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Books that influenced Gandhi
“A friend of the poor and the underdog, humble and bold, sincere and frank, simple and austere, non-violent and truthful in thoughts, words and deeds; frail in body but mighty in spirit”. This is how Satish Kumar describes Mahatma Gandhi. This great leader shook the foundations of British Empire and tried to liberate India in the real sense of the term. He tried emancipating the “untouchables” in the way he deemed the most appropriate, gave the message of peace, love, brotherhood, truth and non-violence. It is important to know what shaped such great a leader and what thoughts inspired him. Gandhi’s thought started developing and getting shaped in London where…
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Do you know everything?
You may reach either of the two conclusions after reading or studying a particular book or an article or just random stuff. 1. You know so little. 2. You know so much. If your conclusion is “1” you probably know more. If your conclusion is “2” you probably know nothing! नमन्ति फलानि वृक्षा नमन्ति गुणिनो जनाः शुष्क काष्ठ्श्च मूर्खश्च न नमन्ति कदाचन . Namanti phalaani brukshaa namanti gunino janaah. Shushka kaashthasch moorkhshch na namanti kadachan. i.e. Trees laden with fruits bow with the weight of the fruits, and so also knowledgeable and learned persons with their knowledge (are always polite in their behavior towards others). On the other hand dried…
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The Prophet (saw) Says…
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7. Islam at the Crossroads – Conclusion
The book “Islam at Crossroads” by Muhammad Asad deals with the fall of the Muslim world. It laments the imitation of the West which is in its spirit (materialistic) diametrically opposite to the Islamic spirit (spiritual and harmony between subtle and mundane). It argues that the imitation of the West can only be at the cost of Islam, the two being incompatible. It discusses the attitude the Muslims must adopt towards the West. It further argues that the practical aspect of the spirit of Islam lies in the Sunnah of the Prophet, which has been shunned for the visible impossibility of implementing its seemingly trivial aspects in life, the weakening…
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Asi kati lagan pata – Sources of Knowledge
Writing in TATA sumo, traveling from Srinagar to Khanabal. Thinking about issues that bother me. I have been wondering for a while what thought I subscribe to, where do I place myself, rationalist, empiricist, idealist, or whatever. I have been called a post-modernist, conservative, both in the same breath and other things, too. I might be a skeptic, who knows! I presented my writings to an expert who categorized them as post-modern and existentialist, na chi mye huii pata kya govv, na huii. Reminds me of Alamdar’s (ra) “be kuss rishi, mye kya naav” (I have no clue who I am). Traveling gives me ample time to think. For some,…
Renaissance, Reformation, Enlightenment
