POIR 416 Themes in Indian Political Thought
Assignment
Gandhian Thought and its contemporary relevance in India
Yogeshwaran S
21362060
Nonviolence and tolerance, according to Gandhiji, take a tremendous deal of courage
and patience. In a society rife with violence and terrorism, Gandhi's philosophy of
nonviolence is needed now more than ever.
Mohandas K. Gandhi was one of the most famous leaders of a non-violent movement who
opposed British imperial rule in India during the 20th century. Ahimsa is adopted by Gandhi
which means ‘doing no harm’.
Gandhi saw violence as negative and also identified two forms of violence; Passive and
Physical. The practice of passive violence is the day-to-day affair. Gandhiji identifies
violence as ‘himsa’ which means injury. Gandhiji teaches that non-violence is blessed.
According to Gandhi, violence cannot be a not a default character of humans. There is a need
for a perfect weapon to combat violence and there comes the non-violence. Truth is the only
most fundamental aspect in Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violence.
His whole life has been “experiment of truth”. It was the course of his pursuit of truth that
Gandhi discovered non-violence. As the world pioneer in non-violence theory and practice,
Gandhi unequivocally stated that non-violence contained a universal applicability.
Gandhianism emphasises nonviolence, which was Gandhiji's main weapon in the Indian
independence campaign against the British Raj. Nonviolence and tolerance, according to
Gandhiji, take a tremendous deal of courage and patience. In a society rife with violence and
terrorism, Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolence is needed now more than ever.
Tolerance in society will aid in the neutralisation of ethnocentric bias in the world, which is
occurring on a daily basis on the basis of religion, caste, ethnicity, and area, among other
factors.
The second most popular Gandhian Thought is Satyagraha which means truth grasping
(satya- truth, araha- grasping) literally, devotion to truth, remaining firm on the truth and
resisting untruth. Satyagraha refers to a nonviolent, unrelenting search for the truth.
Satyagraha was not a preconceived plan for Gandhi. Satyagraha is a moral weapon and the
stress on soul force over physical force.
Its goal is to defeat the adversary by love and patient suffering. It aims at winning the unjust
law, not at crushing or punishing or taking revenge against the authority, but to convert and
heal it.
Satyagraha aims to eliminate all forms of violence. In a letter to Lord Hunter, Gandhi highlig
hted that Satyagraha is a truth-based campaign.
Every type of violence, direct and indirect, hidden and unmasked, is replaced by it.
Satyagraha has a powerful spirit. It is impossible for a sceptic or a fearful person to succeed.
Satyagraha teaches both how to live and how to die well. It is love that comes from it, as well
as an unwavering hardness.
Gandhi's ideology is based on truth, and he has strived to be truthful throughout his life. In
diverse situations, Gandhi's view of truth was irrevocable, regardless of the urgency of the
occasion. This is why, after the Satyagrahis strayed from the path of truth and the horrific
episode of Chaurichaura, Gandhiji called a halt to the Non-Cooperation movement. In the
current climate of rampant corruption, civil workers must adhere to the ideal of honesty to
themselves and to the public.
Gandhiji's political accomplishments gave us independence, but his philosophies continue to
enlighten India and the world after all these years. For a happy, wealthy, healthy, harmonious
, and sustainable future, every individual should follow the key Gandhian ideologies in their d
aily lives.
Gandhiji placed a high value on cleanliness, or Swacchta, as he put it: 'Swacchta Hin Seva.'
The current Swacchta Bharat Abhiyaan, India's largest cleanliness initiative, aims to realise
Bapu's dream of making India clean. This cleanliness movement, however, is about more
than physical cleanliness and the need to place a greater emphasis on an individual's internal
cleanliness. As a result, in addition to clean roads and toilets, a clean India necessitates a
corruption-free society with increased openness and accountability.
Gandhianism has a lot of ethical and behavioural significance now because society is
witnessing a decline in values. People are willing to kill someone to satisfy their own desires
since societal morals have deteriorated to such a level. Women's respect is one of Gandhi's
fundamental beliefs, and the world is witnessing a rise in the level of abuse and tyranny
women endure today in society. As a result, the Gandhian dream of a secure country needs
social awareness and women's liberation.
Gandhi's view of socialism is less political and more social in nature, since he envisioned a
society free of poverty, hunger, and unemployment, as well as universal access to education
and health care. For Indian policymakers, Gandhian ideologies will continue to serve as a
beacon. Gandhianism is at the heart of everything from poverty alleviation to the Sarva
Shiksha Abhiyan and universal health care (Ayushman Bharat) to skill India programmes.
There are many much to state with the contemporary India as every such Gandhian Thoughts
are relevant and inspired and also a lesson to take in even in this modern era.
