Influence Of Jainism On Mahatma Gandhi

Author(s): Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: Jaibhikkhu Sahitya Trust

Page 13

QUOTATIONS FROM THE LIFE AND WORKS OF
MAHATMA GANDHI IN RELATION TO HIS EXPERIENCES WITH
SHRIMAD RAJCHANDRA
Mahatma Gandhi has expressed his deepest respect towards Shrimad Rajchandra in his autobiography "Experiments in Truth" as well as in his various speeches. Expressions of the personal experiences which Mahatma Gandhi had with Shrimad are compiled here:
"I have learnt much from the lives of many a person, but it is from the life of Kavishri (the poet i.e. Shrimad) that I have learnt the most."
[A lecture delivered by Gandhiji in Ahmedabad in 1921]
Mahatma Gandhi lit up the world with his message of Ahimsa (non-violence) and Truth. But who inspired him ? How is it that the barrister Mr. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi became Mahatma Gandhi ? How did he become renowned all over the world as a Mahatma (Great Soul)?
It was Shrimad Rajchandra who inspired Gandhi to embrace Ahimsa and spirituality With this inspiration Gandhiji led a political, religious and social revolution in India. Gandhiji said of Shrimad:
"I cannot describe the lasting influence that Shri Rajchandrabhai had on my life. For many years I have been in search of a righteous person in India, but I have not yet met anyone who can be compared to Shri Rajchandrabhai. Amongst European philosophers, I consider Tolstoy to be top class and Ruskin the second order scholar. However, the experience of Rajchandrabhai was superior to both of them."
On one occasion, someone suggested to Gandhiji: to speak a few words in any language before Shrimad and that Shrimad would recite them back in the same sequence".
This suggestion surprised Gandhiji. Describing himself at that time, he says: I was young, recently returned from England, and proud of my linguistic abilities. I was also very proud of my English connection, and believed that I was superior to others. With all my knowledge, I first made a list of words in different languages, because I was unlikely to remember them myself ! Then I read out all these words. Raichandbhai recited the words back to me in the same sequence, slowly and one after another. I was amazed and dumbfounded. I formed a very high opinion of the phenomenal memory of Kavishri and invied it. This experience can be considered as an excellent contribution in deflating the pride with which I had come back from England."
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