Dozens of Indian Americans gathered at the Union Square Park on 14th Street, New York City on Monday, October 2, 2006 to honor the Father of Indian nation on his 137th birthday. There were no speeches and no rallies, but it was a very solemn ceremony, that attracted hundreds of onlookers, who were rushing to their offices in the morning hours to pause and pay tribute at the feet Mahatma Gandhi's statue standing on the western corner of the Union Square Park.
 
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869, at Porbandar, a small town on the western coast of India, which was then one of the many tiny states in Kathiawar, a British ruled territory. His three year's stay in South Africa persuaded Gandhi that he could not desert a cause he had so warmly espoused. On his return to India, he visited many cities in India and worked hard to interest the editors of papers and eminent public men in the unfortunate condition of Indians in South Africa.
 
For Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi's“Mahatma Gandhi for millions of Indians - his life and thoughts were two sides of the same coin and hence the book unfolds a life which was dedicated for human liberation. It was a life that encompassed the compassion of Gautam Buddha and the passion of Christ for service to humankind. Perhaps this prompted Albert Einstein to say that the forthcoming generations would not even believe that such a man walked on this planet.
 
In his life of truth and Nonviolence, he could melt the differences between individuals, countries and continents. The book, in fact, re-establishes the relevance of the Mahatma in modern times. Several scholars have described this book, which has been translated in many languages, as the new "Bible" or the new "Gita". This 496 page book is about the Mahatma's thoughts on truth, nonviolence, fearlessness, democracy, simplicity, Sarvodaya, trusteeship, celibacy, self-reliance and about himself.
 
The book is divided into 15 chapters and 96 subjects. "I have nothing new to say...the principles of truth and nonviolence are as old as the hills", Mahatma wrote. These words derived their strength from the life of Mahatma who epitomized these values. Mahatma's words came alive with the wisdom he found in confronting personal and social problems. Now, for many, they are not just words, but the power of life. Mahatma's struggle was not against any individual but against the system of oppression.
 
Gandhi wrote, "My soul refuses to be satisfied so long as it is a helpless witness of a single wrong or a single misery. But it is not possible for me, a weak, frail, miserable being, to mend every wrong or to hold myself free of blame for all the wrong I see.
 
The spirit in me pulls one way, the flesh in me pulls in the opposite direction. There is freedom from the action of these two forces, but that freedom is attainable only by slow and painful stages." Gandhi ji went on to add, "I cannot attain freedom by a mechanical refusal to act, but only by intelligent action in a detached manner. This struggle resolves itself into an incessant crucifixion of the flesh so that the spirit may become entirely free."
 
His philosophy and the mission the he started a century ago, is alive across the world. There are several institutions that seek to carry on his legacy. Students from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, New York, paid tribute last Monday by singing Gandhiji's favourite bhajans (hymns) at Union Sqauare. This was then followed by garlanding of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi by diplomats and civic leaders. Neelam Deo, Consul General of India, A R Ghanashyam, Deputy Consul Gneral, Dr. Neena Malhotra, Minister at the Consul General led the garlanding ceremony. Then each of those assembled to honor his memory walked upto the statute and placed a rose each at his feet and paid their homage and honor to the Father of the Nation and a great apostle of peace and non-violence.
 
"The best tribute we can make to Mahatma Gandhi is to remain steadfast in our commitment to build a world order free of war, want and exploitation," Manmohan Singh's words are a call to the entire world to make rid the world of all that divides humanity.

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