If I were alive..

 This work is based on pure imagination if Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, fondly called as "Bappa", "Mahatma" and the "Father of the Nation" were alive to witness the contemporary incidences. The remarks that he made when he was alive were used as an analysis of how he would have reacted to the existing world. He had published his opinions predominantly in his own newspapers like "Hind Swaraj" and "Young India" that are used for the anecdotes mentioned in the topics covered below: 

1. Technology: 

Being a staunch follower of rooted traditions, he had never been welcoming of the Western influences or advances that came in those times, such as in the railways, where he referred to it as a hub of spreading diseases. In Chapter XIX: Machinery from an article published in Hind Swaraj, we can infer that he deduced that machinery would impoverish India. He also had the same opinion for the development of Mills and Big industries by relying only on his chakra, which has become a tool of symbolism for him. 

Although he would have understood the pervasive nature of the technology, he would still warn us that it should only empower us to sustain our roots, whilst not bringing in inequalities. 

2. Youth and Activism: 

His acts like mobilising the youth irrespective of gender for marching and organizing protests during the Non-Cooperation movement (1920) and Quit India movement (1942) are the case in points to understand his unwavering commitment and confidence of the youth, whilst also considering that it is like committing a sin to the parents if they direct their paths to politics without education, as mentioned in Young India. There was a lack of clarity in this particular topic of discussion, as he had an opposing view to the modern education that was on the cusp of diffusion during those times. 

"The existing system of education is one of the greatest obstacles in the progress of the country", Young India, March 9th, 1921.  

Concerning activism, his opinion would be that the youth render their service worthy to this society by actively engaging themselves in community building and social reform, by not just posting it on social media handles. 

3. Materialism and Capitalist Culture:

We are all aware of his grooming style, where he was self-sufficient with his khadi and voluntary poverty. His claims on modernity and civilization during those times are in his Hind Swaraj, 1909, which suffices that he would not approve of the "Big Billion Sale" or anything that mimics the Oktoberfest of Germany, where people largely gather to connect with society and keep spreading the behaviour of consumption and improving their purchasing power. He relies on self-sustenance, and I believe he would do the same for the fellow citizens of India now. 

While this is very clear from his beliefs and assumptions about modernity, we also understand his take on environmental concerns that arise out of overconsumption. 

4. Politics:

When the complications noticed have now widened and become more serious than it was during the times of Independence and partition,  Gandhi would have reconsidered certain decisions made earlier to have prevented it from maturing this badly, like the border disputes, trade inequalities, and so on. 

His belief in empowering through Swadeshi methods, dialogue over violence, credibility over allegations and transparency in maintaining equivocal relations would be a befitting response to Bangladesh's interim minister Yusuf's claims over India, Pakistan's accusation over the Balochistan's violence by Indian proxies, Trump's trade tariffs, and Gen Z protests in Nepal.

Overall, he would have acted or behaved like the elders we have in our households who still hold to the values that they rooted for generations, with a faith to restore peace and preserve the nation's dignity with confidence in our abilities and skill developments to make India an orderly country with its own distinct and unique national interests backed by morals, multipolarity, non-interference and humanitarianism.

May his values be upheld and embraced, irrespective of changing times!

Happy Birthday Gandhi Thatha :)