MOHANDAS K. GANDHI, Thoughts, Words, Deeds and His Inspiration – Bhagavad-Gita by Ramnarine Sahadeo

Book Review by Leonard Dabydeen

MOHANDAS K. GANDHI, Thoughts, Words, Deeds and His Inspiration – Bhagavad-Gita

Author: Ramnarine Sahadeo

Published by Reprographic and Printing Services, Secunderabad, India,

ISBN 978-0-9868393-1-3

 

This second edition of author Ramnarine (Ramji) Sahadeo’s philosophical book: Mohandas K. Gandhi, Thoughts, Words, Deeds and His Inspiration: Bhagavad-Gita is a long overdue, guiding clarinet call to people of every religious belief, race, creed, sexual orientation, or political interests to follow the non-violent principles of the indomitable Mahatma (Great One) Gandhi, in an attempt to seek peace, prosperity and happiness in our troubled world.

The book is a studied embellishment from the debut first edition, which was launched to mark the 10^th anniversary of 9/11 – the unforgettable atrocities of the bombing of the twin towers of the World Trade Centre and the loss of thousands of lives of people of all walks of life. It is an attempt to point all of us to look at other 9/11s in history where visionary leaders have pleaded with human beings to live in peace, unity and harmony. Particular emphasis is highlighted in the speeches of Swami Vivekananda on September 11, 1893 to the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago, U.S.A. And more in grace to the guidance of famous world leaders, in the likeness of Martin Luther King (Jr.) and Nelson Mandela is the speech by Mohandas K. Gandhi, The Moment of Truth, on September 11, 1906, in Johannesburg, South Africa at the Empire Theater. Gandhi, who is acclaimed the Father of Indian Independence (1947), displayed an impeccable stand for the principle of non-violence in the remarkable practice of Satyagraha – “soul force”; “truth force”; “insistence on truth”.

What was essentially Gandhi’s inspiration? It is this pertinent question that stirred Ramji to dwell in the body of the book on the Bhagavad-Gita. This is the scriptural poem that influenced and inspired Gandhi all through his life. In the end we come to appreciate the Mahatma (Great Soul) as one of the greatest souls that set foot on this earth. Readers will no doubt shuffle the pages of this book in its various sections and headings to look for answers to bring peace and harmony in their own lives. In the words of Mahatma Gandhi:

“When disappointment stares me in the face and when I am all alone and I do not see even one ray of light, I go back to the Bhagavad Gita.”

The author, Ramnarine Sahadeo, is a Guyanese-born, Canadian lawyer in the Greater Toronto Area since 1980 [Retired]. It is his fervent hope that this book will promote the change which people wish to see in their homes, their social environment and the world at large. In the back cover he writes:

“Justice systems would need fewer resources if residents can just avoid lust, anger, and greed, for these vices clog the courts with expensive, unpredictable, and unnecessary litigation. Health and social systems experience lower demands from those who exercise, perform yoga, meditate or follow a vegetarian diet, practices followed by Gandhi and recommended by the Gita.”

The book is set in three parts: Part I greets the reader with an overview of how the Gita reaches the West, with a distinction of Nine Elevens apart from September 11, 2001; Part II brings the reader to the core verses of the spiritual poem of the Bhagavad-Gita; and Part III offers power-point comments on the Gita by Gandhi, along with influences of the Bhagavad-Gita that shaped the destiny of this great soul. In the end there is a glorifying explanation of the universal greeting of Namaste for all of us.

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---Author Ramnarine Sahadeo is also currently involved in the initiatives of establishing a Mahatma Gandhi Scholarship for students at the McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.

---Leonard Dabydeen is the author of: Watching You, A Collection of Tetractys Poems, Xlibris Publications, ISBN 978-1-4691-4802-1(2012). He is also listed in the World Poetry Movement’s BEST POETS & POEMS 2011 ISBN 978-1-61936-038-9 (2012); Hardcover.

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Setu October 2021