Dilemma

As I was helping out my niece, Nayana, to finish her school project on Dandi March, I was wondering how the freedom fighters struggled to keep them bound to the vow of non violence and peace as they were being beaten to the pulp.

Down the memory lanes of history the struggle for Indian Independence has been the source of courage and inspiration for many freedom fighters including Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela. After much explorations in the sea of knowledge the internet offered, we finished the project pretty well and retired to bed.

That night, in my dreams I met many heroes of the freedom struggle, especially those unsung heroes who lost their lives clinging to the mantra of ahimsa to their heart. The chanting of bhajans in the morning prayer session of Mahatma came as a lullaby and I had a sound sleep. In the morning, as I took the newspaper, the main news was about the historic launch of India’s first nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine.

After reading it my niece asked me with a sheepish smile, "Uncle should I be proud of the "ahimsa" or "arihant"? and I was answerless.