Dr, KaushikMitra
Head, Department of Political Science, Lucknow Christian Degree College, Lucknow..
PAPER-II
MAHATMA GANDHI
BIRTH AND INTRODUCTION
Ø Also
called the “Father of the Indian Nation” was born on 2nd October,
1869 at Porbandar in Gujarat in a conservative Hindu family.
Ø After
the completion of his studies in law in England, he went to South Africa to
attend legal matters of his client.
Ø In
South Africa he was involved in a struggle against the racist-white minority
government to uphold the human rights and the dignity of the non-whites.
Ø In
the course of his struggle in Africa from 1893 to 1914, he evolved the
technique of Satyagraha for resisting injustice.
Ø Writers
like Thoreau, Ruskin and Tolstoy also influenced the moral and political
philosophy of Gandhiji.
Ø He
learnt the principle of civil-disobedience from Thoreau.
Ø After
his return from South Africa in 1915, he undertook the tour of the country on
the advice of his “political Guru”, Gopal Krishna Gokhale.
GANDHIJI’S
VIEWS ON SWARAJ
Ø
Gandhi defined Swaraj
as a self-rule and self-restraint or autonomy of the moral self.
Ø
Swaraj meant more than
just political independence or political democracy.
Ø
the aim of Indian
freedom struggle was not a mere transfer of political power from British rulers
to Indian leaders, who would then be operating the same modern western system
of government.
Ø
Swaraj will not be Purna
Swaraj until the poor are enabled to enjoy the necessities and amenities of
life i.e. Ramrajya.
Ø
Swaraj is a complete
independence of alien control. It includes political, economic, moral and
social upliftment and independence of all.
Ø
In India Swaraj will
come with the implementation of following factors:
·
Decentralized
participatory democracy
·
Social equality
·
Economic
decentralization
·
Spiritualization of
politics
·
Proper education to the
masses
·
Democratic Swaraj
Ø
He later added
parliamentary democracy and constitutional government also in the list.
Ø
In democratic Swaraj,
spinning – wheel will be the master machine.
Ø
Swaraj will not be
Purna Swaraj until the poor are enabled to enjoy the necessities and amenities
of life.
GANDHIJI’S
CONCEPT OF SATYAGRAGHA
Ø
Satyagraha is a way of
moral-political action for attaining Swaraj. It is the weapon of the
non-violent struggle.
Ø
It is something more
than a method of resistance to particular legal norms. It became an instrument
of struggle for positive objectives and for fundamental change.
Ø
It is “a war without
violence” or “Non-violent direct action”.
Ø
It is a force which is
born out of Truth and non-violence relies on soul-force.
Ø
It is considered
superior than body force, brute force and force of arms.
Ø
Satyagraha is a
technique developed by Gandhi in order to solve political, social, economic
conflicts in a peaceful manner; Gandhiji was convinced that no conflict could
be solved permanently by violence.
Ø
Gandhiji used it in
South Africa against the policy of apartheid and later used if in India for the
purpose of achieving independence.
Ø
Satya, Ahimsa,
self-suffering, strength, restrain in one’s actions and non-attachment are the
principles on which Satyagraha is based.
Ø
Acting on the basis of
relative truth the satyagraha seeks to resolve basic conflicts and ensure
social harmony through the nonviolent path.
Ø
Ahimsa is the means to
the discovery of truth.
Ø
Acting on the basis of
relative truth the satyagraha seeks to resolve basic conflicts and ensure social
harmony through the nonviolent path. Ahimsa is the means to the discovery of
truth.
Ø
Ahimsa – According to
Gandhi Ahimsa have various aspects.
·
Negative form of Ahimsa
means not injuring to others whether in body or mind. Not hurt the person of
any wrong doer or any ill will to him.
·
Positive form of Ahimsa
means the largest love, the greatest charity, good intention to others, even
love to enemy.
·
This active Ahimsa
includes truth and fearlessness.
Ø
Refusal to do harm to
others is a negative test of moral practical truth.
Ø
Its positive test is
action to promote the welfare of others. Self-suffering is the test of positive
Ahimsa.
Ø
Self-suffering by
satyagraha is not out of their cowardice or weakness. It is based on higher
form of courage.
Methods
of Satyagraha
Ø
Mahatma Gandhi adopted
several methods while using Satyagraha as a means of resistance to the
authority of the state
i.e. the British Raj.
·
Political actions –
pledges, prayers, fasts.
·
Non-cooperation –
boycott, strikes, Hartal.
·
Civil-disobedience –
picketing, non-payment of taxes, defiance of specific laws.
Ø Gandhi
believed that the British rule depended on the cooperation of the people of
India.
Ø The
British rule will not last even for a single day, if people become fearless and
refuse to cooperate with the unjust and tyrannical British government.
Ø The
Non-Cooperation Movement of 1921 failed to achieve the goal of Swaraj
within one year. But it made some salutary contributions to the Indian national
Movement.
Ø In
1921, the congress, which was a party of the educated middle class, became a
highly organized party with a mass base. From 1921, uniform slogans were given
throughout the country and the people followed a common ideology and policy
under the leadership of the congress. Khadi became the official uniform for all
congress men.
Ø Thus,
Gandhiji converted the national government into a highly revolutionary one and
made it extremely popular.
Ø The
Civil Disobedience Movement was launched by Gandhiji on 6th April 1930
by breaking the salt Act at Dandi. The civil disobedience movement was a total
success and had paralysed the British government.
Ø In
1942 the Quit India Movement started and Gandhi gave the battle cry of “do
or die”. He asked the people to be ready to make any sacrifice for the
attainment of independence.
Ø The
Quit India Movement was a tremendous psychological victory for the people of
India. It created an intense and widespread anti-British feeling in India.
Ø According
to Gandhiji, Satyagraha can be successfully followed by those who are
physically weak but morally strong.
Ø In
Gandhi is words “The injunction, “Love your enemy” is not only the noblest
idealism, it is also the most practical politics”.
TO BE CONTINUED……….
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