An eye for an eye — making the world totally blind!

TOPIC: Gandhiji once stated, “The dictum ‘an eye for an eye’ only ends up making the whole world totally blind!” What do you think?

Today, humanity is growing in a precarious phase. “‘An for an eye’ only ends up making the whole world totally blind!” clearly illustrates the Gandhian principle of non-violence. In our diverse world in terms of geography, economy, polity, society, culture, religion, language, etc., Gandhi’s message continues to resound because of its universality.
Nandini Singh (17)
St Conrad’s Inter College, Agra

The dictum states that a cruel deed should be repaid with another cruel deed. But, violence cannot solve another act of violence. It only brings about a negative outcome. Revenge is equally bad as the original offence. This will in no way end violence. Only peace and tolerance can shun violence. Doing what is right is more important than seeking power and revenge against the wrong done to someone.
Melissa Rosalyn Pinto (18)
St Andrew’s College, Mumbai

Gandhiiji always believed that the world should stand up for what is right in a peaceful way, leading to his ideology of discouraging revenge. With this statement “an eye for an eye will only make the world go blind”, he tries to convey the truth that vengeance will eventually spiral out of control and wipe out everybody as revenge does not terminate a conflict, rather, instigates further brutality among more people, leaving the whole world totally blind!
Mrudula Satla (14)
Mary Immaculate Girls High School, Kalina, Mumbai

Revenge is the key to destroying the world. History tells us revenge in exchange for revenge can’t benefit anyone. It just destroys the life of people on both sides. Therefore, Gandhiji’s statement that an eye for an eye ends up making the whole world totally blind is absolutely correct.
Yogita Nishad (15)
St Xavier’s High School, Durg, Chhattisgarh

Gandhiji means that we can’t solve violence with violence. The shreds of individuality cannot be served with bayonet nor can democracy be restored with the old principle ‘an eye for an eye’ which in the end would make everyone blind. If we keep doing away those we deem cruel/violent, then, we’re no better than the bad ones themselves.
Rashmo Mehta (14)
St Joseph’s Convent High School, Jethuli

With his statement “an eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind” Gandhiji is telling us that if we repay violence with violence we will only add to the quantum of violence, instead putting an end to it with peaceful means. It is really true that “an eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind!”
Vaishnavi Narayan (14)
St Joseph’s Convent High School, Jethuli

If we take revenge (to the same extent to which the victim is harmed), it will only be a vicious circle which destroys the global community. Vengeance is not conducive to social harmony. On the other hand, tolerance is a great virtue that needs to be cultivated. The application of this thought encourages us to redefine our choices and not react with animosity. Gandhiji’s statement is relevant today as when he said it first, decades ago. Therefore, we must promote this principle in order to save the world from getting self-eliminated!
Angela Shabu (16)
St Claret PU College, Bangalore