“Where Love Is, There God Is Also” – Mahatma Gandhi
The above quote compels me to write in today’s war-torn time.
Mahatma Gandhi’s words reflect a universal truth that transcends religious boundaries: love is the purest expression of the Divine. Whether one calls this force God, the Universe, the Source, or Higher Consciousness, love is the binding energy that connects all of creation.
Love as the Manifestation of the Divine. Gandhi suggests that wherever genuine love exists, the presence of the Divine is unmistakable. This means that divinity is not confined to temples, churches, mosques, or scriptures, but rather, it lives within human interactions, compassion, and selfless service. Love is the very essence of God because it portrays:
Selflessness – A love that seeks no reward.
Forgiveness – The ability to cast aside pain and resentment.
Unity – The realization that we are all interconnected.
The absence of love is a world without the Divine. If love is the embodiment of the Divine, then where there is hatred, greed, or division, there is an absence of this force. When human hearts are consumed by fear, prejudice, or violence, they sever themselves from the presence of the Divine. This is why love is seen as the cement that restores that connection.
Love is an emotion that:
Heals all wounds,
Dissolves barriers of race, religion, and nationality,
Inspires acts of kindness and self-sacrifice, and elevates the human spirit.
Gandhi epitomized love in action. He lived by the principle that love was the most powerful weapon against oppression. His practice of nonviolent resistance (Ahimsa) was rooted in love and not in weakness. He saw love as the highest moral force, capable of dissolving hatred and bringing even the most unjust systems to their knees.
The ultimate realization is that through kindness toward a stranger, patience with a loved one, or forgiveness of an enemy, every act of love reveals the face of the Divine in the world.
Thus, Gandhi’s statement is a powerful sentiment and a way of life. Where love is cultivated, divinity flourishes, and the highest truth is realized.
A Misunderstood Legacy
Regrettably, in modern India, Gandhi’s legacy is increasingly misunderstood, distorted, and misrepresented by many historians and political commentators; easy when he is not here to defend himself. His philosophy of nonviolence, truth, and love that once was the moral backbone of a movement that freed a nation is now seen as political weakness, manipulation, or a calculated strategy. His self-sacrifice, which once inspired millions, is now cynically dismissed as an act of self-serving political manoeuvring.
The truth is, Gandhi was never a politician; he was dragged into politics by the weak political leaders of his time, who chose to hide behind his moral authority of a spiritual being rather than take a stand themselves. They leaned on his principles when it served their interests but failed to uphold them when it mattered most. Today, his message of unity, peace, and love is often side-lined in favour of divisive ideologies, and his life’s work is misrepresented for political gain.
Yet, history remains the ultimate judge. No distortion can erase the truth of his message or the profound impact he left on humanity. Those who truly seek the divine in love will always find Gandhi’s teachings standing tall as a beacon of higher consciousness.