social thinkers: mahatma gandhi · ahimsa or non--violenceviolence gandhi ji said, there is no god...
TRANSCRIPT
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