ज्ञानकेंद्र : नैतिक आकर्षण के स्थल हों

Summary

In a 1945 discussion at Shantiniketan, Mahatma Gandhi emphasized that Visva-Bharati must rely on moral attraction rather than material comforts to draw scholars. He warned that if the institution depended on money or amenities, it would fail to attract worthy individuals and become like other Indian educational institutions, betraying the ideals for which Gurudev lived and died. Gandhi clarified that while basic necessities for workers are acceptable, the university should not compete with market salaries. He stated that if scholars demanded market rates, it would be better to proceed without them, as the institution's strength should come from its ethical richness. Gandhi addressed whether Shantiniketan should participate in politics, asserting that while the institution should share national goals like complete independence, it must stay away from political agitation. He maintained this position consistently over thirty years. Regarding social reform in villages, Gandhi acknowledged that social revolution is more difficult than political revolution, but insisted that change must be demonstrated in the smallest actions of daily life rather than through force. He advised workers to persist without expecting rewards or fame, and to examine their own shortcomings when facing obstacles. On the question of salary systems, Gandhi saw no fundamental difference between fixed wages and covering expenses, but cautioned against paying market rates, which would undermine the ashram spirit. When asked about lack of reverence among students, he urged teachers to look inward, citing the biblical principle of removing the beam from one's own eye before pointing out the mote in another's. He suggested that teachers who complain about students' lack of faith should consider resigning. Gandhi also rejected any essential conflict between his ideals and those of Tagore, stating that his search for opposition between them had revealed no real difference.