Truth knows no color.
In 1893, a young Mohandas Gandhi was thrown out of a train in Pietermaritzburg simply because of the color of his skin. That humiliation became a turning point in his life, awakening him to the universal truth of human equality. The incident reminds us that while prejudice paints divisions, truth itself knows no color.
That single moment of humiliation was not just Gandhi’s personal insult, it was a mirror to the deeper truth that prejudice distorts reality, while truth itself remains universal. To understand why truth knows no colors, one must look at it through multiple dimensions like philosophical, historical, scientific, social, and contemporary.
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Essence of Truth knows No Color
Philosophically, Kantian deontology teaches that moral duties are universal and impartial. Thus, truth knows no color reflects that honesty and justice must be upheld regardless of race, identity, or social distinctions. The Upanishadic dictum 'Satyameva Jayate' (Truth alone triumphs) reflects the Indian philosophical tradition of truth as timeless.
History testifies that while prejudice divides, truth eventually asserts itself. For instance, Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation reflected that truth knows no color as he upheld justice and equality, abolishing slavery and affirming that moral principles transcend race, prejudice, and social distinctions. In India, Gandhi's Satyagraha proved that moral truth is stronger than colonial power.
Socially, truth knows no color through initiatives like the Right to Education (RTE) and the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, which ensure equality, inclusion, and justice beyond socioeconomic, ethnic, or cultural distinctions.
Science too stands testimony to the universality of truth. The law of gravity holds regardless of race, religion, or geography.Likewise, the COVID-19 pandemic revealed that viruses and vaccines recognize no borders or colors, affirming the global nature of truth.
Legally, justice itself is built on the principle that truth has no colors. The blindfolded figure of Lady Justice symbolizes impartiality and fairness, reminding us that law must stand above prejudice. The Indian Constitution, through Articles 14 and 15, guarantees equality before law and prohibits discrimination on the basis of caste, race, or religion.
In today’s interconnected world, truth beyond color is more relevant than ever. Climate change events such as melting glaciers and rising seas do not discriminate between nations, reminding us that ecological truth is shared by all. In the ongoing global conflicts between Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas, propaganda abounds, but the undeniable truth remains human suffering, regardless of nationality.
Challenges in Upholding truth
While truth in essence may know no color, its perception and acceptance can often be distorted by power, privilege, or ideology.
Philosophers like Friedrich Nietzsche argued, “There are no facts, only interpretations.” This is evident in how colonial narratives portrayed exploitation as a “civilizing mission" in India. Likewise, propaganda machinery in totalitarian states has turned lies into temporary “truths". In the present times, deepfakes and misinformation challenge the universality of truth.
Social structures, too, have played their part in obstructing truth. Deep-rooted prejudices of caste, race, and gender continue to cloud society’s ability to recognize the universality of truth. Despite constitutional safeguards, discrimination persists because many individuals and groups still cling to biases rather than embracing truth as a colorless reality.
