Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869-1948) is revered by Baha'is all over the world as being a man who embodied so many "Baha'i" principles and ideals without actually 'being' a Baha'i. Most of his teachings are strikingly similar to Baha'i Teachings. Gandhi's personal Faith was a combination of Hindu, Christian,Buddhist, Muslim, Jain, and Sikh beliefs. One researcher has shown the remarkable similarities between Gandhi's beliefs and principles and Baha'i beliefs and principles. Gandhi is quoted to have once said:
"The Baha'i Faith is a solace to humankind." (Bombay Chronicle, May 24, 1944, as quoted in Mahatma Gandhi and The Baha'i Faith, p.6 online)Because of his advocation of the Jain doctrine of ahimsa (non-violence to and respect for all life forms) Gandhi became known as "Mahatma" (Great Soul) Gandhi. Accordingly, Gandhi was opposited to the abortion as well as all forms of artificial birth-control. Gandhi expressed these views in a book which he personally wrote calledBirth Control: The Right Way and the Wrong Way (Ahmedabad: Navajivan Press, 1959). Gandhi wrote:
"It seems to be clear as daylight that abortion would be a crime." (Abortion is Bad Karma, p.1 online)
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