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A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with Baroness Julia Neuberger, Rabbi of West London Synagogue

Good morning.

Seventy two years ago today, Mahatma Gandhi was shot at point-blank range by Hindu nationalist, Nathuram Vinayak Ghodse. It was 1948. India had gained its independence from the British six months earlier, but had been split into Hindu majority India and Muslim majority Pakistan. As millions of displaced Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims were travelling huge distances to what would be ‘their’ country, violence erupted all over the place and the death rate rose rapidly. Gandhi undertook several fasts unto death in an attempt to stop the violence, and went to comfort the worst affected areas of Bengal and the Punjab.

To some Hindu nationalists, his vision of a pluralist India, and his outreach to those affected by the appalling violence, was giving in to the enemy. Hence his own violent end, whilst on the way to prayer. But hence too a fierce revulsion against the assassination, and the reverence of Gandhi throughout India, as father of the nation. Gandhi’s passionate belief in non-violent means of rebellion has influenced future generations. Sit-ins, occupations, boycotts, peaceful demonstrations- all claim Gandhi’s influence. And his ability to appeal to all strata of Indian society, and people of all faiths, gave him a political and philosophical reach most world leaders could not even dream of.

Deep in this extraordinary man lay a vision of a different kind of society, where people could get what they wanted by determination, and by peaceful means. When we look at what he thought, taught and achieved, he is a modern day saint, a folk hero and a political giant and a man of deep spirituality. As we prepare for a busy day, may his memory inspire us, and may his promise of victory through non-violence be reinvented in order to inspire our whole present day world.