Gandhis Teachers Rajchandra Ravjibhai Mehta

Author(s): Satish Sharma
Publisher: Gujarat Vidyapith Ahmedabad

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greatly impressed Gandhi and inspired him to be like Rajchandra. Of particular note is the advice Rajchandra gave Gandhi when he was in South Africa. Gandhi's Christian and Muslim friends had tried to convert him to Christianity and Islam respectively and under their pressure Gandhi became bewildered and confused. He started wondering if Hindu religion was really practical and workable for of his religious needs. Gandhi, therefore, corresponded with several friends in India and England and sought their advice. He also expressed his difficulties in a letter to Rajchandra and got a prompt response from him. The concluding remark in Rajchandra's response read: "On a dispassionate view of the question. I am convinced that no other religion has the subtle and profound thought of Hinduism, its vision of the soul, or its charity."} This last remark cleared all doubts of Gandhi and he decided to remain in the folds of Hindu religion in which he was naturally born. There are many other influences of Rajchandra on Gandhi, which significantly shaped Gandhi's life, thought, reform endeavors, and his desire to attain mokshat and see God face-to-face.
Rajchandra might have gone largely unnoticed in India and abroad, if it were not for Gandhi's acknowledgement of him as his teacher and guide and a few of Rajchandra's admirers among the Jain community in Gujarat, India. Even with this, not much is known about this saint-philosopher and his life and thought remain practically obscure.
In America and all over the world, numerous courses are taught on Gandhi's life, thought and nonviolent strategies. Many scholars and social activists are busy researching Gandhian thought to find ways to enhance social welfare, social justice, and nonviolent cultures in the world. Readings on Rajchandra's life and thought should be imperative part of these teaching and research endeavors, but very little information is available on this topic in Indian and American libraries or elsewhere.
Main purpose of this work is to bring to the reader the much needed information on the life and thought of Rajchandra. Another particular emphasis is to make the reader
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