E-Book - Mahatma Gandhi

Gandhi’s Pancha Mahavrat… 53absolute truth is reflected in it. Two, no one could perceiveabsolute truth in its totality and in one go, it could beapprehended only in fragments, viz., relative truth. Hence, it isthe duty of every man to pursue his truth in his own light. Hewas aware that in the course of pursuit of relative truth bydifferent individuals, the possibility of conflict could not betotally eliminated. To avoid such a situation, he suggested anumber of remedial measures. In the first place, he favourssetting up of a certain moral value system for the seekers oftruth. Thus such a man must cultivate non-violence, humilityand other virtues in the depth of his being. Besides, he must getrid of anger, selfishness, hatred and other negative feelingsquite common among average human beings. Not only that, aseeker of truth must transcend the pair of opposites like victoryand defeat, success and failure, pain and pleasure, etc. Andabove all, a seeker of truth must be able to love the meanestcreation in the world, as much as he loves himself. Thus, aseeker of truth must walk on the path of sadhana. This isnothing but a call for the transformation of personality of theseeker of truth in a slow and gradual manner. To avoid asituation of moral chaos and confusion, on account of thepursuit of relative truth by different individuals, Gandhiintroduced the idea of Satyagraha. A Satyagrahi not onlyfollows certain Yama-Niyams (disciplines), but also everengaged in the task of purifying his soul. Besides, in the pursuitof his relative truth he not only adheres to non-violence but healso invites self-suffering in the process of appealing to thesense of goodness of the other person. He also believed thatcosmos is governed by the eternal law of truth (Rita), hence,ultimately that relative truth would prevail which is inconsonance with the Rita which is nothing but absolute truth.Gandhi’s Concept of Truth/God: A CritiqueGandhi’s concept of truth has attracted a number ofcritical points. In the first place, one could very well argue that