Be the Change you want to see in the world

Be the Change you want to see in the world

People at large believe that by the above quote Gandhiji meant that one has to change himself rather than change the world. But if that quote by Gandhiji meant so, the society, the nations, the world would have never seen evolved and changed. All thought leaders would have been busy changing themselves rather than changing the world around them. The way I understand is that Gandhiji wanted to say that rather than waiting and watching someone to come and change the world one must take the initiative and be the catalyst for that change. Gandhiji never said that always accept what the society offers you and do not aspire to change it. The society had always been twisting whatever the great leaders have taught and therefore in this case society perches that one has to change oneself and not lead the society for change. (What a clever way to distort opinions of champions of change). We all know that all the change in world happened with the power of One. It is also appropriate that life can either be accepted or changed. If it is not accepted, it must be changed. If it cannot be changed, then it must be accepted.

So, individuals may try to change himself but if one cannot change, the individual has to accept himself, the way he is. In a way If you can't change the world change yourself and if you can't change yourself, then you have to make an attempt to change the world.
It is said that the only law of universe is change but the only truth in the world is nature. So the world must realize that changing the nature is impossible and man cannot do it. The only thing man has created is society and social norms and a man has limited role to play in those norms only. A man can change these norms only but not the nature.

The natural phenomenon will never change but the society has to evolve and change. There has been social movements like the Brahmo Samaj, The Arya Samaj, The Kuka movement, The Dev Samaj, The Radha Sowami in India. These movements brought the change in understanding of Hinduism. They may not be acceptable to all till date but they are acceptable to some and the number of those some is always increasing.

There was evolution in society when the systems like dowry, widow re-marriage, child marriage, sati which all were supposed to be the foundations of the Hindu culture changed. The dynastic rulers have given way to elected leaders.

The changes were started by a few thought leaders, who could influence the law and latter lead to the change in society. But the first step toward such a change is awareness and the second step is acceptance, the third step is to make an opinion about the change and then lead the change. But if the individual feels that the society should accept him or his view point. Then that individual has to first accept that about himself. Then he has to come out strongly with the cause he is talking about. Because unless you believe in yourself others will not believe you.

Accepting the social norms and changing oneself according to the societal norms is no change in itself. We must realize that if one wants to lead a change or do something which is not within the social norms of the society, then the whole world will stand against that change. The society will put in all efforts in its quest to reform that person and convenience him that whatever he is suggesting is not social order but a deviation from it and that the person must change, this despite the fact that most societies have undergone radical changes.

Do we remember the fate of the person who brought the enlightenment that the earth is not flat ? The society looks from its own mcroscopic prospective and wants to influence an individual so that the change he is thinking about should remain as a status quo. But the society which never alters its opinion is like a standing water and breeds reptiles in minds of its constituents and those reptiles will eat away the small fishes of the pond. The individuals who could lead change despite and inspite of resistance are today remembered in form of Namdev, Kabir, Ravidas, Guru Nanak and so on... Changes in technology have lead to Green ,White and IT revolution and the changes in thought process will lead to further change.

As Indians we need to understand that the Indian society is the most tolerant society which is diverse in nature. It is not a closed society practices of repression of the minorities. It is a country which accepts change and encourages inclusive growth.

The society will always say "One person cannot change the world." but I believe that , "You never know.". It is the power of One that lead to all change. Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending and let that ending today lead to new beginnings of future.

It is the society which has evolved out of nature and not vice versa. By looking at opinions of various thought leaders the human beings will never be able to conclude on what is natural or unnatural. To seek a true answer of the above question one has to look into the nature around, if something exists in plants, animals, birds then it is natural and otherwise if it creation of the human mind. It is human beings and the society which has to change because the laws of nature are fundamental and it is very difficult to change the nature.