Neo-Marxism, NeoPlatonism, Neo-Darwinism, etc. Neo-Gandhism is the best word for reviving Gandhism in the present Indian situation. While the old pattern of the Gandhian method was based on mass mobilization, Neo-Gandhism will be based on the re-engineering of people’s minds. In the present situation, simply protesting will not work. We need to evolve a new way of thinking. We have to try to establish a duty-conscious society rather than a rights conscious society. Since 1950 I have been successfully carrying out this very task. Here I would like to give two examples; first, of the Muslim community of India and second, of the people of Kashmir. It is a well-known fact that after Independence there was great conflict between Hindus and Muslims. Every day there were riots between these two communities. Then through my mission, the Muslim mindset changed. I gave them the message that mere reaction would not work, you have to see things in a positive manner. Now, it is common knowledge that communal riots in India have been minimized to a considerable degree. This change is a direct result of our peace mission. I have published many books aimed at this. Two examples are 'Hindustani Musalman' (Urdu), and 'Indian Muslims: The Need for a Positive Outlook' (English).