A few days ago, many of us observed Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday. Gandhi was an essential part of getting India out from under the rule of Great Britain in 1947. His approach of non-violent civil disobedience became the root for many other political movements that still occur today, including Occupy Wall Street. For a new generation of men and women worldwide, India might seem like a far-away place and 1947 might seem like a far-away time, but Gandhi still stands as an icon. Read on for some of my favorite recent tributes to Gandhi to celebrate his memory.
1. From Tasneem Nashrulla at BuzzFeed comes “If Mahatma Gandhi Had An Instagram Account” — a fictionalized selfie-laden retrospective of the fallen leader’s accomplishments.
2. An anthology of some of the his most memorable quotes can be found at The Huffington Post.
3. From TIME: This historical photo essay chronicling the life and times of the activist.
4. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon took some time out Wednesday to encourage people around the world to be inspired by Gandhi’s courage and non-violent protest.
5. A listicle within a listicle? Of course: “10 Reasons Why Mahatma Gandhi Was the Greatest Bad-Ass Who Ever Lived.”
6. Live like the hero himself. The Independent has the scoop on a retreat at the first ashram Gandhi established. For about Rs. 1000 (that’s about USD$16) a night, you can learn meditation, prepare simple foods, and simplify. You even get to wear a breezy dhoti.
7. Here’s a fascinating excerpt from Ramachandra Guha’s Gandhi Before India (no relation to me!). Guha had this to say on the book to the WSJ: “How formative [Gandhi’s] years in London and South Africa were, and how much he gained from these forgotten associates and collaborators. They are a fascinating cast of characters. There’s a couple — he was Jewish, she was Christian — they shared a household with the Gandhis in Johannesburg in 1905. It was truly revolutionary, an interracial household whose members befriended one another, influenced one another.”
Rohin Guha is a contributing editor at The Aerogram. Follow him on Twitter @ohrohin. Find The Aerogram on Twitter @theaerogram.
