If only our leaders would learn from Gandhi, whose ashes were brought to Malaya

 

The International Day of Non-Violence came and went, with United Nation secretary-general Antonio Guterres calling for a global cessation of violence and strife. But I wonder how many Malaysians were even aware of this.

The International Day of Non-Violence honours the birth of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi on Oct 2. I’m sure every Malaysian has heard of the man who was named number 2 in TIME’s Person of the Century list in 1999. Albert Einstein took the top spot, by the way.

Guterres said, among other things, that the day was a “timely reminder to strive to uphold the values Gandhi lived by – the promotion of dignity, equal protection for all and communities living together in peace”.

He said a ceasefire was more important now because we were all facing a common enemy – the Covid-19 virus – which needed a united effort.

He also spoke out against hate speech, calling on people not to indulge in hate speech whether online or offline, adding that the UN had launched two initiatives to address this.

A total of 21 foreign envoys to the UN, including from Indonesia, Oman, Australia, Lebanon, Egypt and Brazil, spoke at the function on the relevance of Gandhi to the world.

I am uncertain as to how many Malaysians are aware that some of the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi, who was shot dead by an assassin on Jan 30, 1948, were brought to the then Malaya and put on exhibit so that Malayans could also mourn the passing of a giant among men.

The ashes were flown in an urn from Delhi to Singapore and taken to Kuala Lumpur, Kota Bahru, Penang, and Ipoh – where they were placed for people to see and pay their respects – before being flown back to Singapore where they were immersed in the sea, about two miles off Connaught Drive on March 27, 1948.

The ashes were taken in a marine police patrol boat and the Indian Government’s Representative in Malaya, John Thivy, mixed the ashes with water from the Ganges River before immersing the urn in the sea. He was accompanied by about 100 people in 20 private launches.

A Royal Singapore Flying Club aircraft flew low and dropped rose petals.

On the shore stood tens of thousands of people of all races and religions, offering prayers and saying their last farewells, for this was no ordinary man who had died. Among those who had much earlier paid their respects, at the Victoria Memorial Hall where the urn had been placed, was the British Governor Sir Franklin Gimson.

For weeks after that, prayer meetings and functions were held by Malayans at community halls, temples, churches and mosques.

At the inaugural meeting of the then Selangor Council of State, menteri besar Hamzah Abdullah said: “His death has caused great pain to the Indian people, and sorrow all over the world.” Which was true, as prayers and gatherings were held not only in most towns in Malaya but also in many parts of the world. Presidents to peasants had something to say about this Mahatma or great soul.

In fact, the governments or followers of the Mahatma in several nations requested for some of the ashes of Gandhi which they then immersed in the waters in or around their countries. In Burma (now Myanmar), for instance, then prime minister Thakin Nu, also known as U Nu, immersed the ashes at a three-river junction near Rangoon on March 22.

To understand the immense influence of Mahatma Gandhi one has only to know that more than 100 nations have issued stamps in memory of him, named certain buildings or places after him and built or placed statues of him in prominent squares.

Till today, many people draw inspiration from him. Among those who have admitted being influenced by him are Albert Einstein, Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama, Barack Obama, Martin Luther King, and Steve Jobs.

His non-violent way certainly had some influence on Bapa Kemerdekaan Tunku Abdul Rahman, who, together with V T Sambanthan, Tan Cheng Lock and others, managed to win independence for Malaya without bloodshed.

While many love him, Mahatma Gandhi also has many critics, for he had his faults. But what sets him apart is that he would be the first to admit to them.

There are a myriad lessons we can learn from the life and thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi but here, due to the present political instability in the nation and the trust deficit for politicians, I’d like to just touch on a few lessons on leadership.

The most pertinent characteristic about Mahatma Gandhi the leader was that he never sought public or political office. The post of prime minister was his for the taking, but he did not desire it.

Compare this with the crop of leaders we have today.

He was in politics to serve the people, not enrich himself, his family or friends. He was not interested in titles, again unlike our own leaders.

I would like to recall one of his quotes about leadership: “Power is of two kinds. One is obtained by the fear of punishment and the other by acts of love. Power based on love is a thousand times more effective and permanent then the one derived from fear of punishment.”

Do Malaysian politicians obtain power through showing love or creating fear of punishment by using the instruments of government?

There are some leaders in Malaysia – both in politics and in NGOs – who don’t hesitate to use race and religion to get what they want, especially power. Some of them even subscribe to the theory of an eye for an eye.

Mahatma Gandhi says: “An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind.” He also says: “There are many causes that I am prepared to die for but no cause that I am prepared to kill for.”

Gandhi was an exemplary leader for the simple fact that he walked his talk. He didn’t say one thing and mean another. He didn’t ask or pay others to do what he wouldn’t do himself.

He lived a simple life and did not covet luxuries. In contrast, just look at the houses and cars that many Malaysian leaders and their children own. Just look at the wealth that some of their wives or children flaunt.

As a good leader, he always treated everyone as his equal. He was never patronising. He neither fawned before anyone to reap some benefit nor cowered before anyone in fear.

He was able to speak a language – the language of the common man – that everyone understood. Because they saw his sincerity and his honesty, people adored him and followed him.

How many of our leaders are honest or sincere? Do our leaders lead by example – in the way they dress, the way they travel, the lives they live? Have they put the interest of the institutions they head over that of their own or vice versa? Are they constantly pushing themselves towards personal excellence or are they quite happy with their mediocrity?

Let’s not go too far. Do our leaders set good examples, say, when it comes to following Covid-19 SOPs? Do they threaten us with punishment if we flout the SOPs but are quite ready to disregard these in their own lives? Is there a difference in the way a housewife and a powerful politician are treated?

Mahatma Gandhi was able to stand up and say no, even if it worked against him. Do we have leaders who, say, will tell off their supporters if the latter play up racial or religious issues or carry out activities that will cause racial tension? Or do they close an eye, or worse, goad them on from the back?

For those who are stuck to certain dogmas inimical to a multiracial, multi-religious society such as Malaysia, he has some advice: “Constant development is the law of life, and a man who always tries to maintain his dogmas in order to appear consistent drives himself into a false position.”

Politicians who talk about remaking society should heed this advice: “As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world – that is the myth of the atomic age – as in being able to remake ourselves.”

Here is something that all of us, especially our leaders and aspiring leaders, can profit from: “Be the change that you want to see in the world.”

One of my favourites, and one that has helped me, is this: “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”- FMT

The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.