GENERAL HEROIC CHARCTERISTICS
From observations, we have
found that a Hero will:
v
adhere
to basic principles including:
o
democracy(SK),
o
respect
for human rights(SK),
o
reconciliation
between groups(SK),
o
non-violence
(SK), and
o
personal
and collective discipline. (SK)
v
possess
a combination of sober realism and visionary idealism (SK)
v
acknowledge
sources of inspiration:
o
e.g. Mahatma Gandhi, etc. (SK)
o
e.g.
Tolstoy and Ruskin in leading a simple community life. (MG)
o
e.g.
Raj Chandra, the Jain philosopher and intellectual. (MG)
o
e.g.
specific literature/art.
§
a
play where King Harishchandra seeks, suffers for, but finally triumph in, his
adherence to Truth. (MG)
v
observe
the teachings of world religion
o
honor
truth, righteousness and loving kindness
o
observe
the teachings of Buddhism (SK)
o
mold
life and work by the influence of Christianity(AL)
o
observe
the teachings of Hinduism (MG)
o
believe
in the brotherhood of peoples (AL)
o
believe
the highest religion is the love of one another (MG).
o
believe
in loving all equally. (MG).
v
believe
history and cultural background are important (SK)
o
“you
choose who you are by choosing which tradition you belong to” (SK)
o
mold
life and work by the pattern of the African tribal community(AL)
o
know
& respect one’s heritage and ancestry
§
e.g.
respect for a father who had been Prime Minister successively in three
Kathiawar States - known for his steadfastness and loyalty (MG).
§
e.g.
respect for a mother who was a traditional Indian woman, devoted to her home
and family, deeply religious and austere (MG).
§
e.g.
respect for a father who was a general in an army to liberate his people (SK)
§
e.g.
attachment to eldest brother who helped educate him and send him to England
for legal studies (MG).
§
e.g.
respect for one’s teachers (MG),
v
believe
in a community where different cultures live in harmony, work together, and share
equally opportunities
o
e.g.
where the white and the nonwhite in South Africa
can live in harmony and work for a common fatherland (AL)
o
e.g.
where the white and the nonwhite in South Africa
share equally the good things of life which a country can give (AL)
v
know
that a better world demands even greater vigilance, greater fearlessness (SK)
v
strive
to develop in one’s self a "profound simplicity"
o
e.g.
live as a vegetarian (MG)
o
e.g.
believe outward trappings mean little, live accordingly, and question the Princes
about their love of finery. (MG)
o
e.g.
vow to lead a caste and simple life - explored
meat-eating and imitating English dress and manners, but soon returned to
simplicity (MG).
o
e.g.
believe material progress is of little worth without morality (MG).
o
e.g.
use a bicycle for transportation and travel mostly by third class on the
railways (MG)
o
e.g.
believe not in palaces and mansions; be willing to live among the hovels of the
lowliest and the lost (MG).
o
e.g.
show humility (SK)
o
e.g.
want no statues, no memorials to commemorate life (MG).
v
believe
“it is not power per se that corrupts, but power when driven by fear” (SK)
v
believe
"the quintessential revolution is that of the spirit" (SK)
v
understand
the "essential spiritual aims" of the struggle for peace.
o
believe
the success of the struggle depends solely on human responsibility(SK).
§
At
the root of that responsibility lays:
·
the
concept of perfection (SK),
·
the
urge to achieve it (SK),
·
the
intelligence to find a path towards it (SK), and
·
the
will to follow that path if not to the end, at least the distance needed to
rise above individual limitation... ". (SK)
§
unite
deep commitment and tenacity (SK)
o
believe
that "To live the full life, one must have the courage to bear the
responsibility of the needs of others." (SK)
o
believe
that each person has within the potential to realize the truth through their own
will and endeavor." (SK)
o
believe
that each person can help others to realize the truth." (SK)
o
believe
"The quest for democracy is the struggle of a people to live whole,
meaningful lives as free and equal members of the world community.” (SK).
o
believe
that the unceasing human endeavor is to prove that the spirit of humankind can
transcend the flaws of one’s nature." (SK)
v
convey
confidence and faith in the power of good. (SK)
o
maintain
high ethical standards (AL)
o
show
high ideals that bring out the best in others (SK)
o
set
examples and symbolize what others seek (SK)
o
stand
for a positive hope (SK)
o
have
a spark of divinity that distinguished one from others (MG).
o
strive
to be the embodiment of godliness and the wisdom of the Saint Kasturba as the
incarnation of wifely virtue (MG).
o
be
known as the world's gentlest, kindliest leader whose sanction was only love
(MG).
o
provide
an uplifting, elevating benevolent presence (MG).
o
maintain
remarkable patience and boundless moral
strength in the struggle (AL)
o
mobilize
the best in others (SK)
o
rise
to full stature as a humanist, above all politics and creeds (MG).
v
possess
a universal mind that transcends narrow barriers of race, creed and country
(MG),
o
belong
to no single nation
§
avoid
confining labels
·
e.g.
India
called him the Father of the Nation (MG),
§
maintain
kindness for the minority
·
e.g.
maintain kindness for the Muslim minority, part of his broad humanity, even
though that aroused fanatical Hindu hatred (MG).
o
stand
for all humankind and all that is noble in the human spirit (MG).
o
"Let
the winds of all cultures blow around me" (MG)
v
maintain
a firm and unswerving approach
o
maintain
one’s avowed policy (AL)
o
maintain
a sense of social responsibility (SK)
o
become
a prisoner of conscience (SK)
v
be
courageous
o
display
fearlessness (SK)
o
be willing
to confront danger (SK)
o
display
impressive courage and commitment (SK)
v
shed
the fear of death
o
defy
all vigilance to protect self (MG).
§
e.g.
defy the soldiers who have raised rifles (SK)
§
e.g.
forgive a would-be-assassin who exploded a bomb at an evening prayer session
(10 days before his assassination January 30 1948: The light that led India for decades was extinguished
(MG),
o
use
no security measures around and on the prayer ground (MG).
v
remain
humble
o
claim
to be no more than the least among them, made of the same flesh and blood (MG).
o
royalty
is not required (MG).
o
show
humility (SK)
v
be
willing to suffer without hatred and aggression
o
take
the lead and be willing to suffer
§
e.g.:
the Road to Freedom is via the Cross, (AL)
§
e.g.
Gandhi under-took numerous 21-day fasts to draw attention away from Hindu-Muslim
tension and other disputes and have parties focus on peace (MG)
§
e.g.
Gandhi observed the ruler of Rajkot commit a breach of
his promise of constitutional reforms to the people. After fruitless
negotiation, Gandhi resorted to fasting, breaking it only when, aware of
country-wide emotion, the Viceroy intervened, to ask the Chief Justice of India
to adjudicate (MG).
o
maintain
willingness to be detained, imprisoned, or placed under house arrest for years (AL)
(SK) (MG)
§
e.g.
endure arrest for seditious writings, trial, and sentencing to six years in
prison (MG),
o
suffer
without bitterness and without allowing hatred and aggression to replace one’s abiding
love of his fellowmen (AL)
§
e.g.
be able to witness unprecedented violence (where hundreds may die) (MG).
o
elicit
feelings in others when treated unjustly (SK)
v
be
constantly educating oneself and others
o
continue
self educating (SK)
o
train
as a teacher, faculty member of a college (AL)
o
met
with many groups of intellectuals, social workers and students (MG).
§
e.g.
undertake pilgrimages throughout India (MG).
o
be
willing to discuss all issues (social, political, religious) in the context of
nonviolence with everyone – including various leaders
§
e.g.
discus India with the
"Red Dean" of Canterbury,
Dr. Hewlett Johnson (MG)
§
e.g.
broadcast to the refugees from All India Radio Station in Delhi (MG).
§
e.g.
attend Asian Relations Conference (MG)
§
e.g.
reminded representatives of Asia about their
recent history (Atom Bomb) and their heritage - cradle of religions - great
teachers who showed the path of wisdom (MG).
§
e.g.
Gandhi once considered multiplication of hospitals as an evil symptom of modern
civilization – but came to realize that diseases had to be dealt with and subsequently
gladly laid the foundation stone of a new hospital at Allahabad (MG).
v
recognize
the importance of human rights (SK)
o
maintain
a conviction that a fundamental prerequisite for peace is the recognition of
the right of all people to life and to respect (SK)
o
recognize
that human rights are not just a Western or Eastern idea, but common to all major
cultures (SK)
o
believe
in respect for the value of the individual (AL)
o
know
that just laws uphold human rights and are necessary foundations of peace (SK)
v
promote
human rights
o
fight
for the ideals expressed in the declaration of human rights embodied in the Charter of the United Nations (AL)
o
oppose
restriction in human rights (AL)
o
bring
a message to all who work and strive to establish respect for human rights both
within nations and between nations (AL)
o
show
the other nations of the world that human rights can be won without violence (AL),
o
protect
human dignity (SK)
o
protect
right to live in a free society and a right to respect (SK)
§
e.g.
remain in South Africa
for 21 years, fighting for Indian rights and defending indentured labor in law
courts against discrimination (MG).
§
e.g.
strive valiantly, through satyagrah, for his people’s honor and human dignity
(MG),
v
oppose
violence (SK)
o
help
assure that the struggle is pursued by nonviolent means (AL)
o
express
concerns in a determined and nonviolent manner (AL)
o
repeatedly
speak of non-violence, perfect discipline, orderliness, the virtue of silence. (MG)
o
emphasize
the need for discipline and for refraining from the use of force on either side
(SK)
o
remain
categorically opposed to the use of violence - avoid violence and terror - never
succumb to the temptation to use violent means in the struggle for one’s people
- surprise people by protesting without acts of violence (AL)
o
understand
violence is its own worst enemy, and fearlessness is the sharpest weapon
against it. (SK)
o
never
give expression to hatred for any race. never feel or incite hatred of others (AL)
v
promote
nonviolence (SK)
o
rally
one’s people in support of the nonviolence policy (AL)
o
maintain
a positive role model for managing conflict in a nonviolent manner (AL)
§
e.g.
form the Satyagrahshram in May 1915 - preach Satyagrah in mosques and on
beaches (MG).
§
e.g.
build a “Tolstoy farm”, as a colony for
housing satyagrahis families who farmed, grew fruit, followed simple crafts and
conducted school — a noble experiment in nonviolent community living (MG).
§
e.g.
publish a small, 25 page booklet "Constructive Programme: Its Meaning and
Place", in the achievement of non-violent independence, a dynamic document
and covering every important aspect of the country's social and economical life
(MG).
§
e.g.
preach non-cooperation as an alternative to violence (boycott of law-courts,
government educational institutions and foreign goods.) for redress of wrongs (MG).
§
e.g.
emerge into National Leadership through satyagraha in 1918– (MG)
o
pay
tribute to others who practiced nonviolence
(MG)
v
understand
importance of justice
o
know
that where there is no justice there can be no secure peace (SK)
o
fight
to implant the idea of justice in the individual, in the nation, and among the
nations(AL)
o
know
that just laws uphold human rights and are necessary foundations of peace (SK)
v
identify
& oppose injustice
o
protest
against Government repressive policy (MG)
§
e.g.
lead the "salt Satyagraha" – a 200 mile march to the sea - to protest
against taxing the poor man’s diet, or a disobedience of the salt laws - a
"battle or rights against might" (MG).
§
e.g.
fight against restriction on Indian trade, movement and residence (MG).
§
e.g.
commence country-wide tour for rousing the masses to a sense of their duty in
regard to the abolition of untouchability (MG).
o
oppose
totalitarianism (SK)
§
e.g.
return war decorations after the Government ordered troops to be fired on the
unarmed crowds. (MG)
§
e.g.
work for remission of land revenue in
famine-stricken Kheda district (MG);
§
e.g.
adcovate the Ahemdabad Mills-hands’ strike, during which he fasted lest strikers
weaken (MG).
§
e.g.
call for discipline and concern for duties, not merely rights (MG).
o
intervene
with an oppressive government (SK)
o
refuse
to comply with unjust government proclamations (AL)
§
e.g.
seek to vindicate self against the charges of the bureaucracy which held him
responsible for disturbances in the country (MG).
§
e.g.
defy law, led the ‘Great March’ from Natal into
the Transvaal, protesting government failure
to abolish the 5 poll-tax (MG).
o
protest
restrictions to freedom of movement imposed via passes, curfew regulations,
influx control measures (AL)
o
defy
bans on meetings (SK)
o
protest
any subjection
§
e.g.
protest subjection to protect white supremacy (AL)
o
oppose
relentlessly, laws and conditions that tend to debase human personality (AL)
o
revolt
openly and boldly against injustice (SK).
o
protest
lack of decent and remunerative employment (AL)
o
demand
the release of political prisoners (SK) (MG).
o
defy
military provocations (SK),
o
fight
fearlessly against debasing conditions and laws (AL)
§
e.g.
explain the implication of removal of untouchability (MG)
§
e.g.
help give untouchables use of temple roads (MG)
o
protest
inadequate land for occupations (AL)
§
e.g.
only asset South African’s was cattle and their herds were dwindling
o
protest
inadequate security of homes (AL)
o
combine
opposition to wrong with the compassion for the wrong-doer (MG).
v
present
a political program based on human rights, democracy and non-violence (SK)
o
e.g.
appeal to the British to withdraw from every Asiatic and African possession, at
least from India.
In other words: "Quit India" (MG).
o
e.g.
appeal to Chiang-Ki Shek, President Roosevelt to see the truth behind his
"Quit India" call to the British. (MG),
o
e.g.
groom the historic "Quit India" resolution at the BOMBAY A I C C.
"The freedom of India
must be the symbol of and prelude to the freedom of all other Asiatic
Nations…" (MG)
o
e.g.
oppose the campaign against the ‘Black’ Registration Act by lighting a grand
bonfire of thousands of the registration certificates (MG).
o
e.g.
plead fervently with the British leaders to give his country freedom, to avoid
parting of ways (MG)
v
demand
freedom to preach against war and the participation in it (MG).
v
ask
the country to be ready to "Do or Die" (MG).
v
provide
leadership
o
present
a political program based on human rights, democracy and non-violence (SK)
§
e.g.
assume the functions of a tribal chief - take duties as a chief very seriously
(AL)
§
e.g.
became a member of the African National Congress (AL)
§
e.g.
become elected as the ANC president (AL)
§
e.g.
found The Natal India congress in 1894, and later the British Indian committee
in the Transvaal (MG)
§
e.g.
help raise an Indian Volunteer Crops. (MG)
§
e.g.
preside over the Literary Conference at Nagpur
and extol the virtues of literature, stress the dignity of labor, set an
example (MG).
§
e.g.
preside over the Convocation of Hindi Prachar Sabha (MG)
§
e.g.
call for country-wide hartal to protest against the Rowlatt Act (MG).
o
create / promote organizations devoted to
nonviolence
§
e.g.
form the All-India Spinner’s Association
- the spinning wheel became a constant companion and a remainder of India’s
goal of independence. It was an
instrument which spun the destiny of the country and symbolised his
identification with the poor - it stressed the place of spinning in
relieving-distress (MG)
v
become
an educator
o
help
others understand that peace and reconciliation cannot be achieved once and for
all (SK)
o
inform
others that security would be denied only by closed minds that interpret peace
as the silence of all opposition (SK)
o
teach,
among other subjects, history
§
e.g.
teach, among other subjects, the history of the (Zulu) people (AL).
v
become
an activist – get involved
o
work
for democracy and human rights (SK)
o
support
multi-party elections (SK)
o
help
the struggle for a free society (SK)
o
take
an active role in the struggle for national independence (SK)
o
engage
in vigorous political activity (SK)
§
e.g.
spend hours with organizations such as the Christian Council of South Africa,
the Joint Council of Europeans and Africans, and the Native Representative
Council(AL)
§
e.g.
enter politics to deal with the increasing pressure which the ruling white race
exerted on members of other races in South Africa (AL)
§
e.g.
support the African National Congress and its nonviolent Passive Resistance
Campaign (AL)
o
strive
with tremendous zeal and patience to work for the progress and welfare of one’s
people (AL)
§
e.g.
maintain daily contact with the individual members of the tribal community(AL)
§
e.g.
strive hard to bring relief to the uprooted and homeless refugees wherever they
were
§
e.g.
play an active part in the work of the Christian church (AL)
(in South Africa, in India, and in the United States.)
o
promote
economic welfare in various ways
§
e.g.
by introducing new methods of sugar production(AL)
v Identify and validate the cultural background
and concerns of the people involved in the conflict
o
constantly
be aware of and concerned about one’s own people (SK)
o
respect
and support various ethnic groups (SK)
o
identify
deeply with a culture and use that identity as an irresistible force in the
political struggle (SK)
o
seek
to call attention to the best aspects of the national and cultural heritage - bring
out the special features of one’s cultural heritage (SK)
o
e.g.
visit refugees massed in camps, talk to them about their grievances (MG);
v Educate the oppressor about the
oppressed
o
e.g.
Gandhi visited the oppressor’s [English] cotton mills District,
Lancashire, hard hit by foreign [India] cloth boycott. Looms were idle, chimneys unsmoking, men
unemployed, woman miserable. Gandhi talked to them, explained the plight of India’s
peasants so they could better understand the oppressed. (MG).
v Build a relationship as a peacemaker
/ third party intervener
o
build
a relationship with others outside your native culture
§
e.g.
take time off to attend the Dairy Animal show at Islington and to pat the
prize-winning goats (MG).
§
e.g.
visit coal miners cottages,
§
e.g.
address construction workers from different parts of the country, show keen
interest in such basic things as compost-making, vital for rebuilding the
village economy (MG).
o
show
compassion for all living things (MG)
§
e.g.
fondle a new-born calf (MG)
§
e.g.
tend to a leprosy-stricken person – become keenly aware of the need to adopt a
rational, common sense approach to leprosy – study the causes of the disease. (MG).
o
combine
opposition to wrong with compassion for the wrong-doer (MG).
o
provide
message of hope to Asian delegations:
Tibetians, Arabs, Jews, Indonesians, Vietnamese, Burmese. All got the
same counsel while the sage spun: the message of Buddha (MG).
§
Fraternization
and not strife (MG);
§
non-violence
and not violence (MG)
o
avoid
actions that create fear in the opposition
§
e.g.
avoid subversive action to overthrow the form and machinery of the State
v Build a relationship within your own
culture
o
overcome
opposition within your organization
§
e.g.
from two different quarters: a) from the older members, who supported the more
passive approach(AL):, and b) from those
members - mainly the younger ones - who wanted to make South Africa
an entirely nonwhite state. (AL):
§
e.g.
strive to instill harmonious relations [internally] with other sections
of a multiracial society (AL)
o
restore
peace in the riot-ridden country, brought all leaders together, led to some
cleansing of hearts. (MG).
§
e.g.
pacify rioters at Bombay
and Ahmedabad;
§
e.g.
tour troubled Bihar, bringing new hope and
courage to the refugees. (MG).
§
e.g.
visit ravaged homes and persuade the fleeing folk to return, pledging his own
life for their safety (MG).
o
conduct
tireless pilgrimages throughout the length and breadth of the country for the
emancipation of the dumb, downtrodden masses (MG).
§
e.g.
travel from village to village on a mission of peace (MG).
o
address
many meetings (MG)
§
e.g.
travel to Noakhali to restore harmony, to wipe the tear from every eye. (MG).
v
propose
solutions that consider the cultures involved, concerns & fears, values
& beliefs, goals & objectives, etc.
o
e.g.
endeavor to blend the tribes ancient culture with the precepts of Christianity
(AL)
o
e.g.
express views in articles published in the newspaper (AL)
v
propose
constructive alternatives to oppressive initiatives (SK)
o
e.g.
convey independent reflections (SK)
o
e.g.
study the process leading to independent statehood (SK)
o
e.g.
stir the conscience of all communities - have leaders met and sign a pledge for
communal peace (MG).
v
understand
the ideals governing politics and
propose solutions within that structure (SK)
o
e.g.
promote a dynamic program for the reconstruction of rural India (MG)
o
e.g.
tour plague-stricken villages that suffered an epidemic, stress sanitation, and
educate the people in the riddance of rats (MG).
o
e.g.
use weekly publications as forum for the discussion of the problems (MG).
v
speak
for the new era. – enunciate a concept of a new education. (MG)
v
show
how a (nonviolent) doctrine can be translated into practical politics (SK)
v
provide
a vision in which the end and the means form a single unit (SK)
v
urge
inclusion of all sections of the community in a partnership in the Government
on the basis of equality (AL)
v
pursue
the path of moderation (AL)
v
seek
advice from those around you, e.g. turn to your "Political Guru" for
guidance (MG).
Heroic Characteristics / Guidelines