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Foreword
I am very pleased to write this Foreword for Professor Satish Sharma's excellent and much needed book Gandhi's Gurus: Rajchandra Ravjibhai Mehta, published by the International Center for Jain Studies of Gujarat Vidyapith, Ahmedabad. Violence is these days all over the world and at all levels of functioning, family, community, nation, and internationally. Terrorist groups are numerous and they are trying to change the face of this earth by following rigid and non-inclusive philosophies. Even the nationstates are prone to pursuing the paths of violence while resolving outstanding economic, social, and political issues and they are not willing to give peace processes a chance to work and be effective. Lots of excuses are offered for the use of violent measures at all levels and under these circumstances the whole world is being shoved into a state of turmoil and misery. No one is sincerely talking about fairness, justice, and brotherhood these days. Moral values are getting very low. Historically similar circumstances had prevailed in the past when Krishna, Mahavira, Buddha, Christ, Kabir, Nanak, and others were born to deliver the message of peace and nonviolence and lead the people to fairness, justice, and sense of brotherhood. So, the activeness of the wicked persons and the inactiveness of the noble minded persons leads towards an atmosphere of violence and animosity in the society. We need at present others like Krishna, Mahavira, Buddha, Christ, Kabir, and Nanak on the scene to teach humanity the lessons of peace and nonviolence and inculcate in them the sense of respect, tolerance, fairness, and justice.
Gandhi was one in the long line of apostles of peace and nonviolence and he is well-known for his efforts in this area worldwide. He regarded Rajchandra Ravjibhai Mehta as one of his first and foremost gurus and his other acknowledged gurus were Leo Tolstoy, John Ruskin, and Henry David Thoreau. Professor Sharma is right in pointing out that in spite of the immense stature of Rajchandra and the fact that Gandhi showered upon him so much respect and reverence, not much is known about this saintphilosopher of India. The present work, therefore, is pioneer in this sense and will prove invaluable for scholars and students worldwide. Rajchandra was a jain and Gandhi was a vaishnava, but true saints never feel restricted by artificial boundaries. Paramount on their mind is the search for truth and overall welfare of the society. This
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