Using biography as a classroom teaching
Humanity in Struggle for peace
Hai, pn dzeelfa,again i start to blog after a month gap coz busy with assignment, presentations, micro teaching and production. My mind relax now compare to a week ago.Its quite hard and challenging to involve seriously in off campus studies.I have started my studies on 2007 and its going to end very fast. I was so happy to complete my studies and the other hand i miss u all, UPM, notes, photocopy,peers and a lot of things yah.....
My topic of discussion today is about Mahatma Gandhi The Man Of Millenium. Before Gandhi came on the political scene, the world knew only two instruments of change, the bullet and the ballot. Gandhi brought a new methodology of struggle in which there was a human touch . Once he said: "In a violent war, the General of the army is at the back in a closed tank well guarded. But in my non-violent battle one who leads the struggle is at the head of the people to face the first bullet if need be. And even if the leader is killed, probably his death could rouse and awaken the people, through his death." Gandhi's human touch starts from patriotic urge. Suffering of man in search of freedom is more explosive than the bullets that seek to suppress freedom, was Gandhi's faith. Reders may have heard about Gandhi's Dandi March for the Salt Satyagraha, which was one of the most important epics of our struggle for freedom. A few Kilometers from Dandi, there is a small village called Karadi. In that Karadi village there was one disciple of Gandhi, called Pancha Kaka Patel. He participated in no-tax campaign of Gandhi. He participated in Dandi Salt Satyagraha. The British Government confiscated his house. His agricultural land and other property was also confiscated. While he was being taken to jail handcuffed, the police said: "See, not a single inch of land remains in your possession. Your house too has been confiscated." Pancha Kaka Patel told the police : "You can rest assured, I will never ask for the the return of my property, till India becomes free." In 1937, Congress Government was formed in the then Bombay Presidency. In Bombay Presidency, Shri B. G. Kher became the Chief Minister and he sent a message to Gandhi's disciple Pancha Kaka Patel that: "We are prepared to give back your house and land confiscated during the British rule." He said: "No this is not the freedom of Gandhi's dream and I have taken a pledge that till India becomes completely independent, I will not take back my property. Keep it with you." In 1947, on 15th August, India became free. This disciple of Gandhi, Pancha Kaka, was told: "Now the country has become free and so take back your property." He contacted Gandhi. He said: "Gandhiji, do you feel that freedom of your dream has come?" Gandhi said: "Unfortunately, I must say no." And then Pancha Kaka told the government: "I cannot accept back my property." Then some cynics, commented : "Oh! Pancha Kaka Patel refuses to accept the confiscated property. But when he dies his wife and his children will claim that property." And after this comment, Pancha Kaka Patel came with a statement: "I anticipated this possibility and therefore to avoid any embarrassment to me, I did not get married at all and I have no children." That was what he said. Such was the human material that Gandhi's human touch had created.
Non-violence of Brave
Again I will give another illustration in which there was an intense human touch. It was the Satyagraha movement on the North-West frontier when Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan, called as the Frontier Gandhi, was leading it. On the previous night of Satyagraha, he war arrested. Next day, one thousand Pathans stood to offer Satyagraha. Since Pathans belonging to the 'militant race' were to offer Satyagraha, the British did not send the Police to control the situation arising out of Satyagraha. They sent the Garhwal regiment of the Army. And when that regiment reached the spot of Satyagraha, the Captain of the regiment, an Englishman, gave orders to the Pathans to disperse within 10 minutes. No Pathan dispersed. Again he said: "I give you 15 minutes more." They did not disperse. And then he said: "Within 5 minutes I will open fire." The Pathans bared their chests and said: "Captain, we are prepared to be fired upon. Open fire. Fire as many bullets as you want. Let us see whether our chest with the urge for freedom is powerful or your bullets." After 10 minutes, the Captain ordered: "Fire" However, men from the Garhwal regiment did not fire bullets on Satyagrahis. They threw down their rifles. Captain said: "You will be court-martialled. You may be hanged. You might be sentenced to life imprisonment." They told the Captain: "Whether you kill us or imprison us, we have seen the sublime courage of these Pathans. Those who gave us military training, taught us how to fire at those who had guns and rifles in their hands. They have not taught us to fire at unarmed patriots."
So,stories of gandiji can be used to arouse humanity, braveness and unity. activities such as role play, script writing skills and giving talk on your favorite leaders can be arrange as a classroom activities.
regards,
jay kandiah
