I am
purely amazed by the astonishing personal revolution by which a simple
inarticulate man transformed himself into the Mahatma, who ushered the British
Empire out of India without even firing a shot. In the age of Empire and
Military might he proved that the powerless had power and that force of arms
would never prevail against force of spirit. Based on all this, Mahatma Gandhi
surely deserved an award, which spoke of his efforts, his fight for freedom and
justice and all his other contributions to this world. This award could be given
to a few other people also who have been great reformers. It could be given to
one who is a reformer, who has fought for the rights of the people, one who has
fought against all the injustice, malpractices of this world, for the oppressed
people. One who does not use his status, power and military to reform the world
but his own might and that force of spirit to make this place a better world.
One who displays the courage and conviction to stand for his beliefs. In short,
he/she could be called the guiding light for peace in this world. Gandhi’s
concept of nonviolent resistance liberated one nation and sped the end of
colonial empires around the world. His marches and fasts fired the imagination
of oppressed people everywhere. Millions sought freedom and justice under
Mahatma’s guiding light. He proclaimed the power of love, peace and freedom.
He fought for the rights of the Indians, for their freedom from the British. His
principles surely made a difference in this world. In spite of being treated
rudely and paying all sorts of penalties, he was never deterred. Many people,
organizations and awards have already acknowledged Gandhi for his efforts.
Recently he was rated the runner up Person of the Century second only to the
great scientist Albert Einstein who had himself said that “ the future
generations will scarcely believe that such a man in flesh and blood, had tread
this earth.” in reference to Mahatma Gandhi. The British Broadcasting
Corporation also voted him as the Man of the Millennium. Gandhi is a great man
held in universal esteem, a figure lifted from history to moral icon. I would
want to show my respect and reverence for him and also want to express that his
efforts have not gone in vain and today even the children who are the future
generation of this world remember and respect his work. I would like to call
this award the “Life and Leaders” award. It would be given to a living or a
dead person every year. I would first like to honor the so-called Father of the
nation by the Indians, Mahatma Gandhi, by this award.