Young Adults Share Thoughts on Gandhi's Relevance Today

What People Think

Young adults and professionals across the country are reflecting on what Mahatma Gandhi's role and ideas would look like if he were alive today. Adil Kalyanpur, a 26-year-old professional tennis player and rapper, notes that Gandhi would likely dislike our current obsession with instant results and would use social media platforms to spread non-violence. Eshan Sharma, a 26-year-old documentary filmmaker and founder of Karwaan Heritage, shares that his perception of Gandhi comes from family nostalgia and reading his autobiography alongside Ramachandra Guha's books. Kaanchi Chopra, a 27-year-old artist and designer based in Delhi, believes Gandhi would be on the streets opposing extreme power, corruption, and the condition of women, acting a little louder and more rebellious.

Critiques And Debates

Young voices are also engaging critically with his legacy and complex ideas on gender, sexuality, and caste. Vighnesh Hampapura, a 27-year-old translator, writer, and Ph.D student, rejects titles like "father of the nation" and "Mahatma" due to the paternalism and infallibility they carry, pointing out that Gandhi's constant questioning is often overlooked. Nisarga Adhikary, a 19-year-old cybersecurity engineer at IIT-Kanpur, feels that Gandhi turned moral courage into political power but would be confused by modern speed and online politics, while also noting that figures like Ambedkar explain structural inequality better. Shubham Kumar, an 18-year-old student at IIT-Bombay, adds that Gandhi might feel uncomfortable with the deteriorating civic sense and an aimless education system, though the working population today can hardly afford a civil disobedience en masse.

Context

Mahatma Gandhi remains a central figure in Indian political and social thought, with his philosophy of non-violent resistance and truth continuing to shape modern discussions on activism, civic duty, and social reform. Different generations and thinkers frequently revisit his writings and actions to interpret how historical figures address contemporary challenges like corruption, equality, and state power.