“ While Gandhi ’ s thought can at times seem paradoxical , it had an extraordinary resonance among Indians and indeed many others during his own lifetime ” – Dr (original) (raw)

Relevance of Gandhian Values in Modern Indian Polity

Today majority of the countries across the world happens to be under democratic system of Government. Theoretically, this system is considered to be the best so far. It is the best because people are connected with it directly or indirectly at every level and it ensures popular participation horizontally and vertically. Also it provides maximum opportunities of public progress and development. People can themselves decide in this system the mode of their welfare. However, even though being theoretically the best system of government, if we peruse the democratic nations, we first of all find that there is non-equal development of the citizens and socioeconomic and political disparity among individuals and nations. They are under clutches of regionalism, terrorism and communalism. There is degradation of moral and ethical values. There are other vivid problems akin to mentioned above and peace is far away so long as these problems exist. If these nations want to get rid of these problems in a holistic way, all citizens of them must have equal development and they should have communal harmony towards making all citizens collective and unified partners in progress. But, reality is far from these wishful ideals to be achieved. Though, now people are more aware of their rights than ever before. They are essential so Indian polity theoretically recognizes the prime importance of the concept of human rights. However, from the practical aspect of our political system, the Indian society is known for its inequality, social hierarchy and the rich and poor divide. Here in this context Gandhiji's outlook towards human beings deserve great attention. He believed they must equally accept and respect each other without having any discrimination based on caste, colour, creed, tribe, sex. Gandhian non-violence is immensely significant in system of today's governance, especially in a democratic system. Mahatma Gandhi said in this context, " If they are to be truly made democratic, they must be valiantly non-violent ". In case of absence of this attribute, democracy shall be there for namesake only and it would be better for it to…clearly be supporter of dictatorship. Polity must be fearless, full of equality, providing protection to all eternal values and only then it can be pro-people. Man can contribute to world peace only in such a system of government along with gaining his goal. Gandhism calls upon modern polities to march in this direction and to make them habitual to non-violence. This is really welfaristic. We cannot at all minimize significance of Gandhian non-violence in modern polity. Today the problem of falling standards of morality in public life accentuated by inequalities, violations of human rights, corruption, terrorism, communalism, regionalism need for " a new moral leadership " guided by reassertion of " Gandhian values and ideals " for rejuvenating the Indian Polity.

RELEVANCE OF GANDHIAN ETHICAL VALUES IN CONTEMPORARY INDIAN POLITICS

The Indian Journal of Political Science Vol. LXXX, No. 1, January-March, 2019, pp. 165-174 (ISSN NO. 0019-5510), 2019

This paper discusses the philosophy of Gandhi as applied to the Ancient Indian principle of purusharthas which are the root goals of life and their inter-relationships, dependence and independence from each other. The eternal path to be pursued by each individual may vary but our destination remains the same. Gandhi brought this mundane philosophy to public discourse which was otherwise neglected and considered as parochial that even while fulfilling our responsibilities we can pursue the blissful state of moksha and we need not renounce the worldly affairs. Politics, for Gandhi was his path and while engaging in it as a means he envisioned to attain world peace and utter non-violence as an ecstatic end.

Gandhi's Synthesis of Liberal and Communitarian Values: Its Basis and Insights

It is well known that notions of individual sovereignty, universal rights, and the duty to follow one's own conscience are central to the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi. The importance Gandhi places on community, tradition, and fulfilling duties particular to one's place in life is no less noticeable in his writings. That such is the case may indicate an uneasy tension among different elements in Gandhian thought (especially from the perspective of the Western political philosophical tradition). In the first section of this paper, I argue that an underlying harmony in Gandhi's philosophy can be noticed among such seemingly contradictory liberal and communitarian values given his overall views on self-realization. Crucial to my arguments in this section will be an exposition of Gandhi's views on religious conversion and caste identity. I will then show the value Gandhi's understanding has for contemporary philosophical debates between liberals and communitarians. Before concluding, I will consider a problem that arises for my interpretation of Gandhi's thought given perceived universal duties we have toward others.

Rethinking Gandhian Principles in Post Colonial Era o

International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development, 2019

India gained its independence in 1947 and the pivotal role played by Gandhi in snatching its own people's liberty is indispensable and still thrives to be a landmark in the Indian history. This paper examines attempts to quantify the significance and relevance of Gandhian principle in post colonial period.

Rethinking Gandhian Thoughts And Gandhian Political Parties Nondini Ray

Anu Books, 2022

Despite Gandhi's worldwide popularity, the man was never rewarded nationally or internationally some other alien-like Richard Attenborough earned Oscar by filming the biography of Gandhi. Though Gandhi's thoughts helped to change American Civil Rights forever through the leader Martin Luther King Jr., but it is difficult to find the success of Gandhi's principles otherwise. We the Indians got independence after massive bloodshed, yet we are struggling for basic needs. Human rights are being victimized under the boots of invading armies for political interests. Nonviolence offered no solution to them. Gandhi's nonviolence asserts to show others errors but punish you. However, it influenced those who do not care about it but rather seek to punish you. This sort of willingness of the innocents is a much powerful answer to insolent tyranny. As a common man none can pursue the practice of mute suffering as a moral principle that Gandhi could use successfully. Unlike Gandhi's belief the stability of organized violence is often greater than that of non-violence. Like other powerful countries, India has competed for increasing its military strength. Since independence, India has been contracting with the powerful states for that purpose. India expends more on the military sector than on education and health care combined. Gandhi's thoughts have been distorted by terrorists and bombthrowers in their every sabotage. Day by day the political system of India has been waning in its glory due to political violence, factionalism, ideological conflicts so on.