Non violence (Lack of violence?)

There is a story I had read long back. A monk was sitting on the bank of the river. He saw a scorpion almost on the verge of drowning. The monk saved the scorpion and took it out of the water. As soon as it was out, the scorpion stung the monk. This kept happening several times, the scorpion trying to drown and the monk saving it. A passerby asks the monk why he is saving the scorpion inspite of its ungratefulness. The monk mentions: “It is the scorpion’s nature to sting. And it is human nature to save“.

This story was mentioned in the book “Gandhi: The Man” written by Eknath Easwaran.

However what changed my view about violence and warfare is the book I read last week: “Nonviolence” by Mark Kurlansky.

An amazing book about the twenty five lessons learned from the history of warfare. The author talks about how they sold the various wars in history like the American war of revolution, the American Civil war and the abolition of slavery, the World War I, the World War II, the Vietnam war, the Iraq war, the Cold war between US and Russia. A brilliant portrayal of the tactics used by the people in power to sell the war to the common man and get their approval.The author also delves in detail on the Indian independence led by Gandhiji, the struggle led by Martin Luther king etc.

The author talks about the most “misunderstood” word Jihad of the Muslim community. “Jihad” in the Quran actually means intense struggle to attain “perfection“. And “Perfection” is the state of pure non-violence. The “intense struggle” does not mean warfare but means a verbal and a nonviolent approach to attain the perfection. As always the word was corrupted and now means an arms struggle. Why did it corrupt? The author mentions that once a religion is used as the state religion, its “non-violent” component takes a back seat and it starts imitating the state’s nature. A state is always concerned with power, force and acquisition and it is a dangerous thing to be non-violent. It is the same way many religions including Christianity are corrupted.

Also nonviolent activists are considered very dangerous to the society and that is why after their death most nonviolent activisits are deified. The author mentions that a “Saint” is less harmful than a nonviolent rebel. This is what happened in the case Jesus Christ, Prophet Mohammed, St. Martin, Gandhiji and many others who were all nonviolent activists.

Am really not doing any justice in this review. The book is absolutely brilliant. It will make you aware of the lies, myth and the tactics that people in power use to sell wars. Nonviolence is the only way to achieve results. There has been a debate if nonviolence would have worked against a person like Hitler. The author cites various astonishing examples of how nonviolence has worked miraculously with even Hitler. Unfortunately, these stories never become popular because the writers of history who happen to be the victors in a war, always want to glorify the war.  The author also talks about the various peace societies and sects that cropped up “post-war” in any region and their influences.

In view of all the things written in the book, I only hope and pray there is no nuclear war in the future. The book covers a wide range of stories, examples and wars. At times you would feel like you are reading a history book, but this time not glorifying the victor but talking the “truth“.