Spirit of Islam, Sept-Oct 2025

G andhi Jayanti is observed annually on October 2 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Historians have described his role in the Indian independence movement as “the most massive and historically effective example of nonviolent activism.” (Encyclopaedia Britannica, Vol. 13, p. 850) Under his leadership, and for the first time in human history, a nonviolent movement achieved political success of such magnitude. Peaceful methods were employed to bring about India’s independence on August 15, 1947. Gandhi also sought to usher in social reform through nonviolence, but his efforts were cut short by his assassination. The commemoration of Gandhi Jayanti serves as a reminder of the unfinished mission of transforming society through nonviolent means. The reform of a nation depends on the reform of its individuals, who constitute the basic units of society. The preamble to UNESCO affirms that violence originates in the mind and that it can also be ended in the mind. Violence, in any sphere, stems from individual thought; therefore, the path to a peaceful society lies in reshaping thinking from violence to nonviolence through education and intellectual development. The principles of the Gandhi Andolan can be applied to achieve nonviolent social change by fostering nonviolence at the mental level. Intellectual awakening provides the only lasting foundation for a peaceful world. Although this is a long and arduous process, there is no alternative if sustainable peace is to be achieved. Over decades, practical application of these principles has shown that individuals who adopt peaceful thinking can abandon violence and contribute constructively to society. Two principles form the core of such transformation: tolerance and avoidance. MAHATMA GANDHI’S UNFULFILLED MISSION Violence, in any sphere, stems from individual thought; therefore, the path to a peaceful society lies in reshaping thinking from violence to nonviolence through education and intellectual development.