Communicator nonpareil

As an excellent communicator, Gandhi ji succeeded by assimilating with the masses and decoding their psyche

- SANDIP BANERJEE

The great American Civil Rights activist, Martin Luther King Jr., once stated that Gandhian philosophy "was the only morally and practically sound method open to oppressed people in their struggle for freedom". This observation would certainly call for discussion; many might not agree with it. However, the Gandhian method displayed a unique art of social assimilation, striking the world with awe. Sending a message of protest and rebellion without raising arms or resorting to violence was remarkable. Because it was different, many people began following it, with some achieving success through it. This art of communication has bequeathed a sort of legacy, trod upon by many social activists. Figures ranging from the Dalai Lama to Aung San Suu Kyi have expressed their deep admiration for the Gandhian method of protest. From his early days in South Africa to his return to India in 1915, Gandhiji believed in connecting himself to the people. Upon his return, his responses to three major issues—Champaran, the Ahmedabad Cotton Mill Case, and the Kheda Satyagraha—opened the eyes of the common people, who perhaps had never realised how powerful non-violent protest could be.