After 26/11, we all were and are disturbed. In our own way, we all reacted and vented our anger and anguish. Some of us are vehemently proposing for a pro-action. War is not all about valour and heroism ; it is also about human sufferings. But when war is inevitable, what will be my role? …… ….. ….. Shall I quit or fight? I believe there is no third option. How would Gandhiji, one of the greatest apostles of non-violence, would react to such situation? Here I am sharing some of the thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi on ‘violance / Hinsa’ that I came across.

"When two nations are fighting the duty of a votary of Ahmisa is to stop the war. He who is not equal to that duty, he who has no power of resisting war, he who is not qualified to resist war, may take part in war and yet wholeheartedly try to free himself, his nation and the world from war." – The Mind of Mahatma Gandhi,p.56 –R K PRABHU & U R RAO

“Let me take an illustration. I am a member of an institution which holds few acres of land whose crops are in imminent peril from monkeys. I believe in the sacredness of all life and hence I regard it as a breach of ahimsa to inflict any injury on the monkeys. But I do not, hesitate to instigate and direct an attack on the monkeys in order to save the crops. I would like to avoid this evil. I can avoid by leaving or breaking up the institution. I do not do so because I do not expect to be able to find society where there will be no agriculture and, therefore no destruction some life. In fear and trembling, in humility and penance, I therefore participate in the injury inflicted on the monkeys, hoping some to find a way out.” The mind of Mahatma Gandhi,p.57 –R K PRABHU & U R RAO

“even man-slaughter may be necessary in certain cases. Suppose a man runs amok and goes furiously about sword in hand, and killing any one that comes in his way, and no one dares to capture him alive. Anyone who despatches this lunatic will earn the gratitude of the community and be regarded as a benevolent man. ……… I do believe that where there is only a choice between cowardice and violence, I would advise violence. I would rather have India resort to arms in order to defend her honour than that she should, in a cowardly manner, become or remain a helpless witness to her own dishonour. ( Selection from Gandhiji p. 156, 162 – Nirmal Kumar Bose

"The people of a village near Bettia told me (Gandhiji) that they had run away whilst the police were looting their houses and molesting their houses and molesting their womenfolk. When they said that they had run away because I had told them to be non-violent, I hung my head in shame. I assured them that such was not meaning of my non-violence. I expected them to intercept the mightiest power that might be in the act of harming those who were under their protection, and draw without retaliation all harm upon their own heads even to the point of death, but never to run away from the storm centre. It was manly enough to defend one’s property, honour, or religion at the point of the sword. It was manlier and nobler to defend them without seeking to injure the wrong – doer. But it was unmanly, unnatural and dishonourable to forsake the post of duty and, in order to same one’s skin, to leave property, honour or religion to the mercy of the wrong-doer. I could see my way of delivering the message of ahmisa to those who knew how to die, not to those who were afraid of death." Selection from Gandhiji p. 162 – Nirmal Kumar Bose