International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research (IJFMR)

E-ISSN: 2582-2160 ● Website: www.ijfmr.com ● Email: editor@ijfmr.com

Gandhi's Views on Truth, Cleanliness, Good

Health and Community Services
Amit Garai

Research Scholar, Department of philosophy, Sido Kanhu Murmu University, Dumka, Jharkhand

Abstract
The Gandhian Charkha plan is also crucial for fostering community growth. Gandhi's contribution to
constructive labor is crucial for modern India. In this paper, we will discuss the Gandhian philosophy of
community development. The village industry programming the country, village self-sufficiency, and the
belief in Panchayati Raj, Gram Swaraj, Bhoodan, Sarvodaya, Garmdan, decentralization, and Swadeshi
are very significant and helpful in Gandhian Community development.

Keywords: Gandhi, Truth, Health, cleanliness, community Service

Introduction
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi's life is a story of his heroic efforts to establish values of Truth and Non-
violence in human life. Born in a middle-class Vaishnava family, he became a Mahatma and a messenger
for the world in the twentieth century. By encouraging Truth and Nonviolence in India's quest for
independence, he prevented mutual hatred and retaliation between India and Britain. Gandhiji's journey to
South Africa, where he served clients, led him to become a Mahatma. His campaign for non-cooperation
led to his identification with the humblest and lowest of the land, and he was imprisoned multiple times
for his non-cooperation efforts. Gandhi developed methods of widespread civil disobedience in South
Africa, which were afterward imitated in India and other countries.

In India's political and social movements, Mahatma Gandhi was a key figure. He gained publicity for his
nonviolent demonstrations, dedication to the truth, neatness, good health, and volunteerism. As the basis
of all morality and the source of love, fairness, and friendship, he emphasized the significance of truth.
Gandhi thought that maintaining good health was a responsibility and that cleanliness was spiritua lly
important for living well. He also emphasized the value of volunteering, saying that doing good deeds and
serving people was the finest way to appreciate and respect them. Gandhi continues to inspire people all
throughout the world with his nonviolent resistance, honesty, and service. AIR reports on Mahatma
Gandhi's philosophy on cleanliness and good habits, emphasizing their connection to good health. He
placed a strong emphasis on lavatory cleanliness and made sanitation a cornerstone of the Gandhian way
of life. Gandhi believed that cleanliness is crucial for physical well-being and a healthy environment. He
believed that habits learned early become embedded in one's personality

Gandhi's views on truth

Gandhi's philosophy revolves around the concept of Truth (Satya), which has been a central topic for
thousands of years. Aristotle's classic suggestion, "To say of what is that it is, or what is not that it is not,

IJFMR23045218 Volume 5, Issue 4, July-August 2023 1

 International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research (IJFMR)
E-ISSN: 2582-2160 ● Website: www.ijfmr.com ● Email: editor@ijfmr.com

True," resonated with Gandhi, who called himself a seeker of Truth. He considered Truth the supreme
value of ethics, politics, and religion, as the ultimate sources of authority. He considered Truth a
"philosopher's stone" and the sole talisman available to mortal man. Gandhi's commitment to the truth
prevented him from compromising on anything, including the nation's liberation. He believed that truth
needs constant inquiry, as no truth always wears the same face. Gandhi's life was a series of experime nts
with truth, demonstrating the importance of recognizing and embracing truth in one's life.

Gandhi's life was marked by a relentless pursuit of truth, which he recorded in his autobiography, The
Story of My Experiments with Truth. He believed that truth is the substance of all morality and the essence
of Dharma, and regarded it as the basis of socio-political thought. Gandhi's life and daily conduct were
soaked with God-consciousness, and his daily prayer and hymn singing were important aspects of his
personality. He was a devoted Vaishnava, and even when his life was in danger, he never wavered in his
pursuit of the truth.

God has many names and forms, and different devotees have different views of God Gandhi revised his
maxim from "God is Truth" to "Truth is God" in order to amend his incorrect conception of God. The only
way to find and establish truth is via truth itself. He laid stress on truthful means, which had to be as true
and pure as the end. He closely associated truth with non-violence, and Satyagraha, the passion for truth,
was the name given to the means.

In summary, Gandhi's maxim 'Truth is God' serves to elucidate what 'God' means for him. His Truth was
a unique combination of a personal style of life and a technique (Satyagraha) for tackling injustices. He
accepted the view that there is an absolute truth, which is God, in addition to the relative reality of our
idea. While Absolute Truth is God, the Relative Truth is something we perceive as Truth. The Absolute
Truth is eternal and boundless, hence no evidence is necessary to know it. Since we are tied to the
phenomenal world, relative truth is the only Truth we have, allowing us to accomplish our objectives.
Gandhi's path of Truth and non-violence was the only one he did not wish to change, as he felt the path to
be narrow and often like the edge of the sword. His constant treading on the right path made him the
greatest votary of truth and non-violence in the history of mankind.

Gandhi's perspectives on cleanliness

Gandhiji showed a childhood interest in cleanliness and hygiene. When he was 12 years old, he questioned
his mother about why she had him take a bath after touching the neighborhood sweeper. Many people are
aware of his opinions on cleanliness, which were profoundly affected by his experience in South Africa.
After living in South Africa for three years, when he returned to India was shocked to learn about the
plague breakout in Bombay. He was afraid about the risk of the illness getting into his state as a concerned
citizen. Gandhi decided to take it upon himself to promote cleanliness and stop the disease's spread by
offering his services to improve sanitation. In this moment of need, his commitment and selflessness were
absolutely admirable.

He Emphasizes cleanliness in homes, especially latrines and toilets, as people used to excrete everywhere.
He explained to the populace that unsanitary conditions in toilets were the main root of many diseases. He
recommended using two different buckets for night dirt and pee, which many of the people soon began

IJFMR23045218 Volume 5, Issue 4, July-August 2023 2

 International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research (IJFMR)
E-ISSN: 2582-2160 ● Website: www.ijfmr.com ● Email: editor@ijfmr.com

doing. Gradually, the condition started improving. During one of the Congress meetings in Calcutta, he
witnessed several members using the verandah in front of their accommodations as a toilet without any
restraint. Gandhiji then started cleaning with a broom, putting many of the onlookers to shame.

He lectured about the value of cleanliness and the risks of not practicing it in many of his public gatherin gs.
During his numerous trips to various regions of the nation, he observed of people's actions and customs,
such as spitting on the ground, tossing trash on the ground, littering in public areas, polluting waterways,
and even defiling places of worship Gandhiji brought India to independence, but his vision of a clean India
has not come to pass. "Sanitation is more important than independence," stated Mahatma Gandhi. He
included hygiene and sanitation in the Gandhian way of life. His dream was total sanitation for all. For
physical well-being and a healthy atmosphere, cleanliness is crucial. It affects both personal and public
hygiene. Everyone has to be educated about cleanliness, hygiene, sanitation, and the different diseases that
are brought on by unsanitary environments. The behaviors one picks up early on become ingrained in their
psyche. Even while we teach our children to wash their hands before eating, to regularly brush their teeth,
and to take a bath, we don't care if public spaces are clean. In his famous quote, Mahatma Gandhi declared,
"I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet."

Gandhiji emphasized the need for lavatory cleanliness, saying that a lavatory should be as clean as a living
room. He believed that cleanliness rules are more strictly observed in the West than in the East, which
contributes to decrease many diseases. He hoped for people to share his belief in the importance of
maintaining a clean environment for nature and clean objects. Equally significant to his fight for Indian
independence was Gandhi's lifelong commitment to cleanliness and sanitation.

Mahatma Gandhi’s Views on community Service

The standards Gandhi established for a "public worker" were a crucial component of his philosophy and
had significant societal repercussions. These were created in accordance with his strict moral standards,
without which, in his opinion, there could be no healthy public life. He led by example in the following
ways in 1899.

The Indian community in South Africa sent him a number of pricey gifts in appreciation for his public
work, including diamonds, silver, and a substantial gold chain for his wife. He felt guilty about this because
he had earlier said that such work was performed for free.

He was also preparing his family and himself for a life of selfless service, and he had publicly urged others
to get over their obsession with bling. In spite of his wife's objections, he opted not to keep these items as
personal belongings after considering all of this. He designated five influential Indians as its trustees and
established a trust with the presents for the community's sake. He was unwavering in his belief that a
public servant should not accept expensive presents.

Gandhi puts out yet another crucial principle for performing public duty. This notion is that a public servant
should focus on a small number of well-chosen areas rather than taking on too many responsibilities. He
believes that would produce the finest outcomes. "Surely God has not laid on us the burden of ending all
that suffering (of the world)," he writes in a letter to a friend.

IJFMR23045218 Volume 5, Issue 4, July-August 2023 3

 International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research (IJFMR)
E-ISSN: 2582-2160 ● Website: www.ijfmr.com ● Email: editor@ijfmr.com

Gandhi believed that the condition of India's villages was the genuine barometer of the nation's health and
that the villages' conditions needed to improve for the nation's health to be adequate. Gandhi's approach
was to revitalize the villages with an all-encompassing strategy of rural uplift that addressed every aspect
of life, including health, education, and employment. Urban communities needed to develop a desire for
their products, and village-based enterprises needed to be resurrected. Volunteers like himself were
essential to his agenda for improving rural areas. They should relocate to a chosen hamlet, live there in
the most uncomplicated manner possible among the peasants, and instruct them in leading a healthy
lifestyle via example and practice. Gandhi published Navajivan, Harijan, Young India, and other
publications to spread his ideas. In other regions of India, they were copied or translated into other
languages, becoming well known.

Gandhi believed that because India was a developing nation and its service should not include a lifestyle
beyond its means, the village worker should only demand a living wage from the All India Spinners
Association or the new national provincial system that was being organized. Gandhi also discussed the
"village-worker ratio" that would be necessary for his plan for rural regeneration to be successful. He
suggested that villages be arranged into blocks, each containing around ten villages and having a radius
of ten miles. A worker would be needed for every block under this plan, and 70,000 men and women
volunteers would be needed to cover the nation's more than seven lakh communities. The village worker's
work schedule was meticulously laid out by him. He must first conduct a census of all the cattle to
determine their average milk production, a report on the conditions of the untouchables, and a thorough
examination of the village's size, crops, land value, industries, crafts, wells, and varieties of trees. Since it
would be extremely helpful for both the worker and the development of uplift initiatives, it was important
to carefully document all of this information. It would be best to enlist the assistance of local volunteers.
In answer to Gandhi's appeal, committed volunteers established centers for village service around the
nation, and thankfully, some records of their work are still in existence. C. Rajagopalachari established a
Gandhi ashram in Tamil Nadu close to Trinchengodu. The Abhoy Ashram was managed by Drs. S.C.
Banerji and P.C. Ghosh in Comilla, Bengal. The Gandhi Ashram in Meerut, run by Acharya Kripalani,
was a sizable institution with outposts all across the city. Spinning, medical assistance, national education,
dairy, agriculture, rural sanitation, eradicating untouchability, and combating alcohol addiction were
among of the activities of these ashrams.

The All India Village Industries Association (AIVIA) was founded in October 1934, which was a
significant development in the programme to improve the condition of villages. In accordance with
Gandhi's advise and direction, J.C. Kumarrappa established AIVIA as a separate entity that was
nevertheless affiliated with the Congress although being free from its political activities.

Gandhi’s perspectives Of Community Development

The Gandhian philosophy of community development has gained official acceptance, and the adoption of
the Khadi and village industry programming the country, village self-sufficiency, and the belief in
Panchyati Raj, Sahakary Samaj, Gramme Samaj, Bhoodan, Sarvodaya, Garmdan, Decentralisation, and
Swadeshi are very significant and helpful in Gandhian Community development. The actual development
is in the village. Gandhi believed that constructive work should be directed towards the welfare of the
people, eradicating evils and miseries. This included various programs like hospital constructio n,

IJFMR23045218 Volume 5, Issue 4, July-August 2023 4

 International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research (IJFMR)
E-ISSN: 2582-2160 ● Website: www.ijfmr.com ● Email: editor@ijfmr.com

education, and eradication of unsociability. Gandhi aimed to awaken individuals to their religious potential
and transform society through economic, political, and social aspects. His constructive program, known
as Poorna Swaraj or complete independence, involved truthful and nonviolent means. Some of his
constructive works were:-

Khadi
Gandhi ji believed Khadi was crucial for community development and health, benefiting frame producers
and weavers. Under his guidance, the spinners association introduced a certification system for khadi,
regulating production, sale, and profit administrative costs, with laborers receiving a significant portion of
profits.

All of the country's significant underemployment and unemployment could have been eliminated with the
rebirth of the cottage industry. Many cloth mills may receive employment from khadi and small-sca le
manufacturing. This is a non-violent method of destroying international and national capitalism. Khadi
serves workers, and cloth mills also exploit it.

The Gandhian Charkha plan is also crucial for fostering community growth. Gandhiji's Charkha Scheme
is another constructive activity. He believed that the Charkha Scheme is highly beneficial and a valuable
symbol in India's war for freedom and that wearing Khadi has become a regular practice for all Patriotic
Indians and a powerful symbol of economic resistance that is peaceful and non-violent. Gandhi identified
with the millions of people who were starving thanks to his embrace of khadi, his Swadeshi mentality, and
this.

Panchayati Raj
In India, Gandhi is regarded as a leading proponent of the Panchayati Raj. By establishing the panchayat,
he hoped to reorient local life. He believed that a village is the foundation of a country. He claimed that
the real India was found in its villages. He said it himself: "If the village perished, India would perish as
well."

With Swaraj, he had the chance to influence rural development in India in accordance with his own
customs and requirements. He remarketed as a result. "To build Swaraj is to serve our villages. Other than
the ideal dream, nothing else exists. Gandhi therefore continued to be interested in the advancement of
rural society.

Gandhiji included the Panchayat system in his plan to rebuild society and emphasized that democratic
ideals will be realized through the correct implementation of the Panchayat system.

Trusteeship
Gandhi's idea of trusteeship is a crucial component of constructive action for neighborhood improveme nt.
It is the result of his labor and investment. He gave advice to capitalists, landowners, and other people
with excess wealth since the gap between labor and capital will disappear once the capitalist is appointed
trustee of the excess riches. The inhabitants will then have access to a variety of amenities, includ ing
adequate food, clothing, education, and medical care, and they will be realized in their greatest possible

IJFMR23045218 Volume 5, Issue 4, July-August 2023 5

 International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research (IJFMR)
E-ISSN: 2582-2160 ● Website: www.ijfmr.com ● Email: editor@ijfmr.com

state. The Gita gave Gandhiji a hint about the concept of trusteeship. He believed that it is crucial for
achieving economic equality.

Gandhi carried out a variety of community development initiatives, including Panchayat Raj, Gramme
Swaraj, Sarvodaya, and Satyagraha. They are a component of Gandhi's beneficial initiatives. Gandhi's
contributions to constructive labor are crucial for modern India.

The Government of India launched the Community Development Programme on October 2, 1952, with
just 77 blocks initially participating. As funds and framed personnel became available, more blocks were
opened each year. The majority of an Indian district's rural land is currently under block administration.

Swadeshi
The Gandhian perspective on development is based on the concept of swadeshi, or home economy. This
approach emphasizes self-governance, self-reliance, and self-employment for people, especially those in
villages. This reduces vulnerability to external market forces and allows villagers to develop a strong
economic base and prioritize local goods and services. The village community emerges as an extension of
the family, with cooperative individuals who share a common bond rather than competing individua ls.
The principle of Swadeshi implies the use of indigenous products and services, with Gandhi articula ting
it in different spheres of life. This approach restricts oneself to ancestral religion, uses indige no us
institutions in politics, and emphasizes the use of home-grown and home-crafted products. However,
Gandhi emphasizes that defects and deficiencies should be rooted out rather than overlooked or allowed
to persist.

Swadeshi is a philosophy that emphasizes the use of indigenous products and services in various aspects
of life. It involves adhering to ancestral religion, using indigenous institutions, and using only indige no us
products in politics and economics. Gandhi believed that Swadeshi could remove poverty by focusing on
economic and industrial life, removing defects and deficiencies. Swadeshi is not a duty that ends with
spinning the wheel, but rather a philosophy of service to others. Communities practicing Swadeshi avoid
unlimited economic growth, which can hinder self-development and lead to competition and strife.
Swadeshi is a religious discipline that is not excessively concerned about the availability of non-
indigenous items, as it helps individuals learn to live without them and others they may consider
unnecessary.

Gandhi's teachings on health and fitness are reflected in :

1. Practice Non-violence
Gandhiji believed in non-violence and ahimsa. The term Ahimsa signifies respect for all living beings and
adopting a non-violent way of life towards all. If we follow this mantra, it can help us stay calmer, prevent
hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases, and improve our mental health. It will also keep us away from
binge eating or craving junk food when under stress.

IJFMR23045218 Volume 5, Issue 4, July-August 2023 6

 International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research (IJFMR)
E-ISSN: 2582-2160 ● Website: www.ijfmr.com ● Email: editor@ijfmr.com

2. Fasting for Good Health

There are many recognized benefits to fasting. It provides several physical advantages as well as aids in
establishing discipline in daily life. It strengthens the immune system, aids in detoxification, removes
toxins from the body, cleanses the stomach, and helps the body make use of underutilized fats and
nutrients. Fasting promotes regular bowel motions and prevents infections.

3. Sleep Early and Wake up Early

Although modern research suggests that people need at least 8 hours of sleep, we may still practice
sleeping early and rising early because doing so increases our productivity and lowers stress. Mahatma
Gandhi is known to have slept for four to five hours each night and awoke at the crack of dawn.

4. Observe Your Diet

This is very crucial. Nowadays, with so many options, processed or junk food frequently replaces
wholesome, natural foods. According to Gandhiji, "The Body was never meant to be treated as a refuse
bin, holding all the foods that the palate demands." For six years, he lived a vegan lifestyle in an effort to
demonstrate that self-control was the key to a nutritious diet.

5. Anywhere You Can, Walk

Do you recall the Dandi March? Gandhiji travelled 390 kilometers on foot to the Dandi beach to protest,
and 10,000 people went beside him. Walking is therefore extremely helpful for our health, protest or no
protest. According to nutritionists, we should walk for at least one hour every day.

6. Live a positive life

Life is influenced by our thoughts. Therefore, if we continue to harbor resentments, maintain our anger,
and generally think negatively, events in our lives will develop similarly. "A man is but the product of his
thoughts," stated Gandhiji. He becomes what he believes. This is still very true for everyone today.
We must therefore teach our thoughts to think positively. It enables us to approach every condition and
situation positively, assisting us in identifying solutions as opposed to issues. Additionally, it enhances
social skills generally, productivity, and mental health.

7. Forgive Others and Yourself

Being able to forgive takes work. It implies letting go and moving on, which can take time to do. A strong
advocate for world peace Gandhiji once observed, "The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is a quality
of the powerful.

Our minds and hearts have little room for anything fresh or uplifting when we are harboring resentments
and anger. It keeps stressing us out, which negatively impacts both our mental and physical health.
Overcoming melancholy, anxiety, and exhaustion can be aided by forgiveness.

IJFMR23045218 Volume 5, Issue 4, July-August 2023 7

 International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research (IJFMR)
E-ISSN: 2582-2160 ● Website: www.ijfmr.com ● Email: editor@ijfmr.com

Reference
1. Ehmke, E. (2016). India’s Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Act: Assessing the quality of
access and adequacy of benefits in MGNREGS public works. International Social Security Review,
69(2), 3–27. https://doi.org/10.1111/issr.12099
2. Heath, C. (1949). In the Path of Mahatma Gandhi, Gandhi and Stalin: Two Signs at the World’s
Crossroads and Satyagraha: the Power of Truth. International Affairs, 25(2), 236–236.
https://doi.org/10.2307/3017479
3. Fischer, L. (2010). Gandhi: His Life and Message for the World. Signet.
4. Mitchell, P. (n.d.). Gandhi: The Father of Modern India. https://doi.org/10.1604/9780195214345
5. Chauhan, V. (2021). Was Gandhi a Multiculturalist? Exploring the Rhetorical Leadership of Mahatma
Gandhi. Political Discourse, 7(2), 228–237. https://doi.org/10.5958/2582-2691.2021.00015.8
6. Gandhian Model Of Community Development - Free Essay Example - Edubirdie. (n.d.). Retrieved
from https://edubirdie.com/examples/gandhian-model-of-community-development/
7. Mahatma Gandhi’s Views on Public Service. (2014, April 29). Retrieved from
https://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/education/mahatma- gandhis-views-on-public-service/38524
8. Importance of Gandhian thoughts about Cleanliness | Gandhi’s Views | Articles on and by Mahatma
Gandhi. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.mkgandhi.org/articles/gandhian-thoughts-about-
cleanliness.html
9. C. (2019, October 2). The Gandhian Tale of Cleanliness and Sanitation. Retrieved from https:///the-
gandhian-tale-of-cleanliness-and-sanitation/

IJFMR23045218 Volume 5, Issue 4, July-August 2023 8