Idea Transcript
Chapter
-
V
THE PHILOSOPHY OF HIND SWARAJ
CHAPTER - V
The Philosophy of Hind Swaraj During to
thin k
to
his
deeply
In di a n s
v i si t
about
of
all
to
London
India's
home
shades
of
nationalists,
constitutionalists
debated
them,
with
his
own
in
1909,
rule.
Gandhi
There
he
political
and
views
talked
o p in io n,
terrorists.
political
began
While
were
he
ta k i n g
shape.
In the c o u r s e of h i s on
board
hi s
S.S.
fa m o u s
1909.
He
November
Kildonan
book
worked 13
stationery,
was
no
remedy
weapon marked
for
and
was the
young
for
required
to S o u t h A f r i c a
wrote
In di an
over
life.
the
in
Home
Gujarati Rule,
manuscript,
it
said
the
In d i a ' s the
on
in
from
the s t e a m e r ' s
use
terrorist felt
that
violence
ills,
and
that
India's
of
Th e
a
different
writing and
to h a v e b e c o m e
the
oi
and
higher
Hind
Swaraj
spiritual
the s t a t e m e n t
suggests
tendencies
He
of a m e n t a l
It c o n t a i n s and
by
Indi an s.
self-protection.
ideas a n d b e l i e f s , he m a y be
or
and wrote
perturbed
the c u l m i n a t i o n
Gandhi's
Gandhi
n i gh t 22,
voyage
in all 271 p a g e s c o n s i s t i n g of 3 0 , 0 0 0 w o r d s .
among
civilization
day
Castle, Swaraj,
to N o v e m b e r
Gandhi spreading
Hind
return
crisis
in
of G a n d h i ' s b a s i c
t u r n i n g p o i n t at w h i c h
the M a h a t m a .
Gandhi
became a
119 different
and
composition
more
of
this
powerful
bo ok,
personality
which
may
be
with
regarded
the
as
" T he
M e n i f e s t o of the G a n d h i a n R e v o l u t i o n . " 1
Hind
Swaraj
civilization". with
sw araj,
education,
severe
civilization,
form,
in
i n to
in
violence brute
at
with
was
to
with
style
the
that
machinery, deals
It
with
is w r i t t e n
-
terse,
in
simple
that
Devanesen,
In dia
Gandhi
t ook
in in
hi s
for
the
place
of
hate .
"It
replaces
soul
force
against
that It
he
the
pits
employed
that
of a s e c s i s
the A w a k e n i n g ,
associated
Buddha's
achieved
political
is
sermon
in
the
enlightenment,
declaration important
of
pleaded
1909.
He
he
An
in
Is
anarchists.
Like
in life.
sect i o n , w h i c h
Indian
I n d i a n d o c t r i n e of
after
first
si tuat ion
posi t ion
language
the s i g n i f i c a n t
1. D.S.
It
Gandhian
self-sacrifice.
Buddhism.
te ach
etc.
perfect
in
force^The
mission
doctors,
way.
the
love
Sarnatb
dealing
.
- the a n c i e n t with
twenty chapters,
original
the
of
"modern
an
the pol i t ical
gospel
of
lawyers,
I to 1 1 1 f o r m
arguments
condemnation
resistance,
questions
a n d lo gical
a
is d i v i d e d
passive
practical dialogue
It
is
of
p a rt
Hind
a man who had
P a rk
Sw a r a j
f o u n d hi s
of G a n d h i ' s m i s s i o n w a s
freedom
Th e M a k i n g of
Deer
without
the M a h a t m a ,
the Preface
moral
119A
a w a k e n i n g of e a c h
i n d i v i d u a l m e m b e r of
the n a t i o n w o u l d be
of no a v a i l . 23
le s e c o n d explained
what
I n di a
His
ow n
that
understood
by
and
Extremists
in
"Wha t
yo u call
interpretation
revivalism
of
had
blended
sources
as
Africa.
Chapter
VII
to
a
cling
clings
to
the
Swaraj
with
the
XVII,
Gandhi
free,
and
Satyagraha.
that
old
Indian
third
the H i n d u
repudiated
the
Gandhi's
was
Indi a
civilization
Hindu
derived
experience
behaves every
section
discussed
developed In
the
there
the
Ibid,
his
3. H i n d Sw ar aj , Ibid,
P.46
P.17
in w h i c h
concept
Chapter
:
of
entitled
fundamentals
P.377
comprising
th e w a y
Swaraj are cl ea rl y s t at ed
4.
his
both
movement
to
anarchism
"why
"it
which a comparison has been
2.
of
told
t r ul y S w a r a j ."2
closer
and
yo XIII
f r om
in
South
lo st ?"
l o v e r of
even
as
a
ends Indi a child
to th e m o t h e r ' s b r e a s t . " 4
In
an d
is not
was
an
result
IV
nationalist
Moderates.
entitled
the a f f i r m a t i o n
the
Swaraj
the
chapters
S w a r a j . Gandhi
Extremists
of
Western
with
of
the
constitutionalism revivalism
comprising
he
the M o d e r a t e s of
section
XIV
to
India c o ul d be come
passive "Italy
made between of
chapters
Gandhi's
resistance and
India"
Italy and
or in
India;
conception
of
120
"If the
you b e l i e v e
Italian nation
Mazzini free.
has
Mazzini even
Italian o n ly
another.
Garibaldi,
its
According
of
stil l
unhappy.
rise
in
nom in a l .
of
The
The
The
the
and
s u ch
condition
a
million of
of
I n di a
government
consider r u le
?
princes crush English shall
only
indulge
in
You
of sure
thing,
w i ll
admit
that
ground
them.
Their
tyranny
you
never agree.
My
If
want
the
Emmanuel
was
remains
part
people
in
do
wish
not
that that
in a
land
is
gain
ar e
always
that
to
so,
under
Th e
is
greater
than
such
tyranny
in
patriotism does
not
only still
want
the
the r e i n s
we
have
obtain
several
latter
the
reproduce
you
you want be
was
general
the m i l l i o n s
people down.
of
assassination,
The
not
his
Italy of ta in after
believe
h o w can
being
if
I
and
and
that
?
you
ha n d s .
are
and,
the
India.
your
t h ei r
troops
to b e h a p p y ,
one
st ill
therefore,
gain did
Cavour
the w h o l e
in
on
become
expression;
Italy
classes
I am
in
of
it m e a n t
rebellion
in
the
not
Emmanuel,
King
Italy,
in d a r k n e s s .
agriculturists,
Australian
same.
to
to
rule
did
working
c o n d it ion
remains
meaning
the
its
Italy
I t a l y of M a z z i n i
They,
the
that
one
ex p e c t ecL^VYhat s u b s t a n t i a l withdrawal
groping
meant
is,
sl a v e r y .
re v o l t
yo u a r e
to M a z z i n i ,
that
se r v a n t .
state
Italians
According
Ital y
pe op le ,
because
conclusively
Em m a n u e l g a v e
gave
henchmen.
is h a p p y ,
shown
Victor
that,
to
self
In di an
mercilessly that
India,
of
the
then
we
t e a c h m e that 1 a m
121
to
allow
people
pr i n c e s ,
if o n l y
1 s h o u l d re s i s t as
that
of
of
the w h o l e
of
the E n g l i s h ,
when
the
and
le arn
to
his
was
hi s
serving as
an
the
If an y
freedom
land,
Indian.
I
It
swaraj
for h i m s e l f . W h a t
the h a n d s
to them.
the
Such
the w e l f a r e
of
should
is s w a r a j has
o t h e r s get
to
be
for m e
f o r e i g n r u l e . " 56
appealed
teaching
and
just as m u c h
it at
securing
ourselves.
e x p r i e n c e d by e a c h o n e is not s w a r a j but
to
In di an
the power,
I mean
1 could secure
life
of
I have
Indian princes
Englishman rule
if
h e el
bow down my head
tyranny
that
the
patriotism
if
I should
dedicated
What
By
under
re ti r e ,
t y r a n n y of
people
welcome
we
crushed
English.
resisting
gladly
be
the E n g l i s h
the
Englishman India,
to
to G a n d h i
that
"every
in M a z z i n i ' s man
must
Duties
lear n
how
of M a n to
r u le
0 himself."
Swa.raj m e a n s
Shiv aj i,
popularised
" Sw a r a j
is
proclaimed goal
of
journal
by
5.
Ibid
6.
Ibid
Ti l a k ,
Oadabhai Also
in
who
and
Naoroji 1909,
it w a s
I in
a
declared
w i ll 1909
B.C.
term
in
have as
Pal
by
1905,
it,"
the was
used
and
political editing
a
ijj L o n d o n c a l l e d Swa ra j .
Gandhi's
XVII.
by
birthright
India.
Th e to
my
self-rule,
He
discussion exposition
had
launched
of of
Italian
history
Satyagraha
hi s
in
Satyagraha
is
the
prelude
Chapters
XVI an d
movement
in
the
122
Transvaal
in
1906,
c o n c e r e t , personal
and
t h es e
decisions
chapters
involved
in h i s
that s t r u g g l e — s u c h a s h i s v o w s of
Th e and
XIX,
principle deplored Hindi on
c o n s i s t s of
and
Gandhi's
of
Swadesh i
the
teaching
should be
the
to
the n a t i o n a l
p r o b l e m of
religious
l e a d e r s h i p of
two c h a p t e r s ,
application
education
of
tho
chastity and poverty.
fourth section contains
ro fl e c t
and
XV l I i
of
the
in d u s t r y .
He
English,
and
suggested
la n g u a g e ,
and
touched briefly
education.
Gandhi
that
insisted
on
l e a r n i n g by do in g.
Chapter germ
of
the
XIX,
entitled
Gandhian
th eo ry
"Machinery",
of
economics
which
based and oriented
to w a r d s
handicrafts rather
than the m e c h a n i s a t i o n of
The sectin
last
in w h i c h G a n d h i
an d
the
the
Extremists
cease
chapter
Moderates, to
petitioning
a
British
eschew
an d
violence
British
the an d
because
to be d e r o g a t o r y a n d a c o n f e s s i o n of
he
is
the rural
of h a n d l o o m a n d
fift h
ad dressed himself
the
the
the d e v e l o p m e n t
f o rm s
contains
industries.
and
to
concluding
the e x t r e m i s t s
Nation. the felt
He
askod
Moderates such
inferiority.
to
action
123
He Swaraj the
appealed
and
to
British
He
wr o t e ,
be
the
the
many
about
"We
hold
reverse
descipline campaigns explain
in
it
testifies
the
the
He
in
I understand
have
it,
henceforth
to our
s e ts
fo rth
of
the
Disobedience
endeavoured
and my
is
life.
support
p a rt
Ci vil
"1
to
G a n d h i ' s appeal
made
hi s
of
consider
points,
Gandhi
concluded,
life
We
of
appeal
way
yo u
to yo ur s " .
Satyagraha
my
that
nineteen
which
(S w a r a j ) as that
of
concept
His
th e w e s t e r n
civilization
far s u p e r i o r
India.
hi s
differences.
civilization.
id ea ls
of
accept
correcting
consisting
the
to
thei r
of
to b e
Na tion, of
both
submerge
is
civilization to
to
to
experience
dedicated
to
its
at t a i n m e n t ." 1
On means "The m e a n s and
th e r e
may is
the m e a n s a n d tree. the
I
am
Satan.
Ip .
of
Ibid,
God
P.76
does
by
w e so w."
i n the H i n d S w a r a j
seed,
t he
on e
matter down
the
to a
tree,
between
the s e e d a n d
re su lt
myself
flowing
prostrate
were
to
that
1 do
as
en d
connection
is b e t w e e n
la yi ng
set
wrote
inviolable
obtain
any
not
a
there
to
be
to
same
li k e l y
would
r e a p e x a c t l y as 7.
the
therefore,
it
Gandhi
likened
the e n d as
w o r s h ip G o d ; it Satan',
be
just
not
worship
a n d en ds,
say, so
ig n o r a n t
I
the from
before want
to
by m e a n s
of
f o 11y .
We
124 Ga n d h i "1.
s u m m a r i z e d H i n d Swara.i as
There
is
follows
not i m p a s s a b l e
:
barrier
between
E a st
and
West. 2.
There
is
no s u c h
c i v i 1 i z a t i o i n , but
thing t h er e
as
Western
is m o d e r n
or
European
civilization which
is p u r e l y m a t e r i a l . 3.
The
people
modern
of
but
East;
the
is
anyhow
Europeans are
the B r i t i s h
is m o d e r n
the
has
been
not
better
able
by
with
the
India,
and
touched to m i x
by with
the c i v i l i z a t i o n . who
are
ruling
through
almost
claimed
of
ar e
people
and
touched
common
people
who
far
were
in
civilization,
t e l e g r a p h , te l e p h o n e , which
they
much
than the o f f s p r i n g of not
it
before had
civilization,
Indians It
the
t o da y
modern
4.
Europe,
civilization,
people even
of
its
every
to
be
India,
railways,
invention
a
triumph
of
civilization. 5.
Bombay, are
6.
Calcutta
and
the
other
Chief
cities
of
India
the real p l a g u e - spots.
If B r i t i s h based ex c e p t
on
rule we r e modern
that
she
replaced
methods, would
be
tomorrow by
India able
would to
that
is d r a i n e d a w a y
to E n g l a n d ;
would
only
become a second
or
or A m e r i c a .
be
retain
money
f i ft h
Indian rule no
be tt er ,
some
but
nation
then of
of
the
India Europe
125 7.
East
and
thrown
West
overboard
entirely. also
They
adopted
would say,
be
an
in
It
is
begin
can
also
and
or
speedy
when
civilization,
England,
even
both
Death
when
but as
of
its
E a st
has
meeting
is
which
ha s
in
that
it
in o r d e r
West
almost
seemingly meet
truce,
of
the
between,
nations
to
avoid
are
being
the o n e by the o t h e r . for a n y m a n
to c o n t e m p l a t e to d o
so
by
locomotion,
Increase
meet
civilization,
unarmed
impertinence
attempt
9.
modern
the H a l l
devoured,
.
really
modern
Germany
li vi ng
8
can
of
laid do wn,
of
comforts, in a n y
body
of m e n
the w h o l e
highly
is to a t t e m p t
not
an y
r e f o r m of
means
material does
or
the it
to
world. To
artificial
and
impossible. may
be
way whatsoever
generally conduce
to
moral growth. 10
Medical magic.
on
is
the
for h i s
his
kingdom.
degradation tr ack medical
when
and 1
real
It
preferable
that
black
to
what
Devil
has
been
to k e e p
his
hold
misery
an d
the
in o r d e r
perpetuate slavery.
considered
t r ai ni ng .
way w h a t s o e v e r
purpose, They
of
s k il l as such.
instruments
own
essence
infinitely
for h i g h m e d i c a l
Hospitalsare using
is c o n c e n t r a t e d
Quackery
passes 11
Science
that
would
be
to t a ke part
in
vice,
I was 1
should
si n f u l the
entirely
for
of
the
receive me
in
abominations
a an y
that
126
go
in
the
ve n e r e a l
12.
hospitals. diseases,
should
have
am on gs t
us.
In d i a s
less
or
even
consists
during
r a il wa ys ,
the
like h a v e all
classes
have
peasant
to
and
for
fifty
to go,
learn
for
consumptives,
we
less
to
to
sexualvice
what
years
or
she ha s so.
lawy er s,
The
doctors,
a n d the s o - c a l l e d u p p e r live
deliberately
k n o w i n g it
hospitals
and
hospitals,
a n d s u ch
no
in u n l e a r n i n g
p a st
telegraphs,
religiously
t h er e w e r e
consumptives,
salvation
learnt
If
the
be
a
consciously simple
life
life
giving
and of
a
true
happiness. 13.
India s h o u l d w e a r
no m a c h i n e - m a d e c l o t h i n g w h e t h e r
it
c o m e s out of E u r o p e a n m i l l s or I n d i a n M i l l s . 14.
15
Engalnd
ca n
help
have
justified
many
in E n g l a n d
There
was
I n di a
her
hold
true w i s d o m
the
people;
thousand today. such then
years
Therein
activity,
has
and
the
limit
rude is
the
in
that
s h e w i ll
seems
to be
like wi se .
sages
of
old
the m a t e r i a l of
plough
every
so
conditions five
the
husbandman
l i ve
long u n d e r
peace
havinq
having
perhaps
of
People
comparative
feel
then
There
plough
enjoyed after I
and
India.
lies s a l v a t i o n .
conditions, Europe
to
this
t h in k
in
the
ago
do
on
t o da y w h o
r e g u l a t e d s o c i e t y as of
to
much
taken
greater
up modern
enlightened
man,
127
certainly every Englishman, may if he chooses,
learn
this truth and act according to it.
It is the true spirit of passive resistance that has brought me to the above almost definite conclusions. As
a passive resister,
I am unconcerned whether
such a
gigantic reformation ... can be brought about among people who find their satisfaction from the present mad rush. If I realize the truth of it, I should rejoice in following it and, therefore,
I could not wait until the whole body
of people had commenced. All of us who think likewise have to take the necessary step, and the rest ... must follow. The theory is there; our practice will have to approach it as much as possible. Living in the midst of the rush, we may not be able to shake ourselves free from all
taint.
Everytime I get into a railway car or use a motor-bus, know
that
I am doing
violence
to my
sense
of
what
1 is
right. I do not fear the logical basis on that basis..... If you agree with me, the
then it will be your duty to till
revolutionaries and everybody else
they want, or they think they want, by
killing
themselves Indian.
people right
or
and
doing by
the
freedom
is not to be obtained
violence,
becoming
that
and
Then the British rulers will
but
by
setting
remaining
truly
be servants and no
masters. They will be trustees, and not tyrants, and they
12a will
live
in
perfect
i n h a b i t a n t s of the B r i t i s h they
have
they
can
we have
India.
race,
The
in
the
f r ee
India
at
this
ago,
it
the
best
st ill
be
Europeans
to
se e
lies
and
very
for
one
the
not w i t h and
if
abstemiousness, moment,
the
best
another
and
which
enti re ly until
possible
of
themselves,
the s i m p l i c i t y
largely and which w a s ours
whole
therefore,
Indians
ours
w i ll
the
self-abnegation
themselves
arrived
with
fu ture,
but w i t h
sufficient make
peace
when
is st ill
a few years Indians
and
throughout
the Q
le n g t h a n d b r e a d t h of
Hind Later it w a s 1910,
by
Gandhi
Swaraj
appeared
published
in
book
Home
Rule. When
and
hastily would
the E n g l i s h Gokhale
conceived destroy
form,
in
to
be
translation it,
that
he
book
he
Opinion.
proscribed
in
to this a c t i o n , entitled
thought
prophesied after
..."
In di an
In a n s w a r e
read
the
the l e a v e n
serially
the B o m b a y G o v e r n m e n t .
published
himself
I n di a a n d act as
it
so
that
spending
In d i a n
a
crude Ga n d h i
year
in
India.
und It
was
Swaraj
written
is the q u i n t e s s e n c e of G a n d h i ' s
when
observed
: "Except
u s ed
connection
in
a n n o y e d an E n g l i s h 8. Q u o t e d by O.G.
he for
was
withdrawing
with
lady,
forty.
the
I wish
Some the
British
years word
ideas.
later,
he
"Prostitute"
Parliament
which
to m a k e no c h a n g e at all".
Tendulakar, Mahatma,
Vol.
1 P.P.107-9
129 H e fu rt he r
said,
Sw ar aj
held
ar e
follow
"w h i l s t by
Tolstoy, besides
has b e e n
o n e of m y
a copy
wrote
: "I
have
consider
the
resistance-to India,
but
By
But,
conception bring
economic,
of
the
for
your
book
of
and
Indian philosophy.
Tolstoy's with
great
to
other Tolstoy
pei^usal^
great
Hind
humbly
Emerson
there
very
Gandhi Tolstoy
i n t e r e s t , for
dealt
1
wi t h — p a s s i v e
importance,
not
o n ly
fof
the w h o l e of h u m a n i t y " .
people
according
of
about
Political
Swaraj
"Swaraj",
8
freedom.
be
endeavoured
In
for a n u m b e r of y e a r s " .
question
for
«C
of
teachers
read
but
expressed
Thorean,
the m a s t e r s
of H i n d
views
I have
Ruskin,
writers,
sent
me,
the
Swaraj.
real
unless
cultural
freedom will live
Gandhi,
Political
freedom
so ci al ,
Indians
to
generally this
mean is
freedom the
and
political
too
limited
alone
people
are
spiritual
w i ll f r ee
a
not from
bondage.J)
b e c o m e m e a n i n g l e s s w h e n 8 0 pe r cent in
the
subhuman
condition
of
object
poverty and illiteracy.
Th e people the
British
remajjpu->*rnder
tyrannical
condition ru l e r s
of
will
rulers the
In d i a n
the m a s s e s not
will
leave
subjugation rulers will
ameliorate
and
India.
if
the
and
exploitation
of
their
deputees,
the
become worse. the
But
condition
Mere of
change
the
of
people.
130
Gandhi
wrote
meanest India
of
in
our
merely
freeing
: "Swaraj
countrymen. from
India
to e x c h a n g e
1924
any
'king log
me
I a m not
the
from
for
English
means
interested
yoke.
I
yoke whatsoever.
real
Home
Ru le ).
s a n s e of
th e
in the p o l i t i c a l , sphere as
of
our
under
the
By
if
they
economic
s y e s t e m of
distribution
Further,
will
the p o o r m a s s e s ,
remain
root
of
real
s e n s e of
in 9.
the
is
the
the de li be ra te Young
India,
if
in
the
India
desire
western
other
of
the
of
remain foreign
for
th eir
capitalist
production
the
and
capitalists,
the e c o n o m i c e x p l o i t a t i o n of T h e c a p i t a l i s t s not o n l y
sa le s,
they
said,
consists
voluntary
not
also
Gandhi's
civilization
Gandhi
12 - 6 - 1 9 2 4
will
foreigners
the h a n d s
the
is as n e c e s s a r y
and
the m e a n s
in
(or
and spiritual
follows
requirements.
term, and
no
u p on
independence
Indians
British
upon
and
maladies. the
bent
freedom
cultural
because
c a r r y on
and
meant
f r e e d o m or
the " h a v e no t s " .
wants
freeing
"Hind Swaraj"
independence
the w e s t ,
production
criticism
is,
the
depend
the "haves", w h o w i l l
of
of
he
so ci a l ,
independence
needs.
i n di vi du al
that
economic,
economic
maximise
'Swaraj'
term,
subjection
governments
in
for
for k i n g s t o r k ' . " 9
1ives^ Economic
political
am
I have
^G andhi had a comprehensice not ion of In di an
freedom
multiply
main
which
is
"Civilization,
target at
the
in
the
in m u l t i p l i c a t i o n but
restriction
of w a n t s .
T h is
131 alone
promotes
real
happiness
and
i n c r e a s e s the c a p a c i t y
for s e r v i c e " . ! ^
Unless
our
we
restrain
contentment,
wants,
the
depend more and mo re upon
the c a p i t a l i s t s ,
condition
will
of
the
people
addicts w h o can be of d r u g s w h i c h be
enslaved
free
alien
capitalist
rule.
economy
of
by
t h ey n e e d m u c h .
economically,
from
weapons
lured away
be
By
even
with
that
this w a y if
of
they
are
machines
should
be
last the
will the drug
the s u p p l y
the p e o p l e w i l l
t h e r ef or e,
the
production
a n d at
the p r o m i s e of
Gandhi,
along
mass
like
people'
and
politically exhorts
which
that
are
lo o k e d
at
the with
abhorence.
Gandhi civilization la ck in g elites c r az y the
has
directed
on
the
in m o r a l
and
among after
the
western
mentally
way
and
left
language English
in style
life,
spiritually
the
our of
10. K. K r i p a l a n i
that
who
of
daily
have
to
that
the of
commerce the
is He
that
the
education
ar e
imitate
enslaving West.
we and
least
go
western
materialistic finds
they
Sw a r a j .
if
against
English
thereby,
India,
life w i t h
it
values.
and
the s p i r i t
soil
criticism
spiritual
culture
of
attitude negatives have
ground
Indians
western
his
S u ch After on
regard
(ed), Ail M e n a r e B r o t h e r s ,
themselves a
servile
the E n g l i s h
using
continue
blindly
to for
P.143
English pursue our
ow n
132
mother
tongue,
social
cultural heritage,
so
much
values
and
rich
it is meaningless to claim that we are
free from the British not
institutions
from
rule. Gandhi maintained
British
rule
that
we
that
have
it is
to
save
ourselves as from Western Civilization.^
In against the
the
Hind
Swaraj
the ancillaries
machines,
of
railways,
Gandhi
directed
western
doctors
his
civilization and
tirade such
lawyers.
He
as was
against the machines, not because he was anti-machine, but because
he
was
against
mechanization. He hated
the
craze
for
machine
and
the railways because he hated the
break neck speed of the co-called modern civilization and the evils the
that
railways.
against
are
associated with
The
arguments
the doctors
his criticism of
and
that
the Gandhi
lawyers are part
the British
introduction had
arguments may appear crude and exaggerated, certain
elements
of
practices devoid of dangerous against
and
these
truth
in
system. but
Medical
of Those
there are and
legal
the ethical considerations are really
harmful
to
the
two professions
pursuit of these two
them.
advanced
and parcel
( or Western)
of
society.
Gandhi's
attack
are quite
relevant
to
the
professions in the present days when
the doctors and lawyers are too selfish and money minded. It appears
that
the doctors are lincenced
11. Indian Opinion, 22-1-1910
to kill
people
133
rather oath
than
of
ethics among
to s a v e
Hippocrates. and
they
pe ople.
instigated
them
andh i "Swaraj”
and
assigned
has
sense
st r i c t
be
greatness
of
moral
spiritual
on
and
Indi a
throughout ideals
India
that
sphere;
sh e
India
to
-
simple
the
legal
quarrels
masses
an d
th eir
own
for
and
should
of
is
used
se ns es .
He
the
ages the
the
and
the
term
in
It
true
non
that her of
lofty truth, on
m a t e r i a l ism^
the
Gandhi
spitituai
civilization
spiritual
the
is u s e l e s s
of
in
In di an
of
competition.
world
that
ha s
the
ideals
rat-race
cut-throat
Gandhi
averred lies
the
the
foundation had
in
by
to or
term
is " s e l f -
enjoyed
Swaraj
solid
the
of S w a r a j
the
Hind
the
lead
moral
it
freedom
through
demostrate
and
meaning
renunciation.
join
race
should
inseif-restraint pe ople.
at
of
significance
religion.
the
felt
the
the
sacrifice and
arms
the
over
that
non-violence,
militarism,
the
litigation
spiritual
based
morality
of
agents
meaning
connotes control
and
violence,
part
discarded
scoffed
in w h i c h
The original term
moral
and
corrupted
interpreted
literal
this
Rule
have
deadly
unnecessary
wanted Home
have
G a n d h i ' s c r i t i c i s m s a r e q u i t e so u n d .
the
th r o u g h
Many
lawyers
become
have
for
scriptures.
fule", self
in
The
have
They
p e r s o n a l gains.
Hindu
the p a t i e n t s .
height
of
lies the
134
^Gandhi maintained they
know how
outs id e,
to r u l e
it m u s t
of S w a r a j to
i m p o rt an t or
the
the
of Sw ar aj .
as
means
the e n d
Swara j
untruthful
and
the n a t u r a l opposition
of
the
antagonists. In d i v i d u a l
That
come
that
"the movement
So h e
t h ei r
not
the
Swaraj
never
the
come
that
against
the
because
this
the soil
rulers of
the
British is
the
to a b a n d o n
India a n d
h a n d s of
simple be
reason
to
r e m o v e ail
individual
fu ll es t
play
securing
reverse
of
12. K r i p a l a n i , 13.
is
weapon
for
Sa t y a g r a h a
only
or
n o n — violent
their le ave
the
reins
of
the
free do m.
only
under
n
therefore,
freedom Passive
way
unjustified
that
of
struggle Resistance
pressurising
laws,
to q u i t
the
of G o v e r n m e n t
in
the
wrote,
method
the I n d i a n pe o p l e .
"Passive of
to
only
as
through
or e x t e r m i n a t i o n for
is
: "True democracy
use w o u l d
make
have
said
ca n
for
of
r e g i m e of u n a d u i t e r a t e d A h i m s a " . 1 3 ) G a n d h i . maintained
from
So p e o p l e s h o u l d k n o w
said
the s u p p r e s s i o n
ca n
cannot
attainment
means,
does
freedom
the
masses
to
Swaraj when
s e l f - p u r i f i c a t i o n " . 12 A c c o r d i n g
itself.
violent
through
Gandhi
of
for
corollary
Swaraj
from within*
is a m o v e m e n t
Ga n d h i ,
people can have
themselves.
©ppear
the true m e a n i n g
that
Ibid,
resistance",
rights
by
resistance
personal by
Lo c ci t . P . 1 8 5
P P . 180-1
Gandhi
arms.
"is
suffering; When
I
a
it
refuse
is to
the do
135
a
t h in g
force. a
that For
is
instance,
law w h i c h
employing
obey
the
soul-force.
passive
I f o rc e
what
It
that
“Real
the the
na t i o n a l .
We
talents.
We ours
for
We
e a ch
and
earns may
be
bread when
have
to
to
depend
develop
her
people
are look
quite down
ou r
relevant upon
honest
I
not
1 us e Gandhi where
p e o p l e " . 15
advocated
what
is
indigenous
and
ou r
ow n
resources
an d
c u lt ur e;
we
found
in
toil
of
manual
suitable and
khadi
la b o u r
It
Ideas
on
present and
and
labour.
Gandhi's
the
to
Swaraj only when
dignity
that
have
it
agriculture
honest
context
1 do
Gandhi
b e real
the
by
law,
only
the
If
Swaraj.
own
through
this
of
tested and
honours
bread in
possible
alien
There will
In d i a n
remarked la b o u r
have
the
s e l f " . 14
Swaraj of
It.
If
soulpassed
its b r e a c h ,
force
upon
borrow
we
industies.
or
of
adoption
not
because
every
his
of
for n o n - v i o l e n t
and
have
an d v i l l a g e
sacrifice
attainment
like
force.
for
is
has
to r e p e a l
the p e n a l t y
the g u i d i n g
use
not
body
Rule
1 use
the d a y
I do
termed
Home
is
need
develop us.
be
involves
He made a strong plea
Swadeshi ,
to me.
of
the g o v e r n m e n t
may
resistance
conscience,
the g o v e r n m e n t
la w a n d a c c e p t
believed
to m y
is a p p l i c a b l e
u s in g v i o l e n c e am
repugnant
show
co ntext re spect
136
and
admiration
for
means.
In
in
people's
the
show
India
re sp ec t
for
s o ci et y.
Every
should citizen
towards
be
of
should
have
the
should
of
Indian made
right
to
only
the c o u n t r y . not
only
entails
the
S w a r a j , in birth
obligations
for the w e l f a r e of
national
should
all
do
d o " . 1*3 If
I
of
poor
: "1 c a n n o t
16. K r i p a l a n i ,
a
sufficient duty.
without
w o rk .
to w o r k
but
the w e l f a r e
of
of
is
the but
term it
also
to s t r i v e
imagine anything
n o b l e r or
the
poor
with
them
and
through
for,
imagine
should
the
our
the c i t i z e n s
that
everybody
and
in
this
citizen,
one
for
concern
down-trodden,
Loc cit,
hour
the for
P . 174
in
must
better worship
labour
shows
say,
the p o o r ,c o n t r i b u t e s h i s or he r m i t e the
sense
labour
1 ca n n o t name
for
the
mankind. His
duty ,
toil
made
and
righ t
that
ourselves
be
f o od
the
every
the part
promoted
than
id e n t i f y
in
of
of
honest
enforce
have
learn to
the motherland.^)
Gandhi w r o t e more
on
to
the G a n d h i a n
righ t
and
and
co r r u p t
should
c i ti ze n,
enjoy
s h o u l d a l s o w o r k , as a m a t t e r
We
by
for a c h a n g e
actually
be
not
need
labour,
should
every
wealth
work.
encouraged
la b o u r
duty
amass
is a g r e a t
dignity
should
provision
Nobody
the
who
there
attitude
Bread
fundamental legal
to - d a y
for
livelihood
people
do, t h em
of G o d
p o or the
for
the d a y w e
even
poor,
and
thus
with
all
than
that
ds
they
works
for
the u p l i f t m e n t
poverty
in
In dia
of
will
137 disappear
soon.
consideration politicians
Unfortunately,
for do
the
p o o r . Of
lip— s e v l c e
electioneering
(^According
f r om
In
to
British
the
f r om
counterparts,
in
dogmas
and
' m o r a 1's p h e r e militarism Gandhi
in
English
and
the
ha s
two
complete
other
corresponding
hi gh es t
freedom
"Let
you h a v e p o l i t i c a l It
impede
s e n s e of
and
for
every
no
One
of
economic
their
freedom
forces
from
and
the
mistake
So
the o t h e r is
is P h a r m a , i.e.
the
about
my
of a l i e n
at
one
and
the e c o n o m i c .
moral
the
in
the
country^
independence
them
Indian
of a g r e e s s i v e
for
independence.
social freedom
means
the p a t h
be
i n d e p e n d e n c e at ends.
means
progress,
is c o m p l e t e
economic
and
religion
so c i a l , in
the
the term"
F u r t h e r , Gandhi £y ara j
from
This
independence
and
means
social
defence
there It
it
of
socialism.
economic,
it
capitalists
time
vo t e s .
is
Swaraj
'economic'
'social?
in m a i n t a i n i n g
c o n c e p t i o n of Sw a r a j . co n t r o l
the
that
:
the
l i ve s - p o l i t i c a l ,
it m e a n s
wrote
at
Swara.1
sphere
any
power-hungry
poor
true
show
the
the p o o r p e o p l e ' s
Gandhi,
the
fo r c e s
people
co urse, the
'p o l i t i c a l '
rule,
emancipation
fe w
to the i d e a l s of d e m o c r a t i c
in e v e r y s p h e r e of o u r an d m o r a l .
to
for c a t c h i n g
is r e a l l y a m o c k e r y
very
Indian
cas te t c r e e d
and
17. H a r i j a n ,
2-1-1937
maintained
that
irrespective
l a n g ua ge .
He
gave
a
Swa raj of
should mean
economic
status,
democratic,
secular
138
Qnd 090 1itfiri an ori en10 1ion to the concept of Swnro j , lie wrote : "The Swaraj of my ... dream recognises no race or religious distinctions. Nor is it to be the monopoly of the lettered persons nor yet of moneyed men. Swaraj for all,
is to be
including the former, but emphatically including
the maimed, For Gandhi
the blind, Swaraj
means
the starving toiling millions".1® "freedom
for
the meanestof
our
countrymen". He was the friend of the poor and champion of the cause of the stariving millions. He had firm faith in the doctrine of Paridranarayana. the faith that God is in the midst of the poor and that service to the poor is service to God. He wrote : "The Swaraj of my dream is the poor man's Swaraj. The necessaries of life should be enjoyed by you in common with those enjoyed by the princes and the moneyed men.
But that does not mean
that
they
should have palaces like theirs. They are not necessary for happiness. You or 1 would be lost in them. But you ought to get all the ordinary amenities of life that rich man enjoys. I have not the slightest doubt that Swaraj
is
not £g.orna Swaraj until these amenities are guaranteed to IQ you under it".
Jbandhi maintained that Hind Swaraj can be attained only
through
truth and non-violence
"Real Swaraj," he wrote,
come not by
(Satya
and ahimsa).
the acquisition of
authority by a few but by the acquisi tion of the capacity 18. Young India, 1-5-1930 19. Ibid, 2-6-1931
~
“—
139
by ail to resist authority when it is abused. In other words : Swaraj is to be obtained by educating the masses to a sense of authority." 20
their capacity
Swaraj
consciousness of through
to regulate and control
can be acquired only by arousing
the rights and duties of
education.
Freedom
should
be
the people
accompanied
by
responsibilities) Freedom is meaningless if the people do not
know
how
to
or
defend
Passive
Resistance is not only the weapon for acquiring freedom but
it
is
also
an
object-lesson
for
the
proper
utilization of freedom. When people know the real meaning of freedom, know how to acquire and safeguard freedom in all its dimensions and follow the path of truth and non violence, then,
people will
lead
enjoy
to Ramrajya, and
prosperity in India 20. Ibid, 29-1-1925
real Swara j. Swaraj will, there will
be peace and