Non-violence and Truth are inseparable and complement one another. Truth and Nonviolence are generally considered to be the two key constituents of Gandhian philosophy. Gandhi ji’s life was rooted in India’s religious tradition with its emphasis on a passionate search for its truth, a profound respect for life, the ideal of non-violence, and the readiness to sacrifice all for the knowledge of God. He lived his whole life in the perpetual quest of truth. The English word “truth” is an imperfect translation of Sanskrit, “Satya” and “Non-Violence” an even more imperfect translation of “ahimsa”. Actually, truth and ahimsa are closely integrated with his philosophy of life.
Gandhiji was an outspoken promoter of non-violence and truth. The concepts of Truth and non-violence were very important to him. Gandhiji associates God with Truth. Many thinkers believe that God is the highest reality. At the same time, Gandhi asserts that Truth is the only thing that exists. As a result, both truth and God represent the highest or ultimate reality. Gandhi believed that non-violence in its purest form could never be implemented in practice.
However, relative non-violence can be practiced. According to Gandhi, the perfect straight line as defined by Euclid cannot be drawn. Similarly, perfect non-violence is impossible to achieve. Gandhi claimed that man possesses the divine spark, that must continually strive to keep the divine spark alive. As a result, Gandhi considered non–violence to be the law of our species.
At the same time, Gandhi recognized that practicing total non-violence in our daily lives is impossible. According to MK Gandhi, “Truth could not be realised without the practice of non-violence. As a result, Non-Violence is the universe’s ultimate cementing link which has its source in God or Truth”.
Truth and Non-Violence are inextricably linked. They are two sides of the same coin. Non-violence doesn’t mean we have to passively accept injustice.
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