NONVIOLENCE: A FORCE STRONGER THAN WAR

FROM THE DESK OF THE EDITORIAL DIRECTOR NONVIOLENCE: A FORCE STRONGER THAN WAR Prof Farida Khanam is an author, editor, translator, public speaker and former professor of Islamic Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. Among her books are ‘A Simple Guide to Islam’ and ‘A Study of World’s Major Religions’. She has translated into English many books authored by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Currently the chairperson of CPS International, she is a regular contributor of articles to various publications. Prof Khanam has edited Maulana’s English translation of the Quran and has also translated his Urdu commentary on the Quran into English. She can be reached at spiritofislamperiodical@gmail.com T he International Day of Nonviolence is observed on October 2, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi’s birthday. It encourages us to pledge ‘the universal relevance of the principle of nonviolence’ and the goal ‘to establish a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding, and nonviolence’. In fact, nonviolence is more powerful than the strongest weapon of destruction created by human beings. Nonviolence is considered a high human value across all castes and religions; for example, the epic Mahabharata contains multiple references to ahimsa paramo dharma, meaning that nonviolence is the greatest virtue. The Prophet of Islam said: God grants to nonviolence what he does not grant to violence (Sahih Muslim). In an era when violence frequently makes headlines, Gandhi’s legacy reminds us that lasting revolutions are won not on battlefields but in the realm of ideas. His philosophy not only changed the course of India’s independence movement but also provided the world with a model of resistance based on patience, tolerance, and moral courage. When Gandhi launched his nonviolent struggle, the British found themselves powerless. Accustomed to crushing violent revolts with force, they lost the moral ground. So baffled was one officer that he reportedly wired London: “Kindly advise how to kill a tiger nonviolently.” Gandhi had moved the fight from battlefield to the moral realm, where the empire had no weapon.