Does any one remember Gandhiji’s Talisman? Yes .. a vague idea? You have seen it some where right. Let me help. Remember the NCERT text books back in school, the facing page of the topics, in a nice little box, written in bold ink was Gandhiji’s Talisman.

Here it is again :

Gandhiji’s Talisman:

I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him. Will he gain anything by it? Will it restore him to a control over his own life and destiny ? In other words, will it lead to Swaraj (i.e. self-rule) for the hungry and spiritually starving millions ?

Then you will find your doubts and your self melting away.

I don’t know if they still have it in the text books, but it was there when i was in school. It never made sense to me when i was in school. I do remember reading it over and over again, trying to find the intent of the adage. Finally after school and after a long time, some how the Talisman found its way back into my head and then it struck me. The meaning is so simple and yet very powerful. If our leaders had heeded to this simple idea a long time back we wouldn’t be, may be, in such a messed up situation.

Not just the political scenario, but when this simple rule is applied, i’m not saying all the time, when ever in doubt and confusion, the results could astoundingly simple. This one has been put into the text books of your kids, we tell them to read and in the mean time we spoil their innocence.

Here education is seen as a means to mis-interpret Holy Books, promote hatred and invent innovative ways for “Angry Mob Put to your Gain”.

Ponder over IT.