When Dawn Breaks

One Man’s Truth against an Empire of Lies: The belief, in truth and the greater good, of Mahatma Gandhi

Author: Rehan

When we are taught about Mahatma Gandhi in our history textbooks, we interpret, instead of having the teachers inculcate, a very juxtaposed image of him, fraught with intrigue about the true nature of this figure. There is an ephemeral sense of shock entwined with an undying sense of pride associated with the years of struggle for our national independence, but above and beyond that, what the tangible results of his struggles fail to make us understand is this simple question — how can you achieve, with a seemingly demure doctrine of non-violence, what the Spanish armada in all its vicious, conquest drunk prowess couldn’t?

There is a discrepancy, based on first impressions, about the efficacy of not lifting the metaphorical finger against an establishment that has made an art out of oppression. The opposing imagery of achieving victory over an empire on one hand while not engaging or endorsing physical combat on the other gives us an archetypal sense of a fearless warrior entombed within the body and mind of a wise old sage-like being.

So, what is it that could be at the crux of the system of beliefs that led to his victory?

Paramount, in my eyes, is truth; more precisely, the act of speaking the truth.

Speaking the truth, in no uncertain terms, is empowering from the start of its utterance because of one straightforward idea — speaking the truth when it is inconvenient to do so, is an act of subjugating your whim to your will. It is an active, aware, and indelibly conscious act aimed at a personal effort to remain aligned with the ethos one has set for themselves; to remain moral in a situation where immorality will be rewarded, it is an unmistakable act of courage. The need for courage, when speaking the truth, is the manifestation of said warrior archetype, for the presence of courage is a marker of determination, and consequently, of ferocity for that which one sets his sights on.

Once the courage has been manifested and the truth uttered, the speaker has instilled within him a realisation of his will, and has immediately promoted his esteem to a higher degree — he is suddenly more capable as a human being, beholden to higher standards that he has set for himself. This encourages the speaker to pursue higher forms of truth, to further elevate his conscience, to be more, and to do more. Courage, in essence, will give birth to perseverance.

No less profound is the effect that speaking the truth has on the masses. It is the ideal of a torchbearer that enlightens the dark and brings to view what the inhabitants of the darkness already know to be there. It is the abnegation of the convenience of self for the greater good of the community that becomes so inspiring, it is a call to arms in a war that can be fought by anyone, for anyone can tell the truth and thus it is the invitation to partake in some act that serves more than the base pleasures and has a chance for creating a visceral mark in the quest for something greater. In essence, it is the exposing of a new opportunity, a new way of living, for those that have come to regard oppression and desolation as the norm.

The depth of speaking the truth cannot be understated, and sadly, it cannot be encased within any credibly viable work of words. Mahatma Gandhi was an incessant orator of truth and an ardent believer in its power to unshackle the hold the British Empire had on India, not by way of swiftness but rather by the path of perseverance. If one wants to truly honour his memory, the first tributary incense of the soul should be lighted by the embers of spoken truth.