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Meerut, India — Having just passed the 60th anniversary of India's independence last week, it is a fitting time to reflect on the noteworthy, extraordinary and exemplary role played by Mohandas K. Gandhi in the liberation of India. Those who are familiar with the whole series of events of the national liberation movement know how he awakened and mobilized the masses with his call for non-violence, made them realize the value of independence and created "satyagraha," or non-violent resistance, as the best, infallible weapon in cutting the chains of slavery. The people of India rose up and ultimately in 1947 India became free from the political rule of the British.

One point should be clarified, however. Most people consider India's political freedom to have been the goal of Mahatma Gandhi's life -- they think that freeing his country from the British was his ultimate aim. It is natural to think so, as he spent most of his life working for political liberation. For 25 years, from 1917-1942, he continuously lead his compatriots toward this goal. Besides, he spent more than 10 years in various prisons of the British Empire while fighting for freedom. But, in spite of the fact that the first goal of Mahatma Gandhi's life was to achieve freedom for India, it was not the end of his mission.

If that had been his only purpose, why would Gandhi be considered a ray of hope by millions around the world? How would he become the source of inspiration for Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Ninoy Aquino, Bisweshwar Prasad Koirala and other great men of the world? How even today would he inspire people in counties like Thailand, where people have been seen carrying the Mahatma's pictures during street demonstrations?

Gandhi's life, work and views were for the whole of humanity. The way he pioneered through his dynamic actions was, and is, for the entire world. India's freedom was only one dimension along the way. Gandhi's philosophy and actions were rooted in his belief in the unity of human life, which is a synthetic whole and cannot be divided into social, religious, political, moral or ethical spheres, nor can it be classified into levels like individual or collective, local or international.

It was Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, who 2,500 years ago emphasized the law of change - the fact that all things are subject to change -- and called upon humanity to break the bonds of slavery at all levels, on all planes. He showed the people how to resolve their problems and lead a life based on equality, peace and prosperity.

At the same time, he said that even his own words were not beyond the law of change -- it was a process to which nothing could be an exception. This meant that his suggestions for the welfare of mankind, even if the best in his own time, might not be 100 percent applicable in times to come. However, Buddha's way and teachings even today are a source of inspiration to many, applied according to the demands of a new time and place. That is why he is rightly called the Light of Asia.

In recent times, it was Gandhi who elevated the Buddha's teachings to apply the concept of non-violence to public actions in the cause of attaining political liberation. Gandhi showed such a unique way to humanity, which apart from being the best course of action for India, become a source of inspiration for many in the world.

For this reason Gandhi was given the name of Mahatma -- a great soul or saint. People around the world respect him and are fascinated by his life. Many have tried to emulate his political methods, and surely there will be many more who do so in the course of their struggles to resolve the world's problems and conflicts.

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(Dr. Ravindra Kumar is a renowned Gandhian scholar, India expert and writer. He is the former vice chancellor of CCS University in Meerut, India. He holds a doctorate in political science. ©Copyright Ravindra Kumar.)