Ashutosh Salil and Barkha Mathur on the Continuing Relevance of Mahatma Gandhi

Co-authors of Being the Change: In the Footsteps of the Mahatma, Ashutosh Salil and Barkha Mathur write about documenting the stories of social justice warriors who are quietly powering the country’s progress by being agents of real change, deriving their spirit for change from the Mahatma. Read more:

Truly in the Footsteps of the Mahatma

— Ashutosh Salil, Barkha Mathur

“A man is but a product of his thoughts, what he thinks he becomes.”

Come October and discussions begin to revolve around Mahatma Gandhi and his continuing relevance. But we need not wait till Gandhi Jayanti to bring up Bapu. All we need to do is explore within us to know that his core message is ingrained within. Simple things like speaking the truth, caring for the weaker among us, keeping our surroundings clean, being patient while dealing with adversities, and so on are values we can focus on daily. These were also strongly advocated by the Mahatma.

“Our greatest ability as humans is not to change the world but to change ourselves.”

Bapu was designated Mahatma, ‘great soul’, because he always worked for the good of humanity. Through his speech and actions he showed an entire generation and many more to come, what could be achieved by practising what we preach. This made him one of the most talked about and quoted individuals in the world and also the most recognizable Indian. Back in his native country there are many who by following his philosophy have gone on to do an immense amount of service to the disadvantaged.

“Happiness is when what you think, what you say and what you do are in Harmony.”

As we met the protagonists of our book, Being the Change: In the Footsteps of the Mahatma, what emerged was that they were totally at peace with their inner and outer environment. Having given up the comforts of urban life, they had chosen to put to use their education and training in the service of those who needed it the most. Following in the footsteps of Gandhi, they had achieved what they had set out to. For them joy came from the conversion of their intention to serve the destitute into reality. They brought about this change in others by being the change they had set out to effect. Their work spoke louder than mere words or ideas ever could. They had wiped the tears of the neglected, provided comfort through medical care and empowered the impoverished through education and opportunities. Their thoughts, words and deeds were in absolute harmony like a well-balanced musical composition.

“Service without humility is egotism and selfishness.”

While meeting the subjects of our book, one thing that emerged was their extreme humility towards those they had decided to serve. In their approach towards them, in the manner in which medical treatments were given – in ramshackle mud huts then and in modern critical care hospitals now, the relationship we saw was of mutual care and need. For the poor in need of care, the activists were a godsend; for the activists it was a labour of love. It is no surprise then that they have earned the complete trust of the people they serve while giving them boundless love in return.

“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”

In the book, we have documented how even in the face of intense provocation, Dr Ravindra Kolhe held back. Dr Ashish Satav and his eye surgeon wife, Kavita, have been threatened, but as Dr Satav believes, “Truth can get troubled but never defeated.” They have stuck around and succeeded in their objectives. Smita Kolhe tends to the same people who had once threatened her husband and forced liquor down the throats of her young sons. She believes that forgiving and forgetting the misdeeds of others is the only sane way forward.

“See the good in people and help them.”

When the young children of his nomadic tribe asked him to provide tobacco and liquor as a pre-requisite for enrolling in schools, Matin Bhosle didn’t get upset. He could see what change would happen if these children were put in an enabling environment. All the setbacks that life had dealt him, didn’t deter Bandu Dhotre from helping the youth in his Chandrapur. He brought them together and harnessed their energy to bring about real change. Shubhda Deshmukh continued to organise women in self-help groups even when she faced the ire of their families because she knew she was strengthening them.  Dr Satish Gogulwar sought out traditional mendicants and trained them to preserve their heritage to counter quacks who had arrived in the village in the guise of medical practitioners. By training and creating a new line of vaidus, or traditional healers, Dr Gogulwar helped conserve a traditional form of medicine.

Our biggest takeaway while working on this book has been to see Bapu’s message being put to practice and reaping rich results in these times. It has also enforced our belief that the Mahatma is a perennial source of inspiration, relevant in all times and to all generations.