Thursday, 2 January 2025

VIOLENCE

 

          VIOLENCE 

Violence is defined as behaviour involving physical force intended to hurt, damage. or kill someone or something .

According to the  Indian apostle of non-violence, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869-1948) every violent, word and even thought interferes with the progress of non-violent action. Violence, according to him,  must be abjured, for the good that it may seem to achieve is in appearance only, while the harm that it does is everlasting.

Since violence often takes the shape of  brute force, roughness, ferocity, brutality, savagery and strong-arm tactics in various fields  of life, including social, political, religious and commercial , it needs be outlawed and nipped in the bud wherever it takes roots and starts flourishing.

The present day acts of terrorism all over the world are extremely shocking and plead for the emergence of non-violence as a normal way of life.

The English essayist William Hazlitt (1778-1830) said: Violence ever defeats its own ends. Where you cannot drive you can always persuade. A gentle word, a kind look, a good-natured smile can work wonders and accomplish miracles. There is a secret pride in every human heart that revolts at tyranny. You may order and drive an individual, but you cannot make him respect you.

The English poet-playwright William Shakespeare (1564-1616) rightly said : “Violent delights have violent ends.”

The French author Francois de La Rouchefoucauld (1613-1680)  believed that the violence done us by others is often less painful than that which we do to ourselves.

In certain religions : violence in any form is wrong whether it be fighting in a war or harming a small living creature.

Finally, this statement of the American writer Isaac Asimov (1920-1992) : “Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.”

G.R.Kanwal

2nd January 2025   

 

                                                           

 

 

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