A DAY TO REMEMBER

Today is a day to remember Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri. They both have left an indelible mark on the national ethos. Gandhi for his truth and non-violence and Shastri for his advocacy of Jai Jawan Jai Kisan. As the country looks for answers for its many problems, recapitulating the life and times of the two leaders may do a world of good if the present day leaders could adopt a lifestyle that they practised.

Both Gandhi and Shastri were epitomes of courage and morality and practised value-based leadership that is necessary today when the country is witnessing turbulence and dissatisfaction in great measure. The populace always looks to leadership in such situations and craves for value-driven people to give them solace.

Talking of Gandhi, the very fact that the United Nations celebrates his birthday as world non-violence day is ample proof to suggest what Gandhi stood for. Gandhi practised what the preached. While many may now like to find faults with his ways, the approach adopted by him was perhaps best suited for those times.

In fact, Gandhi’s views on living — that is leading a simple life — is perhaps what is the need today as from threats to the climate to social disharmony all point out at faulty lifestyles. Consumption and greed are causes of most of the societal problems. His views on economics and business, and on education may all be useful if adapted suitably.

Coming to Shastri, the one regret that the nation has is that he died early. But the two odd years of his Premiership were good enough to prove the kind of leader he was. Tough and decisive, simple and honest. Shastri epitomised values in every sense of the term. An anecdote from his life would be proof enough to suggest the mettle the man was made of.

The story dates back to the pre-Independence days when the Congress was spearheading the Indian freedom movement and many of its leaders were put behind bars by the then British Government. Shastri was also jailed. There was a Servants of the People Society that paid maintenance to the freedom fighters so that their families could be looked after. Shastri was paid `50 per month that was given to his wife, Lalita.

Shastri, on one occasion, wrote a letter to his wife from jail enquiring whether that money was enough to make the family’s ends meet. Lalita wrote back, saying she was able to manage the needs of the family by `40 and was able to save `10. On receiving this information, Shastri wrote to the Society that the sum that was paid to his family may be reduced to `40 and `10 may be given to other needy people. Such exemplary character may be difficult if not impossible to find these days, more so in politics where people seek to reduce their insecurity by more and more money.

What makes leaders great is this kind of character. Little wonder that when at the heat of the 1965 Indo-Pak war, Shastri appealed to fight the food grain crisis by skipping the Monday evening meal, most of the nation obliged. We only wish we had more such political leaders today.