Mahatma Gandhi Criticism
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869-1948), known as Mahatma Gandhi, was a seminal figure in the Indian independence movement and a profound influence on global political and social change. His philosophy of Satyagraha, or nonviolent resistance, played a key role in achieving India's independence from British rule in 1947. Born into a Hindu family in Porbandar, Gandhi studied law in England and later worked in South Africa, where he began his activism against racial discrimination. This period marked the start of his lifelong commitment to social justice, including the establishment of ashrams and advocacy for the human rights of Indian nationals.
Gandhi's major works include his autobiography, The Story of My Experiments with Truth, which outlines his spiritual journey and the development of his core concepts, such as Satyagraha. His writings were deeply influenced by Hindu teachings as well as the philosophies of Leo Tolstoy, John Ruskin, and Henry David Thoreau, integrating ideas of nonviolence, truth, and self-discipline. In Hind Swaraj, he articulated his vision of Indian self-rule, critiquing Western civilization and advocating for a return to indigenous values.
Gandhi's impact extended far beyond India, inspiring movements across the world, such as the U.S. civil rights movement led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. His approach to social and political reform emphasizes spiritual growth alongside tangible social progress, as reflected in his continued influence in contemporary global movements. While Gandhi's ideals are celebrated, they are also critically examined, as in George Orwell's consideration of his moral and nonviolent principles, which highlights both the practical challenges and the enduring significance of his teachings.
Gandhi's life and work embody a complex interplay of spiritual conviction and political action, as discussed in Raghavan Iyer's overview of Gandhi's teachings. Despite his assassination in 1948, Gandhi's legacy as a "Mahatma" or "great soul" continues to inspire efforts towards peace, equality, and justice worldwide, with his philosophy of truth and nonviolence remaining central to his enduring influence.
Contents
- Principal Works
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Essays
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An introduction to Mahatma Gandhi: Essays and Reflections on His Life and Work
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In the following excerpt, Radhakrishnan discusses the religious basis of Gandhi's politics.
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The Challenge of Gandhi
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In the following essay, he discusses Hind Swaraj, describing it as the fundamental document of Gandhi's teachings and emphasizing its profound insights and repudiation of Western 'civilization.' Murry draws parallels between Gandhi's views and Rousseau's concept of the natural man, highlighting the reality of the Indian peasant as the normative ideal.
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Reflections on Gandhi
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In the following essay, George Orwell critically evaluates Gandhi's moral teachings and nonviolent stance, highlighting Gandhi's complex character, his spiritual motivations, and the challenges of reconciling his ideals with humanistic values, while acknowledging the practical impact of Gandhi's methods in political resistance.
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Mahatma Gandhi
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In the following essay, Forster offers a memorial tribute to Gandhi, emphasizing that Gandhi was indifferent to death and focused on his work and the welfare of others. He reflects on Gandhi's perspective on life and death, suggesting that Gandhi would have viewed death as an instrument rather than a defeat.
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Mahatma Gandhi—Yogi and Commissar: A Re-valuation
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In the following excerpt, which was originally published in 1969, he discusses what he calls the 'disastrous aspects of Gandhi's life and philosophy.'
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The Theory and Practice of Sarnodaya
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In the following excerpt, Bose discusses the development of Gandhi's principle of Sarvodaya and its continuing application in Indian society.
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The Concept of Truth
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In the following excerpt, Richards focuses on truth as the central concept of Gandhi's philosophy. The concept of Truth (Satya) is fundamental to the thought of Gandhi. It is not without significance that the sub-title of his autobiography is 'The Story of my experiments with Truth', and his whole life might well be interpreted as an attempt to live in accordance with or an existential quest for Truth. Followers of Gandhi explicitly maintain that he was essentially a practical man with no concern for metaphysics or philosophical speculation, yet it is clear that whenever he attempted to explain what he meant by Truth he was involved in metaphysical speculation whether he or his followers realized it or not. My contention is that the unity of Gandhi's thought and the interrelatedness of the various aspects of his teaching spring from firmly-held metaphysical beliefs and that the nature of these beliefs become very much apparent when he expounds what he means by Truth. I am not suggesting that he arrives at the meaning of Truth as the result of philosophical or metaphysical speculation in a vacuum. He is not a neutral observer who first learns to define Truth and then applies it to different aspects of life. Rather he is a participant in a form of life and the meaning of Truth for him is made apparent from the way in which it is used in that form of life.
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The Impact of Christianity on Gandhi
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In the following excerpt, Chatterjee examines the influence of Christianity on Gandhi's religious thought as well as the differences between Christianity and Hinduism.
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An introduction to The Moral and Political Writings of Mahatma Gandhi, Vol. I
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In the following excerpt, Iyer presents an overview of Gandhi's teaching, highlighting his modesty, self-criticism, and the impact of his ideals on social transformation.
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Saint Gandhi
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In the following essay, Juergensmeyer considers Gandhi's lasting public image within the traditional Christian and Indian views of saintliness.
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An introduction to Mahatma Gandhi: Essays and Reflections on His Life and Work
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- Further Reading