Funds are being collected to commemorate Mahatma Gandhiji in a fitting manner and I beg to suggest that the same may be done in the Gandhian way and not otherwise. Gandhiji's whole life was dedicated to the service of humanity at large with special interest for raising the moral standard. His later activities showed that he was equal to every one and all the people of the world knew him more as the spiritual leader than a mere politician. Devotion to Godhead was his ultimate aim and when I say that his sacred memory should be perpetuated not in the ordinary way but in the Gandhian way, I mean that fitting respect to his memory will be done in the following manner.
1. In the midst of his multifarious duties, Gandhiji never missed to attend to his Ramdhun kirtana meeting. This is one of the soundest method for the culture of devotion to God. In the opinion of Srimad-Bhagbatam, one who is imbibed with the devotion of Godhead is also endowed with all the good qualities of the gods. But one who is not a devotee of Godhead, has not any value for his good qualities because he utilizes his so called good qualities for ulterior purposes. As such the easy way to raise the moral standard of people in general, is to make this 'Samkirtan' movement more popular all over the world by philosophical discourses based on reasoning and moral and ethical codes. The Vaishnava Acharyas especially Lord Chaitanya and his six Goswamin disciples give us ample opportunity and scope for this work. Lord Chaitanya first inaugurated the Samkirtan or Ramdhun movement and the later Goswamis supported it by scholarly philosophical synthesis. The six Sandarvas by Sreela Jiva Goswami are marvelous in this respect.
2. The second item is to take up the temple entry or temple worship movement. This is, in the real sense, a theistic cultural movement and the facility or opportunity shall be open to every one whatsoever he may be. All the past Acharyas accepted everyone who desires to offer his respect to God inspired by transcendental love and devotion. We can support this movement of Gandhiji on the authority of Shastras. There are thousands and lakhs of temples all over India but they are not always properly managed. Some of them have become the positive dens for undesirable activities and most of the owners or trustees of such temples do not know how to utilise these sacred buildings. Neither modernised gentlemen have any interest for these neglected theistic institutions. Originally the aim of these temples was to diffuse spiritual culture in every quarter. These temples or theistic institutions should therefore be reorganized as the [centre of spiritual culture according to authentic principles as laid down in the scriptures like Bhagavad-gita.
3. The third item is to take up the Harijana movement. This movement is, in the real sense, a spiritual initiation movement and this should be organized in such a manner that people all over the world may take interest in it. The Harijana is a word which shall not be used neglectfully as it is done now but attempt should be made to make everybody a Harijana. Harijana means the recognized man of Hari the Personality of Godhead and thus he (the harijana) is as important a man as the knight of the king. So Harijana movement] [text missing] should be strengthened more scientifically to turn every person who is now 'Mayajan' into a 'Harijan'. The 'mayajan' is a word which is applicable to a person who is ordinarily engaged in the service of materialistic pursuits, whereas the 'Harijan' is the person whose main business is to attain perfection of human life, as Mahatma Gandhi did, by spiritualistic realisation. This movement should therefore be conducted under strict disciplinary methods as prescribed by the 'Mahajans' or the 'Harijan' of accredited merit. In such a movement we shall have full co-operation of the 'Sadhu' community in India.
4. The fourth item is to organise the much discussed caste system as a solution of natural division of the human beings all over the world. Nationalistic division of human races is artificial but scientific division of the caste system as envisaged in the Bhagawad Geeta is natural. We shall have to pick up brahmanas and others not only from the Indian people but from the peoples of all over the world. The vitiated caste system of present India is never sanctioned by the scriptures. But the caste system is made by God according to quality and work of the subject and it was never designed for the benefit of accidental birth right. Thus whatever is made by God cannot be destroyed by man. Destruction of the caste system as contemplated by some exponents, is therefore out of question. By the modes of nature different persons are imbued with different qualities and the scientific way of division of human society, from the qualitative aspect, by the caste system is quite natural. But the basic principle of such caste system is to serve the plan of Godhead and by doing so the four orders of caste system make a headway by the co-operative method. When such spiritual progress is definitely made, the materialistic progress is automatically effected as a matter of course. That makes a real classless society.
The above four-fold Gandhi movements, if done in an organized, scientific way supported by all the authentic scriptures of all religiosities, will bring in that tranquillity of peace respite of all harshness and bitterness of the present world, which we have longed for till now.