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Vol. XXI, No. 1
about other religions. Indeed he was not satisfied with mere tolerance; what he wanted was a positive outlook of treating all religions on an equal footing with full respect and honour. Gandhi's stand was clear. His ceaseless search for truth enabled him to reach the conclusion that all religions contain universal and absolute truth beyond the dust of creeds and faiths. Religion properly understood could guide people to the right attitude and lead them to the right action. All religions preached love, brotherhood and service and could easily be the true basis for harmony. As he put it, "there is no religion higher than truth and righteousness-and though religions are many, religion is one."
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Symbolising the unity and equality of all religions in his person and his various activities, Gandhi stood for Sarvadharma Samabhav. He began and ended his day with prayers combining almost all the religions. It was through his prayer meetings that he reiterated his message of goodwill, tolerance and harmony of all religions and their peaceful and fruitful co-existence.
Conclusion
The above discussion has shown that for Gandhi the spiritual quest was the primary objective of life but this quest had to be pursued in the world of here and now through service of the distressed. He participated in politics because he found it to be an avenue to serve people. Clarifying his precise position he observed, "The politician in me has never dominated a single decision of mine and if I seem to take part in politics, it is only because politics encircles us today like the coil of the snake from which one cannot get out, no matter how much one tries. I wish therefore to wrestle with the snake." Gandhi's aim was to make politics as an instrument of lokasangraha i.e. controlled by morality and ethics or religion. Thus politics was to be tamed, controlled and regulated by the moral standards and ethical norms of religion. Gandhi had a vision of a society based upon Truth and Non-violence and his wrestling with politics was a part of this overall objective.
Starting from individual transformation through spiritual awakening he aspired to change the entire society in the image of his dream, communal harmony being a rock-bottom necessity. Through removal of mistrust and fear between the two warring communities Gandhi wanted to build bridges of love, understanding and mutual appreciation. No single man could have either attemped or achieved as much as Gandhi did in one lifetime. His lustrous and courageous example enables us to realize the proper and correct relationship between religion and politics.
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