In current times when
information flows incessantly from all directions, it is easier than ever
before to feel a little lost in the flood that such information creates. What
furthermore complicates the problem is every source of information has its set
of vested interests, biases and limitations.
In order to be able to assess
all this objectively and stand up – against this maddening flow of information
and mis-information, I thought to look
up someone with a distinct expertise in standing one’s ground against all sorts
of pre-conceived notions, forces from media and rulers as well as his own
idiosyncrasies as an individual - M.K.
Gandhi. Although there are hardly any
direct parallels from the times when Gandhi lived and the current situation,
there are a couple of episodes that provide useful reference. They are noted
here in brief.
Ø Outbreak
of Plague in Johannesburg
Most
Indians in Africa were staying in places that was commonly known as “Coolie
location”. One such location had an outbreak of pneumonic
plague.
On
receiving the news of an outbreak to 23 individuals at once Gandhi reached at
the location and took it upon himself to serve the sick. He used one of the
local municipality’s building and turned it into a makeshift hospital.
He
also criticized the government and appealed to them for providing as much
support as possible to prevent the outbreak from spreading further. He selected
individuals who were comparatively healthier and had no other family members to
take the nursing responsibilities and even spared the government nurse from
coming in direct contact with patients.
His
duties were routine and limited to following instructions from the doctor and
providing with basic needs and cleanliness of the patients. Since he was
attending active patients – he chose to self-isolate himself and consciously
avoided his friends and associates during this time. He also was inclined to
keep a very light diet during this time and followed through on it rigorously.
Of
23 patients only 2 survived – rest of the patients along with the nurse
succumbed to the disease. However, the doctor, Gandhi and his volunteer friends
did not catch the plague. In days that followed, it appears that the location
was put under similar arrangements that we see today in quarantine areas, “The
location was put under a strong guard, passage in and out being made impossible
without permission. My co-workers and I had free permits of entry and exit. The
decision was to make the whole location population vacate and live under canvas
for three weeks in an open plain about thirteen miles from Johannesburg, and
then to set fire to the location[1].”
Although difficult – but he was able
to get a consensus among Indians to agree with the plan from the municipality
and everyone shifter to live under canvas. Gandhi played a role in suggesting
people to take care of their savings, helping them open bank accounts and
ensuring that their savings were not squandered in this quick and sudden
relocation.
His
ability to find things that are of help to others and start executing them in
an organized manner is amazing.
Ø In
a chapter titled as Near Death’s door in his autobiography
Gandhi outlines his experience throughout one of the longest and most severe
illnesses he had to go through. This period coincides with another outbreak –
that of the Spanish flu – however experts believe he was not ill with that flu[2]. This episode, therefore,
becomes relevant for people suffering illnesses other than Covid-19 currently.
As
someone who did not take fondly to outside medicines’ use – Gandhi staunchly
stuck to his own methods in treating himself. He refused taking either
medicines, injections or even milk – (he had avowed to avoid milk from cow and
buffalo). Although he later acknowledged that his denial of injections was
based on incorrect information and he should not have avoided them. It is
important to note that denial of medicines did not mean denial in getting well
– he constantly tried approaches he was okay with and consulted several doctors
to come up with a treatment that was both – in line with his principles and
effective but he refused any compromise – even if it meant risking his life.
What
strikes me most as a reader during this chapter is the fact that Gandhi treats
his illness as a subject of study – and finds within himself the possible
causes of illness. His view might be called too harsh on himself – at times
viewing pain as a necessary result of his own actions – but they are not
without a basis – he was able to observe his actions that triggered the disease
and work towards correcting them. He was also candid in acknowledging that he
had become so weak that he almost thought he died – despite doctor suggesting
that his pulse was fine!
He
also uses the illness as an opportunity to reflect and rise in his
understanding of himself. To be able to view himself as objectively as he does
- is inspiring! While his level of staunchness in his methods might be unwise
to emulate, what we can aspire to achieve is his devotion in studying himself
objectively.
Re-reading certain parts
of his autobiography certainly helped me take a different perspective of things
as they stand!
