Values of Gandhian Thought for India and the World in Twenty First Century

Travail d'étude , 2013 , 7 Pages , Note: 9.2

Politique - Région: Extrême-Orient

Gandhi’s teachings have been contentious. They were contentious when Gandhi was alive and they continue to be contentious today, more than 60 years after his demise. There has always been a solid faction backing Gandhi’s thoughts and ideas, while several others have derided them as backward, patriarchal, utopian, chief among them being the Ambedhkar school and feminists.
Gandhism was born at a time when there was a need for a philosophy to fight the yoke of imperialism in India and elsewhere. Thus, Gandhism, had an intention of providing an alternative to the reigning economic, political structure of British India. Imperialism had entrenched its grip over India, and by the time of Gandhi, different methods of dealing with British rule had come and gone, like Moderates and Extremists and even more radical methods, based on terrorism and violence. The inability of all these methods, made it mandatory for India to devise another method of facing the imperial challenge and Gandhism arose as the main alternative which a majority of Indians identified with, lending it credence and legitimacy.
The two running leitmotifs of Gandhism, found in almost all his doctrines and teachings, are that of non-violence and the urgency attached to the fact of separating Western/European civilization from Indian civilization. In trying to conceive whether Gandhi remains relevant in the contemporary world, it is important to take stock of changes in the world context which have occurred in the past 60 or so years since Gandhi’s death.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

• Abstract
• Gandhi for the World and India
• Gandhi and India
• Conclusion
• Bibliography

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte

This paper aims to examine the relevance of Gandhi's values and ideals in the contemporary world, particularly in the economic, social, and political spheres. It analyzes Gandhi's writings and applies them to today's context, highlighting similarities between the world today and the time when Gandhi was alive. The paper also explores the relevance of Gandhi's teachings for India, focusing on issues such as corruption, village development, and the caste system.

• Swaraj (Self-Rule and Self-Restraint)
• Democracy and its Potential for Abuse
• Socialism and the Importance of Equality
• Rights and Duties in the Context of Cultural Relativism
• Ethics and Economics: Balancing Profit and Social Welfare

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel

The paper begins by discussing the concept of Swaraj, which Gandhi defined as self-rule and self-restraint. It argues that this concept is relevant today for countries in the Global South that are still grappling with neo-colonialism and economic dependence. The paper then examines Gandhi's views on democracy, emphasizing his belief that true democracy must be worked from below by the people. It also explores Gandhi's thoughts on socialism, highlighting his emphasis on equality and his critique of mass production. The paper further analyzes Gandhi's views on strikes, rights and duties, and utilitarianism, demonstrating their relevance in today's world.

In the context of economics, the paper examines Gandhi's advocacy for ethical economic policies that prioritize social welfare over profit maximization. It also discusses his views on the importance of village communities and their role in achieving self-sufficiency. The paper concludes by exploring Gandhi's perspectives on political power, civil disobedience, and the role of women in society.

Schlüsselwörter

The key themes and keywords of this text include Gandhian thought, Swaraj, democracy, socialism, non-violence, rights and duties, ethics, economics, village development, caste system, corruption, and India.

• Cours: Modern Indian Political Thought
• Note: 9.2
• Auteur: Bhaskar Mili (Auteur)
• Année de publication: 2013
• Pages: 7
• N° de catalogue: V280867
• ISBN (ebook): 9783656748779
• ISBN (Livre): 9783656748045
• Langue: anglais
• mots-clé: values, gandhian, thought, india, world, twenty, first, century