SoCultures October 2018
SoCultures is a global digital magazine. It's about connecting the world with cultural stories and collaborations.
SoCultures is a global digital magazine. It's about connecting the world with cultural stories and collaborations.
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
<strong>SoCultures</strong> <strong>October</strong> <strong>2018</strong><br />
spent in South Africa as profound, spiritual and filled with lots of political<br />
experiences.<br />
S Bapu, you have created many movements, you were a leading figure in the<br />
negotiations, resorted to fasts to raise voice against injustices, visited many a<br />
troubled areas and advocated many persuasive methods of civil disobedience,<br />
civil rights movements which influenced leaders of civil rights movements around<br />
the world, What do you think are your achievements?<br />
M I think that I walk every day for 18 kms for the last forty years. Ha! Ha! (Starts<br />
laughing).<br />
S Oh, that’s indeed discipline; after all you need tremendous stamina, good health<br />
and will power to change the course of history.<br />
But let me just tell you a few of your achievements that tweaked the history of the<br />
world.<br />
Your civil disobedience movement which inspired thousands across the globe was<br />
itself a big inspiration. You were responsible for the Civil Rights movement in<br />
twelve countries across four continents. You fought against racial discrimination<br />
in South Africa, your Satyagraha campaign in SA led to the 1914 Indian Relief Act.<br />
You won the first battle of civil disobedience in India at Champaran where your<br />
organized protests and strikes to get farmers compensation and control against the<br />
landlords made the British landlords signed an agreement granting more rights to<br />
the farmers..Also you successfully led a non-violent tax revolt in Kheda in Gujarat.<br />
Then there was the popular Non-cooperation movement in early 1920s.<br />
(Interviewer looks in amazement) How could you do so mach Mahatma?<br />
M (shrugs) It was just the outcomes of my beliefs. I think. I find all the religions<br />
as equal and I also believe in trying to pursue and express the same eternal truths<br />
and wisdom. Well, I fiercely advocate non-violence and compassion also.<br />
S I am not done yet. In South Africa, you promoted football as the non-violent<br />
campaigns and helped establish three football clubs in Durban, Pretoria and<br />
Johannesburg..<br />
M<br />
(closes eyes and smiles) Dhanyawad! Thanks!<br />
S Why you always wore Dhoti or Loincloth? Bapu?<br />
144 | P a g e
Change language