Sardarni Vani Part 01

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Sardarni Vani Part 01," compiled from the provided pages:

Book Title: Sardarni Vani Part 01 Author: Kumarpal Desai Publisher: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel 125mi Janma Jayanti Ujavani Samiti (Celebration Committee for the 125th Birth Anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel) Year of Publication: 2001

Overall Purpose: This book is a collection of thoughts and speeches attributed to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, compiled by Kumarpal Desai. It was published by the Gujarat State Committee for the 125th birth anniversary of Sardar Patel. The aim is to make Sardar Patel's life, thoughts, and ideals accessible to the present society, inspiring them with his vision for a new India. The compilation is presented in a compact, pocket-sized format for easy accessibility to students, college-goers, and all conscious citizens.

Key Themes and Principles:

The book is structured around various themes, each presented as a distinct thought or principle. These can be broadly categorized as:

1. National Identity and Heritage:

• Our Heritage (Aapno Varso): Emphasizes the arrival of Mahatma Gandhi and the introduction of truth into political life. It highlights the power of truth and non-violence, where a physically weak individual could challenge a mighty empire. Patel stresses that Gandhi has left behind immense wealth in the form of these principles, and it's our duty to utilize them.
• Our Swaraj (Aapnu Swarajya): Defines Swaraj as a state where no one suffers from hunger, where farmers' produce isn't taken abroad, and where reliance on foreign countries for clothing is eliminated. It also emphasizes the need for freedom from foreign language dictating education and administration, and freedom from excessive military expenditure that compromises national security. True Swaraj means liberation from being enslaved to others and not using our forces to suppress others' freedom.
• The Meaning of Swaraj (Swaraj no Arth): Reiterates that true Swaraj means control over the nation's defense and economy, and freedom to develop trade, professions, and industries. It also addresses issues like corruption and forced labor within the system that needs to be fought against.
• Pride of Gujarat (Garvi Gujarat): Acknowledges Gujarat's wealth, organizational skills, and intellect, but laments its shortage of dedicated workers (volunteers). It appeals to all Gujaratis with patriotic fervor to contribute their children to the cause of nation-building.

2. Social Reform and Equality:

• Equality (Samanta): Defines untouchability as something that applies only to the deceased, not the living, as the life force is a divine spark. To establish equality between Dalit and upper castes, the so-called upper castes must make sacrifices and yield to the Dalits.
• Untouchability (Aspruchyata): Urges the public to engage with the issue of untouchability with the same diligence as respected leaders like Pandit Malviyaji and Seth Jamnalal Bajaj. This includes visiting Harijan settlements, inviting them to social gatherings, and resolving their difficulties with wells, temples, and schools. It calls for opening temples to the "Antyajas" (untouchables) and cleaning the "stench" of caste conflicts.
• The Stain of Untouchability (Aspruchyata nu Kalank): Highlights Mahatma Gandhi's immense suffering and dedication, including fasts and extensive travel, to eradicate untouchability from Hinduism. It stresses the farmer's duty to consider no one as untouchable and that those who discriminate based on high and low status are not entitled to gain political power. Unity within organizations should leave no room for untouchability.
• Female Education (Nari Kelavni): Laments the decline of traditional domestic education for girls and the need for it to be integrated into formal schooling. It emphasizes the importance of cultivating sweetness in speech, modesty, good conduct, and a virtuous character that reflects well on Hindu society. Basic hygiene and helping younger children are also seen as true education.
• Women's Power (Stri Shakti): Encourages women not to depend on men during difficult times, but to face challenges bravely. It highlights women's immense strength and tolerance, suggesting they need to shed the fear of death and develop courage.
• Women's Rights (Stri no Adhikar): Argues that true Swaraj will only be achieved when women are restored to their rightful place, not just through legal reforms. It credits Mahatma Gandhi with awakening women in India and emphasizes the need for women to gain self-confidence. It also points out the inadequacy of current political rights without underlying empowerment.
• Prohibition of Alcohol (Daru Nishedh): Condemns the state's reliance on alcohol sales as a source of revenue, especially from vulnerable and ignorant communities. It calls this an act of great sin and oppression, highlighting that if God intended for alcohol, He would have created stills instead of bodies.
• The Call to Be Brave (Bahadur Baniye): Acknowledges Gujarat's resources but points to a lack of dedicated workers. It urges Gujaratis to be brave, unite, and be ready to die for their principles, following Gandhi's training.

3. Personal Conduct and Character:

• Manliness/Effort (Purusharth): Appeals to countrymen to recognize the difficult times and challenges ahead. It advises against blaming each other and emphasizes the need for constructive effort.
• Fearlessness (Nirbhayata): Stresses that individuals must develop the strength to defend themselves and their families, rather than solely relying on the police. It defines true fearlessness as becoming one's own police force, recognizing that life and death are intertwined.
• Education in Humility (Vinay ni Kelavani): Advises maintaining composure and restraint, even when provoked. It suggests absorbing insults and responding with patience and dignity, allowing adversaries to realize their own mistakes.
• Resisting Injustice (Anyay no Pratikar): Urges people to shed fear and timidity, and to develop the courage to stand against injustice. It criticizes the tendency to become too docile and advises developing inner strength and resolve.
• Honey Collection (Madhusanchay): Encourages students to cultivate a habit of hard work rather than seeking pleasure. It draws a parallel with bees collecting nectar from flowers, urging people to absorb good knowledge and thoughts from various sources, while rejecting negativity.
• The Shaping of Poverty (Garibai nu Ghadtar): Suggests that poverty can be a crucible for character development, fostering resilience and self-reliance, unlike prosperity which can lead to complacency. He shares his own childhood experiences of simple living and self-cooking.
• A True Gujarati (Saacho Gujarati): Aspires for Gujaratis to be radiant, brave, and dignified, capable of standing up for their self-respect. He highlights the Bardoli peasants' unarmed resistance as an example of Gujarati strength.
• The Sense of Loyalty (Vafadari): Criticizes flattering rulers and emphasizes that true loyalty lies in speaking the truth, even if it's unpleasant. It underscores that a ruler's shortcomings reflect the people's own, and the people must act as guardians of good governance.

4. Governance and Politics:

• The British Government (Angrej Sarkar): Describes the British government as an abstract entity, not a tangible person. It suggests that the fear of the government is an illusion, akin to the fear of ghosts. The administration is run by fellow humans, implying that its power is not absolute.
• The Farmer's Condition (Khedut ni Sthiti): Depicts the abject poverty and dire conditions of farmers in India, who suffer from hunger, ignorance, and superstitions. It highlights their lack of basic hygiene and susceptibility to diseases.
• The Fight Against the Government (Angrejo Jaav): Clarifies that the opposition is not against any community or individual but against imperialism. It likens the British to a mad elephant that needs to be outmaneuvered and shown its vulnerability.
• The Elephant and the Mosquito (Hathi ane Magtaru): Uses a metaphor where the powerful government is like a wild elephant, and the common people are like mosquitoes. It suggests that even a small mosquito entering the elephant's ear can bring it down, implying that the seemingly weak can overcome the mighty.
• Kings and Subjects (Raja ane Praja): Contrasts Indian rulers with their British counterparts, who are accountable to their people (Prime Minister/Parliament). It humbly requests Indian rulers to entrust governance to the people and become facilitators of their progress.
• Kings' Hobbies (Raja no Shokh): Criticizes the obsession of Indian rulers with foreign travel and luxury, which often leads to personal disgrace and brings shame to their lineage. It urges them to abandon these habits for the dignity of their families and country.
• The Oppressive King (Julmi Raja): Highlights the existence of numerous small and large princely states in India, often created by foreign powers to maintain their control. It argues that even kings are enslaved and that the people below them are "slaves of slaves." It calls for challenging oppressive rulers.

5. Strength and Strategy:

• The Strength of Non-Violence (Ahinsa no Mantra): Declares Mahatma Gandhi as the greatest living personality, whose message of truth and non-violence is unique in the world. It contrasts this with the futility of violence in resolving conflicts.
• Tilak's Legacy (Tilak no Varaso): Honors Lokmanya Tilak as a great patriot whose legacy of self-rule ("Swarajya is my birthright and I shall have it") continues to inspire. His scholarship, character, simplicity, fearlessness, and patriotism are presented as invaluable contributions.
• The Avatar of Revolution (Kranti no Avtar): Proclaims Mahatma Gandhi as the greatest revolutionary, whose rebellion is against untruth and hypocrisy, not individuals. It anticipates the world recognizing Gandhi's wisdom in the future and sees his simple spinning wheel as a force that shakes the government.
• The Untapped Strength (Nihshastra Takat): Urges the release of imprisoned leaders and highlights the struggles of their families, particularly women picketing liquor shops. It emphasizes that one unarmed person has shown the world the path of God and that no one can truly take a life.
• The Architect of the Building (Imarat no Ghadvaiyo): Compares Gandhi to an engineer who draws the plan for a building, and his followers to masons who execute it. It stresses the importance of understanding Gandhi's plan for Swaraj and working diligently to build it.
• The Best General (Shreshth Senapati): Identifies Mahatma Gandhi as the greatest general, whose seemingly weak physique belies his powerful message that resonates worldwide. It emphasizes that true strength lies in the spirit and in knowing how to die fighting, not just how to kill.
• Abiding by Non-Violence (Ahinsa Palan): States that true non-violence is practiced by those who can wield a sword but choose to keep it sheathed. It criticizes the non-violence of the cowardly and stresses that self-reliance is paramount.
• Your Fight (Tamari Ladat): Declares that the right to life belongs only to God. It advises against succumbing to brute force and emphasizes that the fight is one of civilization. It stresses the importance of maintaining civility and leaving the land if one cannot uphold it.
• Gandhi's Teachings (Gandhiji no Bodh): Urges Gujaratis to fulfill their responsibility by actively participating in Gandhi's four-fold program for the people, rather than just chanting his name. It calls for embodying his principles and proving their worth.
• Why Fear? (Dar Sha Mate?): Reasserts that death and life are in God's hands. It questions the fear of landlords or the government and suggests that jail can even be more comfortable than outside. It encourages farmers to work their land and live peacefully, free from the slavery of landlords.
• The People's Debt (Praja nu Run): Emphasizes the youth's duty to protect the people, city, and country. It stresses the need for preparedness for any eventuality, including evacuation, and urges unity across all communities.
• The Police (Police): Critiques the current police force, suggesting that low salaries and lack of educated personnel lead to corruption and a failure to protect the public. It identifies the recruitment of good people into the police as a major issue for Gujarat.
• The Revolution's Time (Kranti no Kal): Questions the mere talk of revolution without personal transformation. It calls for shedding old customs, caste divisions, and embracing the new era. It warns of potential unrest during this transition and emphasizes the need for skillful and brave navigation.
• Bright Future (Ujjval Bhavishya): Attributes the arrival of Swaraj to Gandhi's efforts, the Congress party, and divine grace. It stresses that a bright future depends on unity, forgiving past grievances, and upholding India's unique culture of love, not just military might.
• Unity (Samp): Contrasts responsible British governance with the unaccountable Indian rulers. It calls for rulers to place their governance in the hands of the people and clear the path for progress, thus eliminating conflict.
• Faith in Gandhi (Gandhiji par Shraddha): Highlights the divine power within the human body and the ultimate equality of all before death. It emphasizes that Mahatma Gandhi is the greatest guide and that losing faith in him is a grave sin. It praises Gandhi's commitment to awakening the nation.
• Gandhi (Gandhiji): Declares Gandhi as the best man in the world, unmatched by any other. It defines his rebellion as righteous, against untruth and hypocrisy. It credits him with empowering the weak.
• Enemy of Cowardice (Kayarta no Kaththar Shatru): Expresses a desire for community unity but insists on holding those responsible for atrocities accountable. It condemns those who harbor or sympathize with murderers, stating that friendship with such individuals is unsustainable.
• Women's Awakening (Nari Chetna): Questions why women are kept behind when men aspire to be brave. It extols the virtues of historical female figures and criticizes the societal relegation of women from their rightful place. It emphasizes the need for men to respect and educate women.
• Facing Crisis with Steadfastness ( Sankat Saame Adgad): Expresses a deep connection with the people of Bardoli and their contribution to India's freedom struggle. It urges resilience in facing hardships and calls for continuing the fight until justice is served for the farmers.
• Implementing Good Things (Saari Vaat no Amal): Advocates for strict laws against child marriage and calls for an end to practices that lead to infant widowhood and financial ruin through community expenses. It urges people to act with courage and implement virtuous practices.
• The God-Disregard (Prabhuno Tiraskar): Reasserts that calling any living being untouchable is an insult to God, as life itself is a divine spark. It reiterates the call for opening temples to the downtrodden and resolving caste conflicts.
• Devotion to God (Ishwar): Urges fear of God alone, not of any human or authority. It encourages prayer for integrity and steadfastness, emphasizing that true knowledge leads to the understanding of equality among all humans.

5. General Advice and Observations:

• Famine (Bhukhmro): Criticizes the government for spending vast sums on the military and lavish salaries for officials while the population starves. It highlights the contrast between the suffering of the people and the opulent lifestyle of the rulers.
• Our Cities (Aapna Shahero): Describes the unhygienic conditions and lack of sanitation in Indian cities, with people living in cramped spaces, keeping cattle, and lacking basic amenities. It notes the absence of any sign of self-rule or cleanliness to impress foreigners.
• The Parsi Community (Parsi Kom): Praises the Parsi community's potential to rival wealthy individuals globally and their historical contribution to India's independence movement, citing Dadabhai Naoroji as a prime example.
• United Farmers (Sampila Kheduto): Discusses the need for farmers to diversify their income through cottage industries alongside agriculture, as landholdings shrink. It criticizes internal conflicts among farmers and urges them to unite.
• The System of Forced Labor (Veth Pratha): Condemns the wealthy and influential for exploiting the less fortunate through forced labor, even more than the government. It emphasizes the responsible use of one's resources to uplift others.
• The Era of Construction (Rachnatmak Kaal): Suggests that while kings may commit injustices with the backing of their regimes, they can be removed. It encourages proactive engagement in constructive work, as seen in British India, where it fosters a different kind of strength.
• The Blood Relation (Lohini Sagai): Likens the post-independence period to recovering from a serious illness, requiring careful adherence to discipline and restraint. It emphasizes pride in ancient Indian traditions and the shared heritage that binds all Indians.
• Spirit of Freedom (Swatantrata ni Bhavna): Inspires the youth to emulate the dedication of young people in free nations who strive for their country's progress. It warns against complacency and the preference for slavery after a long period of subjugation. It stresses that widespread awakening of this spirit is crucial.
• Service to the Nation (Desh Seva): Encourages active participation in building a glorious history for India. It distinguishes between mere existence and contributing to the nation's freedom movement, calling those born in this era fortunate. It expresses a hope that India will regain its respected place in the world through its inherent strength.

In essence, "Sardarni Vani Part 01" is a powerful compilation of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's core philosophies, advocating for social justice, individual responsibility, national unity, and the practical implementation of Gandhian principles. It serves as a guide for citizens to actively participate in nation-building and uphold the values of a free India.