Remembering Gandhi

“If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change,”?wrote?Gandhi. “As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him.”

Once, when asked about her children, Kasturba Gandhi responded, 'Four, but Bapu, my husband, has 400 million.' 400 million was India's population, and for Gandhi, they were his family.

On Gandhi's death anniversary, we honour a change maker whose values resonate with the entrepreneurial spirit.

His legacy shows us that businesses can thrive while championing social responsibility and sustainability, and entrepreneurs embracing his philosophy embark on a journey that transcends profit—a journey to positively impact their communities and the world.

Business leaders and entrepreneurs may find in his principles a wellspring of inspiration, extending far beyond the realms of politics and social activism.

1. Purpose Beyond Profit

Gandhi firmly believed that companies should prioritise social responsibility alongside profits. Today, this thought is gaining weight as businesses have started recognising their role in addressing societal challenges. The Business Roundtable, a group of influential CEOs, echoes Gandhi's call for a broader purpose for corporations. In an era where consumers value social responsibility and sustainability, aligning your business with a higher purpose can be a source of competitive advantage.

2. Continuous Experiments:

As Mahatma Gandhi's autobiography “The Story of My Experiments with Truth” shows, his life was marked by a relentless commitment to self-improvement and experimentation. He believed that individuals should be willing to continuously test their beliefs and actions. One of the most famous experiments Gandhi conducted was his quest for truth through nonviolent resistance. His Salt March in 1930 is a compelling example of this principle in action. This act of civil disobedience was a practical experiment in challenging the oppressive British regime without resorting to violence.

Gandhi's continuous experiments also extended to his personal life. He experimented with simplicity, practicing celibacy, and adhering to a vegetarian diet. These were not just personal choices but reflections of his belief in self-discipline and self-reliance. Through his continuous experiments, he lead by example and inspire others to question and refine their own principles and actions.

3. Living Your Life on Your Terms

Gandhi was a staunch advocate of living life on one's own terms, guided by one's principles and values. An example of this is his decision to wear simple, hand-spun clothes, which became an iconic symbol of his commitment to self-reliance and opposition to the British textile industry. Another powerful illustration of living life on his own terms was his choice to engage in fasting as a means of protest and personal purification. He used fasting as a nonviolent tool to bring about social and political change.

4. Building Sustainable Enterprises

There’s a story that Arun Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson tells. When he was a small boy as he was coming home, he saw that his pencil has gotten really short from use. It was barely three-inch left and he threw it away thinking he will get a new pencil. So, he got home and told his grandfather, the elder Gandhi that we wants a new pencil. But to his surprise, he was asked a lot of questions about how he used that pencil, how did it got short and was told finally to go and get that three-inch long pencil back! When he got it back, Gandhi ji told Arun, “Now, I want you to sit here and learn two very important lessons. The first lesson is that even in the making of a simple thing like a pencil, we use a lot of the world’s natural resources. And when we throw them away, we are throwing away the world’s natural resources. And that is violence against nature.

And the second lesson is that, because in an affluent society we can afford to buy things very easily, we over-consume the resources of the world. And because we over-consume them, we are depriving people elsewhere of these resources. And they have to live in poverty. And that is violence against humanity.”

Simple story, deeper lesson: In an age where trust is a valuable currency, businesses that focus on creating value for communities are more likely to thrive.

5. Sharing Wealth with Society

Gandhi believed that the wealth created by a company belongs not only to the owner but to society as a whole. In a world grappling with income inequality, Gandhi's idea encourages us to think beyond shareholder value. Consider how your company can contribute to society, whether through fair wages, community development, CSR, or philanthropic initiatives. Shared prosperity can lead to long-lasting success.

6. Listening and Adapting

Mahatma Gandhi was not just a leader but also a profound listener. No matter how busy he got, he always found time to listen to his grandson, Arun, which teaches us the importance of prioritizing family and maintaining a work-life balance.

As entrepreneurs, it's easy to be consumed by the demands of business, but Gandhi's example underscores the significance of listening, adapting, and making time for what truly matters.

7. Being True to Your Principles

Perhaps one of the most enduring lessons from Gandhi is his unwavering commitment to his principles. In the face of adversity and opposition, he stood by his beliefs. He even died for them! For entrepreneurs, this means staying true to your values, even when it feels challenging. Believing in your ideas and finding innovative ways to achieve them is a cornerstone of entrepreneurial success.

In simpler terms, Bapu, a loving nickname for Gandhi, truly lived out Nietzsche's idea of being 'Human, all too human.'

His principles, like always taking care of society and staying dedicated, are like a timeless light showing the way for leaders aiming to make a lasting impact on the world.

In today's world, things are different, but it's important to remember what matters to us. So, in your own work or business journey, think about Gandhi's life and ideas. How can you do good, try new things, care for the Earth, share with others, listen and change, and stick to your beliefs?

Simply put, what small steps can you take today to make a good impact on your community and the world?”

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