The story of the Birth of Satyagraha
National Herald, New Delhi, 10, 2005

9/11-2001 is the day of terrorism and counter-terrorism, of the clash between reasonless faith and faithless reason. 9/11 - 2001 sanctions the cycle of violence and counter violence. 9/11-1906 is the day of the birth of Satyagraha, breaking of that vicious cycle of collective death. Which out of these perennial adversaries will gain momentum and have ascendancy over the other depends on our individual choices reflected collectively.

Not one, but two nine-elevens, set apart by almost a century reveal the ultimate choice of the modern times.

Our choice of one automatically shuts the door on the other.,. neutralizes the power of the other.

In 9/11 is revealed the epic story of the claim of ascendancy of the one over the other of the two perennial competitors - the good and the evil in us.

Three years back, on the same day, now known as 9/11, terrorism struck on America, grounded to dust the symbols of American power. Counter-terrorism in its revenge grounded to dust two nations.and much more even within America and all over the world.

..Violence and counter-violence. fear, hatred & aggression. an unending chain of "an-eye-for-an-eye"..

Will it not render the whole world blind?

We share the tears, the agony and the pain of the sufferers .. as free and Sovereign nations.

Do we, the rest of the humanity, have a counter-point to 9/11-2001? ----the other half of the Truth ... the story of deliverance from hatred, fear and aggression rather than surrender to it?

The other half, the reality of our times.. Our own liberating 9/11, 11 September.. of 1906..

"The story of the Birth of Satyagraha on 9/11 - 1906 in South Africa forms an extraordinary illustration of a policy of doing no wrong, committing no violence, but simply enduring all the punishment the other side could inflict, for speaking and doing what is right, until they became weary and ashamed of punishing and of there own untruth. A battle of the unaided human soul against overwhelming material force.

Under the leadership of M.K. Gandhi, as he was known then, Hindus, Muslims and others came together in Johannesburg, South Africa, to give birth to what became universally acclaimed 'weapon' of liberation. "Satyagraha" - Steadfast adherence to truth".

The oppressed, powerless Good was born as a powerful weapon of love against hatred; of fearlessness against fear; and sovereignty against domination.

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