"There is a Great Value in Disaster, Because We can start all over again".

In 1914 Thomas Edison's factory in West Orange, New Jersey, was virtually destroyed by fire. Although the damage exceeded $2 million, the buildings were insured for only $238,000 because they were made of concrete and were thought to be fireproof. Much of Edison's life work went up in smoke and flames that December night. At the height of the fire, Edison's 24-year-old son, Charles, searched frantically for his father. He finally found him, calmly watching the fire, his face glowing in the reflection, his white hair blowing in the wind.

He was 67 and no longer a young man and everything was going up in flames. When he saw Charles, he shouted, "Charles, where's your mother?" When he told him that he didn't know, he said, 'Find her. Bring her here. She will never see anything like this as long as she lives.'"

The next morning, Edison looked at the ruins and said, "There is great value in disaster. All our mistakes are burned up. Thank God we can start anew."

Three weeks after the fire, Edison managed to deliver the first phonograph.

Gandhiji: A Real Mahatma

Human Civilization is facing a multi-dimensional crisis; a crisis that poses challenge to each and every aspect of our life. The world has reached the cross-roads where there are two paths; one leading to violence, destruction and the other leading to peace, co-existence and non-violence. On this choice depends the future of human race survival.

Gandhiji taught us to stand against fear, to understand the importance of truth and peace. The meaning of peace is to offer happiness and non violence does not mean silence and inactivity in the face of injustice. All instances of injustice have to be opposed but without violence. His thought and technique had a universal appeal. His new weapons of non-violence (Ahinsa) and peace has carved out a new path not only for India but for the world.

Some people always say that it is easier said than done. Gandhi's extraordinary asset lies in the fact that he always attempted a blend between theory and practice, between thought and work. For him a thought or theory had no meaning unless it was translated into practice. Gandhiji himself adept what he preach and proved this by leading Satyagraha and Non-cooperation Movement and saw the country unifying to fight the single cause of India's independence.

Even nowadays people who study his ideology continue to find more significance and deeper relevance not only for present day problems but also for the future. As long as mankind is present on this Earth, Gandhi will be remembered as the first to have preached of non-violence as a solution to all problems in the society. His technique has singled him out as a great leader.

Gandhi has been rightly called the Mahatma and Father of our Nation and there is no doubt that he was the architect of India's freedom. On the occasion of the Gandhi Jayanti let us dedicate ourselves towards promoting peace and harmony and work for the progress of the nation.