Editorial November 2020

What can Gandhi ji teach today’s protestors? Well that is a burning and timely question. I am not even sure whether today’s protesters want to listen to Gandhi ji or for that matter anybody including the police force who are there to protect them. As a matter of fact they even go so far as telling us “Let us Defund the Police” or “We do not need them.” Sure you do not need them today because they are stopping you from doing something illegal like puting public places on fire, killing innocent people and robbing businesses. What is going to happen tomorrow when somebody is going try to kill one of your family memebrs or rape your wife, your sister or your mother or even worst abduct your child?  

In his lifetime, Gandhi ji initiated several protests including the famous ‘Dandi March” also known as the Salt March. The 25-day march began March 12, 1930, and ended April 6, 1930. What began with 80 people walking ten miles a day became a march that spanned over 240 miles and later grew into a strong force of about 50,000 people. At the end of the march, when Gandhi ji picked up a pinch of salt, British police came down very hard on the protesters. American journalist Webb Miller was on the scene, and he wrote, “Suddenly, at a word of command, scores of native police rushed upon the advancing marchers and rained blows on their heads…Not one of the marchers even raised an arm to fend off the blows. They went down like ten-pins.” These were the real peaceful protestors. This is what Gandhi ji taught us.

So yes today’s protestors, whether the Black Lives Matter, Shahin Baugh, or Delhi riot factions can learn that peaceful protests are not against the law, but turning them into violent protests is a crime. They can learn that all protestors must be volunteers for the cause and not hired people.

Let me stop here. As you know Ganhdiji is my hero and my idol, and I can go on and on about his teachings. Read more about Gandhi ji’s teachings in this issue from Dr. Whitney Sanford, Professor of Religion at the University of Florida.

Now let me talk about another important tradition that India taught us and now the rest of the world is ready to adopt – Namaste, our way of saying “Hello” that follows today’s social distancing guidelines. This tradition was defined years ago, and you can find the term Namaste appearing in Rigveda 8.75.10, Taittirya Samhita 2.6.11.2 and Atharvaveda verse 6.13.2. What forward thinking from our rishis!

Next I would like to talk about a new article series, Addressing and Overcoming Enemies Within You written by South Florida resident Sri Dhira Chaitanya, also known as Dr. Sundar Ramaswamy. He is a teacher of ancient Hindu scriptures and Sanskrit as well as a board certified doctor in child psychiatry. I hope these series of articles help you and your family members in these tough times.

Due to popular demand, we are bringing back the Monthly Horoscope. Please keep in mind, this is offered to guide you for a better future and not to discourage you in any way. At the end of the day, you are in control of your own destiny.

Speaking of controlling your own destiny, I would like to share with you about a book recently published and compiled by myself – 365 Life-Changing Inspirational & Spiritual Messages. Please learn more about this book in our Must Read Book section. I hope you like it.

Until then, be safe and be happy!

Raj Shah
Managing Editor