Mohandas to Mahatma - Experiments with Truth

Who was M.K. Gandhi? Indians know him as 'Bapu', or the 'Father of the nation.' What makes him so? Was it his experiments in the political field? Or was it his experiments in the spiritual field? He is known as 'Mahatma' Gandhi. However this title actually pained him deeply, and he did not attach much value to it. Gandhiji's goal that he had been striving to achieve for decades, was none other than Moksha, or self-realization. His life's journey was a quest for truth itself, as the sovereign and eternal principle. Gandhiji placed Truth above any perception of God. He worshiped God as truth only, not in the form of deity. His goal was the absolute truth, however until he was able to realize the absolute, he held on steadfast to the relative truth as conceived by him. This assumption of relative truth as it occured to him at any given point in time, and acting on it constituted his 'Experiments with truth.' Depending on whether his experiments failed or succeeded, he modified his perceptions in accordance with reality.


Some people think that he was born a Mahatma and was some kind of superhuman person. He was anything but superhuman. His human flaws made his achievements all the more exemplary. Gandhijis experiements in his early days saw him eat meat, steal coppers from servants, smoke cigarettes, steal gold from his brother etc. He was able to forgive himself and develop the courage to move on despite numerous failings. He undertook penance for his failed experiments. He took full responsibility for stray incidents of violence in the freedom struggle during movements of noncooperation initiated by him and fasted as penance. Other leaders would have just blamed others but that was not Gandhiji's style.


Gandhiji's qualities are relevant in today's times as much as during the freedom struggle. He was the first leader to walk the talk when it came to Christ's teachings of turning the other cheek. He appealed to people's sense of morals, ethics and justice instead of using violence. In that sense, he had great faith in dharma even when everyone else believed that only might is right. He is one of the greatest leaders the world has ever seen to live the messages of equality, tolerance of all religions, compassion, and justice. He changed the country and the world, one person at a time. He was able to do this by changing himself. He developed the ability to control his own mind and senses through his experiments. Also, he was a Karma Yogi who performed actions never for his selfish motives but for the well being of all including those who persecuted him. This gave him tremendous mental strength and equanimity. He pointed out similarities in the teachings of the Gita, Bible, Koran etc and contributed immensely to harmony among people from different castes, religions, and communities.