IIC Recently organised in collaboration with Tibet House in a series of Padmapani lectures

a lecture on "Ideology of Mahatma Gandhi on Peace, Compassion and Nonviolence" . It was

a delightful experience to hear Smt Shobhana Radhakrishnan who has been fortunate to

spend a part of her life in Gandhiji's Sewa Ashram and spends her time spreading his

message across the globe.

Mahatma was a visionary and practical idealist who influenced and motivated many great

personalities across the globe like Albert Einstein, Dalai Lama, Martin Luther king jr

amongst countless others. She mentioned that Gandhiji's philosophy is very relevant to the

younger generation today and 67 years later it would be wise to follow his philosophy of

Politics and Spirituality. She gave some moving examples of his deep empathy and the way

he was able to connect with people compassionately. Gandhi felt that we all have the

quality of compassion or God within and we must choose between violence and non

violence. His life is a proof that we can become conscious shapers of our destiny. Gandhi's

life is an epic of faith and endeavor. He real strength was his faith in God. Truth was the

most deepest and complete form of God.

Gandhi placed great value on the inner sadhana that one follows to realize the supreme

energy or Truth. He placed a strong emphasis on community prayer, spinning, eating and

lastly the most important was community Sanitation. Every morning Gandhi jij along with

others would carry cleaning implement to clean up the Ashram. Truly Ms Shobhana's

lecture was an eye opener to the great personality and humility that was The Mahatma and

how we can learn small things from his life to change ours.