Social Thinkers: Social Thinkers:

Mahatma GandhiMahatma Gandhi

forfor

B.A (Part III)B.A (Part III)

Sub: SociologySub: Sociology

Dr Amit Rahul

Department of Sociology

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi: Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi: Birth & Early LifeBirth & Early Life

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi affectionately called as

“Mahatma” and “Father of the Nation” was born on 2 October

1869 in Porbandar Gujarat.

His father, Karamchand Gandhi, was the Diwan (Prime

Minister) of Porbandar State. His Mother’s name was Putlibai

In May 1883, the 13 year old Mohandas was married to 14

year old Kasturbai Makhanji.

His father died in 1888. He went to England to study law. His

mother died while he was in London. Gandhi went to south

Africa in 1893 to file a case and was ill-treated by the British. He

fought the British for the South Africans.

Birth & Early Life Birth & Early Life ((Contd.Contd.))

Gandhi returned to India in 1915 and gradually got involved

with the Indian Freedom Struggle.

Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated on 30 January 1948 by

Nathuram Godse in the compound of Birla House (now Gandhi

Smriti), a large mansion in New Delhi.

Mahatma Gandhi’s views found expression in his writings &

Speeches:

� The Indian Opinion, The Young India

� The Story of My Experiments with Truth

• Hind Swaraj

In this course, we will try to know about his views on the

following: Ramarajya, Sarvodaya, Ahimsa and Satyagraha

Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmedabad, Gujarat

RamarajyaRamarajya

�Gandhi viewed religion as different roads converging upon

the same point. He said, ‘what does it matter that we take

different roads so long as we reach the same goal.

�Mahatma Gandhi said, "I mean by Ramarajya Divine Raj, the

Kingdom of God. I acknowledge no other God but the one God

of truth and righteousness."

� For him ‘Ramarajya’ envisages a society in which virtue,

morality and justice are the core ideals around which day-to-

day interactions between citizen and citizen and state and

citizen occur.

�Gandhi Ji said that for him true Ramarajya would ensure

“equal rights to both prince and pauper”

SarvodayaSarvodaya� Sarvodaya is a term meaning 'Universal Uplift' or 'Progress of

All'. The idea is implied in the word itself; Sarva and Udaya.

Sarva means all ́ and Udaya means upliH ́. The term was first

coined by Mohandas Gandhi.

�Gandhiji borrowed the idea for this concept from John Ruskin’s

work "Unto This Last" and used the term for his own political

philosophy.philosophy.

�Sarvodaya envisages a new humanistic socialist society where

man will be the centre. It visualises a simple, non-violent and

decentralised society

� Vinoba Bhave developed Gandhiji’s concept of Sarvodaya and

ussed the philosophy in his Bhoodan and Gramdan movements

Ahimsa or NonAhimsa or Non--ViolenceViolence

� Gandhi Ji said, there is no God higher than Truth. For

achieving Truth he stressed on Prayers, Dedicated

Humanitarian Service and Purity in Personal life, thought &

Body.

�For Mahatma Gandhi Ahimsa and Truth were like two sides

of the same coin.of the same coin.

� Mahatma Gandhi took the religious principle of ahimsa

(doing no harm) common to Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism

and turned it into a non-violent tool for mass action.

�He used the tools of Ahimsa and Satyagraha to fight not only

the colonial rule but also social evils such as racial

discrimination and untouchability.

SatyagrahaSatyagraha

� Satyagraha is a particular form of nonviolent resistance or civil

resistance. It is the force of truth and love.

�The term satyagraha was coined and developed by Mahatma

Gandhi. He used satyagraha in the Indian independence movement

and also during his earlier struggles in South Africa for Indian rights.

�Someone who practices satyagraha is a satyagrahi The

Satyagrahi’s objective is to convince & convert the wrong doer and

not through coercion or force.

�Gandhiji used satyagraha against the British Occupancy of India.

Some examples are the Champaran Satyagraha, Non-cooperation

movement, Bardoli Satyagraha, Salt Satyagraha, Quit India

Movement etc.

Salt Satyagraha & Dandi March