By Lt Gen Anil Puri, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM (Retd)
Former Deputy Chief and the first Additional Secretary, Department of Military Affairs (DMA), Ministry of Defence
From Rama’s bow to Gandhi’s walking stick, India’s timeless message remains unchanged: defeat evil with truth, faith, and inner strength.
This year brings a rare and meaningful coincidence — Dussehra and Gandhi Jayanti falling on the same day. One draws its essence from the great epics, the other from modern history. Yet together they shine as twin lights of truth, illuminating the path of righteousness for humanity.
Dussehra – Victory of Good over Evil
Dussehra, or Vijaya Dashami, celebrates the eternal truth that darkness can never overpower light.
In the north, it commemorates Lord Rama’s victory over Ravana, symbolising humility and devotion triumphing over arrogance and deceit. In the east, it recalls Goddess Durga’s conquest of Mahishasura, the victory of righteousness over oppression.
Across India the customs vary—burning of Ravana effigies, Ayudha Puja in the south, Shami Puja in the west—but the essence is one: a call to destroy the Ravanas within us. It reminds us that truth, faith, and self-discipline are the foundations of dharma. When strengthened by self-belief—the true brahmastra—these virtues help us conquer not only outer challenges but also our inner weaknesses.
Gandhi Jayanti – The Power of Satya and Ahimsa
On the same day we honour Mahatma Gandhi, the apostle of truth and non-violence.
His battles were not fought with arrows or swords but through an inner voice—the conscience of the soul. Gandhi’s strength lay in his relentless pursuit of Truth (Satya), which to him was synonymous with God.
For Gandhi, Ātmanirbharta—self-reliance—was essential, whether through the spinning wheel of khadi or the simplicity of village life. It was not just economic freedom but moral independence, teaching that dignity arises from simplicity and self-dependence. His insistence on cleanliness carried the same moral weight: “Cleanliness is next to godliness,” he said, linking outer purity with inner discipline.
Where Dussehra celebrates victory through divine force, Gandhi Jayanti celebrates victory through moral force. Both teach that the fight against evil—whether embodied in Ravana or in colonial injustice—demands courage, faith, and righteousness.
A Shared Legacy for a Rising India
As India moves forward, these timeless values still guide national endeavour.
The Indian Army’s Operation Sindoor, a calibrated mission that restored peace with restraint, echoes the same spirit—strength balanced by wisdom, resistance tempered by proportion. It was not about overkill but about purpose, much like Gandhi’s philosophy of resisting injustice with discipline, and Rama’s of fighting only when necessary.
Likewise, today’s calls for Ātmanirbharta and Swachh Bharat are not mere policies but living extensions of these eternal lessons—strength through self-reliance, dignity through self-control, and purity through proportionate action.
The Noble Goal
When epic and history converge, their collective wisdom becomes a guiding star.
Both Dussehra and Gandhi Jayanti urge us to burn the effigies of greed, anger, and hatred, while nurturing truth, compassion, and peace. They remind us that the purpose of life is to become better human beings and to build a society where harmony and justice prevail.
Ultimately, these twin festivals point toward one noble goal—a self-reliant, clean, and peaceful India, capable of strength with restraint and progress with purpose.
From Rama’s bow to Gandhi’s walking stick, from the battlefield of Lanka to the quiet banks of Sabarmati, from Operation Sindoor to the dream of Ātmanirbharta—the message endures:
“The greatest victory is not over others but over the self. In that victory lies the promise of a brighter future for all.”
About the Author:
Lt Gen Anil Puri, PVSM, AVSM, SM, VSM (Retd), commanded the front-line Desert Corps and later served as the Deputy Chief and the first Additional Secretary of the Department of Military Affairs (DMA), Ministry of Defence. Known for his strategic vision and reform-driven leadership, he writes on national security, governance, and ethics in public life.
