Gandhian Ethics

Gandhian Ethics form a vital part of the subject Ethics, offering a deep insight into Mahatma Gandhi’s moral philosophy and practical ideals. Rooted in truth, non-violence, and self-discipline, Gandhian Ethics emphasize the importance of personal conduct in shaping a just and harmonious society. This chapter explores key aspects such as the Five Vows (Panch Mahavrat), Gandhi’s concept of Swaraj, his views on environment, economy, and cleanliness, as well as a comparative outlook of Gandhi and Tagore.

Gandhian Ethics

दे दी हमें आजादी बिना खडग बिना ढाल,
साबरमती के संत तूने कर दिया कमाल ।

Previous Year Questions

YearQuestionMarks
2018Why are ‘Non Violence’ or ‘Ahimsa’ core values of Gandhian Ethics ?2M
2018‘Labour is capital and the living capital is inexhaustible. I want to establish an equitable relationship between capital and labor. I do not wish for the supremacy of one over the other’. Discuss in the context of Mahatma Gandhi.5M
2021The aim of good governance and morality in civil services can be achieved through following Gandhi’s seven social sins concept. Analyse.10M
2021Necessarily related, means cannot be separated from ends. Therefore, both must be auspicious for real and lasting success. Explain the above comment in context of Gandhian Ethics.10M
2023What according to Gandhi is the ideal of ‘Swaraj’ ?5 M

Features of Gandhian ethics

Gandhi is not an academic thinker, he is a mass leader. His philosophy is an outcome of:

  • His inner religious convictions
  • Mass political movements
  • Influence of factors such as various religion
    • Buddhism – Non violence [Went beyond human beings]
    • Jainism – five Mahavratas and Anekantvad
    • Hinduism – Vaishnav Jan (“Peed Parai”)
    • Christianity – Lesson of compassion (Jesus christ)
  • Western Thinker’s teachings –
    • Socrates – Socrates inspired Gandhi on the importance of self-sacrifice and the art of dying. Gandhi referred to Socrates as a “Soldier of Truth”  (satyavir) who had the willingness to fight unto death for his cause
    • Tolstoy – Idea of non-resistance to violence
      • His book ‘The kingdom of god is within you’ inspired gandhi 
    • John Ruskin – Unto this last [The concept of sarvodaya and Antyodaya (the good of the individual is contained in the good of all + dignity of labor]
    • Henry Thoreau – Civil disobedience 
  • Different societies’ teachings –
    • West – Cleanliness
    • Eastern – Swadharma (Geeta)

Other features – 

  • His emphasis is not on Idealism but on practical idealism
  • Universal and timeless philosophy 
  • Multidimensional and cover political, social, economic, religious and ethical aspects of human beings
  • Core principles – Truth and Non Violence 
  • Ishaa Vaasyam Idam Sarvam – God is everything and everything is in god.

Note – Ultimately, Gandhi ji learnt from everything he came across and inculcated that into his life and hence he said My life is my message.

Principles of Mahatma Gandhi :

Idea of good/Morality

  • An action is moral if it is volitional, intentional, universal, eternal, practical, selfless, and free from fear and compulsion simultaneously.
  • A person with calmness, tranquility, good habits, observing truth, love, nonviolence, tolerance, fearlessness, charity, service to mankind, chastity, altruism and righteousness is a moral person.
  • Men have to uphold the right, regardless of the personal consequences [Ethical Altruism or Lokasamgraha].
  • One should achieve morality by controlling his passions and desires, and should achieve moral autonomy by exercising self-control.
  • Happiness is when what you think, what you say and what you do, are in harmony.
Idea of good/Morality Application/Examples –
  • Selfless action – Welfare of society
  • Eg. – Going beyond call of duty
  • Practical action – Policy making after ground level research and participation of each stakeholder.
    • Eg. – Raj Govt Vision 2030 [Suggestions from citizen]
    • Eg. – Indian govt’s Republicindia.in and myGov Portal to take suggestions
  • Universal – Sabka saath, Sabka Vikaas and recent G 20 theme [One Earth, One Family, One Future]
  • Tolerance – Religious tolerance, Secularism, Difference of opinion [Article 19]
  • Altruism – CSR – Corporate social responsibility  [Ajim premji, Anil Agarwal, ITC]
  • Uphold the right, regardless of the personal consequences – IES Satyendra dubey, ATS chief Hemant Karkare, Army Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan
  • Controlling passion and desires – Avoid Corruption (PCA 1988), Vishaka guidelines, Birth control measures.
  • Harmony in thought, Action and saying –  Credibility of an officer increase [Sam Manekshaw sir]

Neo Vedantic philosophy and application

  • Neo Vedantism is also called Hindu Universalism or Hindu modernism.
  • Incorporation of western ideas into traditional Hindu religion.
  • Reconciliation of Dvaita and Advaita.
  • This world is as real as Brahma (Paramathma) and hence to achieve the state of Brahma, one must try to resolve problems of this world
    • Helping marginalized sections of society (Daridra Narayana) – Govt. schemes like PM Awas Yojana, DBT Transfer
    • Problems of modern world like climate change, terrorism, poverty, wars need to be tackled to reach Brahma (Paramathma)
  • Synthesis of both orthodox (Advaita Vedanta) and Heterodox (Jain concept Anekantavada) – truth is many-sided and relative.
    • Anekantavada – Respecting difference of opinion [Article 19], Social media regulations [Information/misinformation overflow], Principle of natural justice [Listening both sides]
  • Both material and spiritual developments co-exist and go together [no hungry stomach can think about God].
    • No Hungry stomach – Indira Gandhi Rasoi Yojana, Food for work program
  • It is an integral approach to religious pluralism – This spirit is of absorption, assimilation, co-existence and synthesis
  • Rejects all barriers of caste, creed, language, race and religion and the essence of human brotherhood, mutual love and harmony are the guiding principles of Neo Vedanta.
    • To fight against social evils like untouchability [Article 17]
    • Rejecting barriers – Article 14, 15 and 16 (Reservation)
  • Neo-Vedanta offers a way to make a sense of unity in diversity. It acknowledges various religions as different paths to the same goal
    • Unity in diversity – EK BHARAT SHRESHTHA BHARAT SCHEME
  • Stands for service, sacrifice, and freedom
  • Other proposers – Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda, and Aurobindo.

Five Vows (Panch Mahavrat)

For spiritual and moral upliftment of every individual

1. Satya (Truth)

  • The word Satya (Truth) is derived from Sat which means ‘being’. Gandhi believed that nothing exists in reality except truth.
  • The Word Satya or Truth is much wider than just speaking the truth. Gandhiji’s truth is not based on theories like correspondence or coherence theory.
  • There should be truth in thought, truth in speech, and truth in action. Hence one must lead a disciplined life.
  • Truth to one person may be untruth to another person. God himself appears to different individuals in different aspects. Hence one should act with common sense and rationality. But all these are like leaves of the same tree if the efforts are honest.
  • For the quest of Truth involves tapas, self suffering, sometimes even unto death. One should have the quality to bear Criticism, Pain and Anger.
  • Truth and God are synonyms. However Truth is god is higher form than god is truth. Because –
    • The pursuit of Truth is true bhakti (devotion). It is the path that leads to God.
    • Even an atheist can believe in it.
  • Voice within you (Conscience) is the voice of truth.
  • Ahimsa is a means to achieve truth “Even if you are in a minority of one, the truth is truth”.
  • My experiment with truth – Autobiography
Application of truth in real life –  Coherence in thought, Speech and action – 
  • India’s efforts for climate change (Unlike western world)
    • Thought – Prakriti rakshati rakshitaha, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, Paryavaranam hi jeevanam
    • Speech – Panchamrita COP26
    • Action – International solar alliance, in top Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI)
  • Ratan Tata –
    • Thought – Responsible business practices and corporate social responsibility.
    • Speech – Board meetings, Seminars, Interviews
    • Action – Financial assistance and support to hotel staff after Attack, 1100 crore CSR
  • Fight for truth –
    • Death – Socrates
    • Pain – Frequent transfer of Ashok Khemka sir, Attack by sand mafia
  • Listening the voice of conscience – Sonu sood (Covid), Kailash Satyarthi, Sudha Murthy
  • People in minority but fought for truth – B R Ambedkar, Anna Hazare (Anti Corruption Movement), Aruna Roy (RTI)

2. Ahimsa (Non Violence)

Prerequisite – 

  • Fearlessness
  • Except God, men should not fear anyone else [Hence belief in god is necessary]
  • Non-violence requires humility

What is Not Ahimsa –

  • It does not mean inaction.
  • It is not for the weak or the timid
  • Non-violence does not mean acceptance of evil. It is better to be violent than to be cowardly. Cowardness is based on compulsion and weakness.

Negative view of Ahimsa –

  • Refraining from killing or injuring others.
    • An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind.
  • One should not harm anyone by thought, word or deed.
    • I oppose violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary, the evil it does is permanent.
    • Ahimsa provides a permanent and unanimous solution.
  • Absence of hate, anger and pride.

Positive view of Ahimsa –

  • Overflowing love to mankind and all living beings [When there is love, there is life].
  • As a means to achieve truth. Man can realize God only by pursuing ahimsa.
  • Ahimsa is described as ‘soul force’, ‘power of Atman’, ‘power of love’ and utter selflessness [Hence compassion, Selflessness, Charity are embedded in Ahimsa].
  • Ahimsa means that one’s love should be extended to one’s enemies. It is similar to Christ’s injunction – Love thy enemy.
  • Non violence (Forgiveness) > Vengeance > meek surrender
    • A weak can never forgive, Forgiveness is the attribute of strong.
  • In summary, Ahimsa includes qualities like selflessness, benevolence, altruism, courage, magnanimity, humility and total submission to God.
  • Ishaa Vaasyam Idam Sarvam – Non violence is necessary to respect this. Because everything is part of God and hence deserves compassion.
  • Basic nature of animals is brute (Violence) and human being is Ahimsa.
Ahimsa (Non Violence) Application/Examples –
  • Gandhiji supported the killing of Rabies infected dogs and said – If we kill the rabid dog, We commit a sin. If we do not kill it, it is a grave sin. Because it is our responsibility to protect the lives under care Violence
  • Partition of India (1947) –
    • Temporary good – India and Pakistan – 2 Nation theory, representation.
    • Long term damage – Wars, Terrorism
  • Violent aggression of China –
    • Temporary good – Territorial expansion
    • Long term damage – The suppression of civil liberties, human rights abuses, Wars.
  • An eye for eye makes the world blind → Against ongoing Israel-Hamas war, Russia-Ukraine war, Hate speech and communal tension etc.
  • Compassionate, Loving human being –
    • Mother Teresa
    • Kailash Satyarthi [Bachpan Bachao Andolan]
    • A P J Abdul kalam [Proposed to use Nuclear power as deterrent – World Peace]
    • Dalai lama – A nonviolent and compassionate approach in seeking autonomy for Tibet
  • Love thy enemy –
    • We forgave the Britishers and joined commonwealth
    • Bus service from Lahore to Delhi by Late PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee
    • Lord Ram Advised Laxman to listen Ravana while Ravana was on his deathbed
  • Administration –
    • Surrender-cum-rehabilitation of naxalites
    • Yoga and meditation program in Tihar jail by Ex IPS Kiran bedi
    • Use of persuasion, Negotiation, Emotional intelligence to control a crowd, Ambulance on standby [Rather than violent means]
      • NDMA act 2005 guidelines
  • Welfare state [Rather than police state]

3. Aparigraha  (Non Possession)

  • Aparigraha means restraint from possessiveness and greed.
  • In a wider sense, Non possession means fulfilling the basic needs and excess should be utilized for the benefit of society.
  • Aparigraha also helps one in slowly giving up the attachment towards worldly possessions.
  • For Gandhiji, Non-possession was also a proof of one’s faith in God.

Application/Examples –

  • India’s richest 1% owned more than 40.5% of the country’s wealth [Oxfam report]
  • Efforts for wealth distribution –
    • Land ceiling act
    • Bhoodan movement
    • Progressive Taxes
    • CSR

4. Brahmacharya (Celibacy)

  • Narrow meaning – Rigid control over sexual urge.
  • Broad meaning – ‘Brahmacharya’ really means ‘Moving towards, Brahma’ that is, towards truth. For such a person, control over all senses is necessary.
  • Brahmacharya (avoiding sexual activity) has to be observed in thought, word and deed—Mano, Vacha, karmana.
  • In Gandhiji’s opinion a Brahmachari should keep his public contact with women workers and learn to look upon them as sisters and mothers.
  • A husband and wife –
    • Sexual activity should be only for procreation.
    • Consider her or him as one’s lifelong friend.
  • Gandhiji himself never claimed complete success, he was satisfied that the Ashramites sincerely tried their best.
  • How to achieve – Constant practice, detachment, prayer of god, pure thoughts, self study and spirit of service is necessary.

Application/Examples –

  • Gandhi’s Brahmcharya can solve many problems of modern world-
    • Population control (Self restraint)
    • Sexual violence with women [Marital rape]
    • Rape case [Rajasthan registered the highest number of Rape cases and every day avg 87 cases of rape in india NCRB ]
    • Sexual harassment of women at workplace
    • Increasing consumption of pornography
    • Eve teasing

5. Asteya (Non Stealing)

Asteya in simple terms means not stealing. But according to Gandhi, it has wider connotation –

  • Because nature provides just enough, and no more, it is also a theft to possess anything more than one’s minimum requirement. Even those who enjoy luxuries not available to the lower strata of society are also thieves.
    • So, a person who wishes to apply Asteya in his life ought to lead a simple life.
  • In the Ashram , one aspect of Asteya was avoiding waste. Nothing was to be wasted-food, water, clothes or even paper.
  • He did not allow Kasturba for the personal use of the gifts he received in South Africa for his public service.
  • Looking with envy at the possessions of another is also a violation of Asetya
  • Asteya of Actions – Physical possession of another person should not be taken unjustly.
  • Asteya of Thoughts – Stealing ideas or other intellectual property. One should not even think of stealing.
  • Asteya of Words – Misleading or manipulative words.
  • Root cause of stealing – Feeling a sense of ‘lack’ in life –> desire, want and greed.

Application/Examples –

  • Administration –
    • Assets disproportionate to the known sources of income [Section 5 of PCA act 1947].
    • Accepting Illegal gratification [PCA 1988].
    • Copyright violation, Scams like PNB, ICICI, Harshad Mehta, Vijay Mallya etc.
  • Measures [3T] –
    • Transparency [Audits, Income disclosure, RTI etc]
    • Technology – e-bidding, E-Procurement
    • Transfer of Values – Mission Karmyogi [Zero Tolerance for corruption]

11 Vows

Each individual possesses Rama and Ravana, God and Satan, good and evil, and that it is important to restrain Ravana and Satan in each individual, which can be accomplished through a vow or ‘Vrata’.

  • First six are focused around the individual –
    1. Satya
    2. Ahimsa
    3. Aparigraha
    4. Brahmacharya
    5. Asteya
    6. Asvada –
      • Eating is necessary only for sustaining the body and keeping it a fit instrument for service, and must never be practiced for self-indulgence. Food must therefore be taken, like medicine, under proper restraint.
      • Meat, liquor, tobacco, bhang etc. were excluded from the Ashram.
      • Priority to Satvik food over Rajsik and tamsik.
      • Last five are geared around the social welfare –
    7. Sharira Sharama – Physical labor
      • Gandhiji got the idea of Bread labor from Tolstoy.
      • An intellectual or an artist or a person with any other ability should utilize that ability for the service of society, while bread should be earned through physical labor alone.
      • Shrama-yagna – even those who earned their livelihood through other professions should devote at least one hour every day to some kind of physical labor performed in the spirit of oneness with the poor.
      • The Ashramites were expected to spin for an hour every day without fail.
      • All domestic chores should be performed by the Ashramites themselves.
    8. Swadeshi – Indigenization (purchase one’s requirements locally and not buy things imported from foreign lands).
    9. Abhaya – Fearlessness (A seeker after truth must give up the fear of caste, government, robbers etc. and he must not be frightened by poverty or death)
    10. Asprishyata Nivarana – Removal of untouchability.
      • Opposed because all human beings are an expression of god.
      • Founded Harijan Seva Sangh (1932) and published a newspaper named Harijan.
      • Temples, public wells and public schools must be open to the untouchables equally with caste Hindus (Young India).
      • Made Harijans participate in “poojas, bhajans, kirtans and Puranas“.
      • Traveled 20,000 km by train, car, bullock cart and on foot [1933-34] to campaign for the removal of untouchability.
    11. Sarva Dharma Sambhava – Respect for all religions.
Application/Examples –
  • Sharira Sharama –Rising non communicable diseases [India is a diabetes capital of the world with diabetic patients crossing 100 million].
    • Solution –
      • Sharira Sharama
      • Asvada [Eating satvik food and avoiding tamsik food and junk food]
  • Administration –
    • Food for work program [1977-78]
    • MGNREGA (Unskilled and semiskilled work)
    • Eat Right India (Initiative by FSSAI)
    • Indira gandhi Shahri Rozgar Yojana
  • Physical labour example –
    • 75 Days challenge
    • Shrm daan [Paani foundation]
  • Swadeshi –
    • Make in India
    • Atma Nirbhar bharat
    • Prime Minister Narendra Modi invoked the ‘Swadeshi’ spirit by urging people to buy products that are produced domestically and requested the local industries to build a strong supply chain.
    • National handloom corporation
    • Khadi and Village Industries Commission (1957)
  • Untouchability –
    • The Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 (PEMSR)
    • National Commission for Safai Karamcharis
    • National commission for Scheduled caste
    • Article 17 – Abolition of untouchability
    • Protection of civil rights act 1955
  • Sarva Dharma Sambhava –
    • Secularism in Preamble [42nd amendment]
    • Articles 14, 15, 16 and 25 (equal rights to all citizens to follow or propagate any religious faith and freedom of conscience)

Gandhi and Religion

  • God is present in every human being (Ishaa Vaasyam Idam Sarvam)
  • Ultimate goal of man is to realize the vision of God and it can only be achieved by following the path of truth, love, non violence and service to humanity
  • He always quoted the Muslim thought: “Man is not God, but neither is he different from the light (or spark) of God.
  • Jainism (Anekantavada) and Vaishnavism (Lok Sangraha)
  • Christianity – Love, Compassion (Boundless love and absence of retaliatory violence are fundamental tenets of Christianity).
  • Truth is God, God is truth.
  • Gandhi regards God as Truth, Love, Fearlessness, and the source of Light and Life.
  • Gandhi’s belief in Advaita or non-dualism – when ignorance (Avidya) is eradicated, the individual soul (Jeevatma) merges with the ultimate soul (Paramatma).
  • God is Truth – Knowledge-Bliss (Sat-Chit-Ananda).
  • God and his Laws are the same.
  • On idol worship – An idol does not excite any feeling of veneration in me. But I think that idol-worship is part of human nature. I do not consider idol-worship a sin. (Young India).
  • Tolerance –
    • Nonviolence is a central theme of all religions
    • Sarvdharma Sambhav is superior to religious tolerance or secularism
    • All religions are continually evolving towards realization of higher truth
    • Gandhi’s prayer meetings were held not in temples but in the open, symbolizing religious harmony.
Application/Examples – 
  • Ishaa Vaasyam Idam Sarvam and God and his Laws are the same.
    • To end discrimination and atrocities based on religion [Communal hatred, religious fundamentalism, Religious extremism, terrorism etc].
    • Article 25-28
  • Vaishnavism (Peed Parai) –
    • Service attitude
    • Empathy and sympathy to citizens
    • Grievance redressal [CPGRAMS]
    • Basic needs – Food, Shelter etc
      • Almost 3 crore houses under PM Awas Yojana
  • Avidya in administration –
    • Apathy
    • Ruling attitude
    • Corruption/greed
  • Sat-chit-Ananda –
    • To treat modern day problems of stress, loneliness, depression, Anxiety and mental health.

Gandhi’s Political ideas

Politics and religion –

  • Gandhi asserts that religion cannot be separated from politics.
  • By religion Gandhi here means morality and humanism and following one’s own duty in a broad sense. Hence, all politicians should consider public welfare as a duty.
  • Victory in politics if gained through violence is nothing but defeat.
  • Gandhi believes that reformers should win the hearts and minds of people (That’s why peaceful techniques like Satyagraha – Civil disobedience, Strike, Fasting etc).
  • Gandhi criticized communal politics.

State and Religion –

  • If I were a dictator, religion and state would be separate. I swear by my religion, I will die for it. But it is my personal affair. The state has nothing to do with it.

Gandhi was an Anarchist – Does not accept the concept of state. Because –

  • Human beings are an expression of god and do not need authority of state.
  • When the divine element in human beings is awakened, Ram Rajya is established which is natural and not like the modern day state which is based on violence (Police state).
  • Ram Rajya is an ideal state (A state free from inequality, injustice and exploitation).
  • Since this has not been achieved yet, following measures should be adopted –
    • Minimum state
      • Based on public welfare
      • With decentralized power (Village panchayat should be given the power to legislate, execute and judge).
Application/Examples – 
  • The day, power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.
  • Gopal krishan Gokhale (Political Guru of Gandhi).
    • Gokhale advocated for social changes and Indian self-rule through the Society, the Congress, and other legislative organizations.
  • Efforts to establish Ram Rajya (Ideal state) –
    • Article 14 [equality before law and equal protection of law]
    • Bill to reserve 33% seats in parliament
    • Rationalizing archaic laws –
      • IPC – Bhartiya nyay sanhita
      • CRPC – Bhartiya nagrik suraksha sanhita
    • Almost 1600 obsolete laws were abolished
  • Minimum state –
    • Minimum government, Maximum governance (Ex -e-filing, E-NAM, GeM etc)
    • Disinvestment (Privatization)
    • DBT, JAM Trinity
    • Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas aur Sabka Prayas (Digital India, My Gov app Citizen centric platform)

Gandhi’s Economic ideas

Concept of bread labour

  • Everyone should earn his bread with his own hands or through manual labour

Wealth accumulation

  • It is impossible for a few to amass wealth without exploiting the rest.
  • Economic exploitation is a form of violence.

Idea of economic equality

  • Gandhi does not propose drastic or violent means of bringing about economic equality (Marx – Class struggle).
  • Wealth should be shared equitably. Gandhi favors class harmony, nonviolence and voluntary sharing of wealth by the rich.
  • People should reduce their wants and live a simple life

Doctrine of Trusteeship

  • Ultimately, as all property belongs to God, the excess or superfluous wealth which the rich possess belongs to society and should be used for supporting the poor.
  • Wealthy people are simply trustees for the disproportionate share of God’s property they hold.

“There is enough on this earth for every one’s need but for no one’s greed” –  Mahatma Gandhi

Application/Examples –

  • An administrator is also a trustee of the wealth or perks he/she is given.
    • Perks like bunglow, cars, helpers, good remuneration are only a means to achieve the greater end of welfare of society.
    • An administrator should go beyond call of duty. Whatever excess time he/she gets, he should utilize that in grievance redressal.
  • Trusteeship model inspired –
    •  Vinoba Bhave for Bhoodan movement
  • Efforts to reduce economic inequality–
    • Land ceiling act
    • Bhoodan movement
    • Progressive Taxes
    • Canons of taxation
      • Convenience, Certainty etc
    • CSR
    • Equal educational opportunities (Article 21 A, RTE 2009)

Gandhi’s Sarvodaya

Sarvodaya means physical, Moral and spiritual development of all. It is superior to utilitarianism or Marx class consciousness.

Principle of unity of life –

  • Since we have the same creator, We don’t have any difference. Gender, caste, creed, language and nationality are trivial.
    • Although accepted varna system (Division of labour – Source of livelihood).
  • The best way to realise God is by serving his creations – Service to mankind.
  • The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.
  • Principle of unity of life leads to Gandhian concepts of secularism or religious toleration, human equality, and explains his life long battle against untouchability.
  • Sacrifice of oneself for the family, of the family for the village, of the village for the country, and of the country for humanity.
  • Unto this last (John ruskin) – Borrowed the concept of sarvodaya and Antyodaya ( the good of the individual is contained in the good of all)
  • “I call him religious who understands the sufferings of others” – Gandhi

Application/Examples of Administration – 

  • Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas
  • Physical development – 12 crore toilets, 3 crore houses, National nutrition mission, PM Garib kalyan ann yojana (Ration to 80 crore people), Skill India mission, AAY (Antyodaya Anna Yojana).
  • Moral development – National education policy, rehabilitation centres, Code of ethics (Hota committee), Agencies like CVC, CBI, Lokpal, Laws, Rules and regulation, Article 29 (Protection of distinct language, script or culture).
  • Spiritual development – Article 25-28, Haj subsidy, Char Dham Highway, Promotion of Yoga and meditation, Spiritual Tourism (PRASHAD Scheme Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual and Heritage Augmentation Drive)
  • Service attitude – Charan paduka Abhiyan (J K Soni sir), Poma Tudu IAS [2 hour walk to meet tribals], Baba Amte (Leprosy patients), Sonu Sood, Aruna Roy, Heeralal shastri and Ratan Shastri, P Narhari sir (Special efforts for divyangs).

Gandhi and Environment

Following principles were dictated by Gandhi to save nature –

  • Ishaa Vaasyam Idam Sarvam –
    • Every flora and fauna is part of God and must be protected .
    • We should not respect ecology because it’s useful for us, but because it is a part of God and has its own right.
    • That’s why he even respected the worship of trees and cows in Hinduism.
  • Aparigraha –
    • Gandhi Ji favoured the Jain Principle of Aparigraha, non-possession i.e. we should voluntarily limit our wants
    • Opposed capitalism and industrialization because of over exploitative nature.
    • Relationship – Coexistence
    • “There is enough on this earth for every one’s need but not for no one’s greed.” Mahatma Gandhi.
  • Harmony –
    • For a healthy lifestyle, harmony of the three dimensions is must – intra-personal, the interpersonal and the environmental.
    • He preached to replace consumerism with conservation, mass production with production by the masses, private ownership with community ownership, quantity obsession with quality concern, dominating power with enabling power, centralisation with decentralization, reductionism with holism, and crass materialism with authentic spirituality.

Application/Examples 

  • We have already crossed the carrying capacity of earth (2-4 Billion people).
  • Earth overshoot day has already advanced to 2nd August in 2023 (Means we consume 12 months resources in 7 months only)
  • Ecological protection in our culture –
  • Worshiping trees
  • Sacred groves (Devrai)
    • Vani – Mewar
    • Kenkri – Ajmer
    • Oran – Jodhpur, Bikaner, and Jaisalmer
    • Devbani – Alwar
  • Aiyappa – The god of forests
  • Administrative efforts –
    • Luv Kush Vatika
    • Rajasthan Forest Policy 2023 [June 2023]
    • SDG Goals [Niti Aayog- SDG India Index]
  • Individuals –
    • Shyam Sundar Jyani (Tree man of desert)
    • Jadav Payang sir (Forest man)
    • Rajendra singh (Waterman of India)

Gandhi and Man

Inherent goodness –
  • Gandhi sides with those philosophers like Rousseau and David Hume, who regard man as inherently good and benevolent.
  • Every human being is gentle, humble, kind, generous, loving, considerate and rational by nature (Young India 1920 – I refuse to suspect human nature). But he is not devoid of evil elements like hatred, jealousy, lust etc. (Each individual possesses Rama and Ravana, God and Satan, good and evil, and that it is important to restrain Ravana and Satan in each individual).
  • Any man can achieve human nature by self- restraint (by controlling their passions and desires). He stated that the most critical distinction between the animal and the human is self control.
  • As he was a lawyer, he applied the principle of natural justice (Not guilty unless proven otherwise, hence every human being is good, unless the contrary is proved).
  • Man must evolve from a physical being to a spiritual and rational being.
  • Conscience must be followed regardless of the circumstances.
  • “In matters of conscience, the law of the majority has no place.”
  • A man is Vaishanv Jan if he/She is compassionate and respects every living being.
  • Only by making unrelenting and untiring efforts to achieve perfection, one would be on the path of perpetual improvement, which is essential to achieve oneness of humanity and unity of life.
Change of heart –
  • Upward movement [Moral upliftment].
  • He held that each good and the bad thing an individual does, adds up to the sum total of the universal “Karma”.
  • By Truth and non violence.
  • By following 11 vows.
  • By removing Avidya (Ignorance) and awakening the divine element (God).
  • “A man is but a product of his thoughts, what he thinks, he becomes”
Application/Examples – To suppress animal being in a man –
  • Scriptures (Geeta, Vedas, Quran, Bible, Guru Granth Sahib , Gurbani).
  • Education – Samagra shiksha (Holistic education), Yoga and meditation.
  • Skill development – Channelizing the energy of youth.
  • Rule of law – Peace & order in society
  • Conditioning – Punishment and reward (Judiciary)
  • Administration –
    • Offering flowers to traffic rule violators (Change of heart)
    • Peaceful surrender by Naxalites/criminals
    • Mission karmyogi
    • PCA 1988
    • Principle of natural justice – Listen all sides in grievance redressal.
    • IAS Saurabh Kumar – ‘Lunch with the collector’ to talk to the youth of Naxal haunted Dantewada.
  • Positive Change of heart –
    • Tulsidas (From Ratnavali to Rama)
    • Valmiki (Dacoit Ratnakar to Valmiki)
    • Phoolan devi (Chambal to parliament)
    • Robert Downey Jr. (Ironman fame) – A drug abuser to one of the most successful actors in Hollywood (Took help of Yoga and meditation)
  • Negative change of heart –
    • Paan Singh Tomar (Journey from a soldier to a Baagi)

Gandhi and Cleanliness

  • Cleanliness of both heart and surrounding.
  • Sanitation is more important than independence.
  • Cleanliness is next to godliness.
  • Everyone must be his own scavenger – Gandhi
  • Cleanliness of thoughts – I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet – M.K Gandhi

Application/Examples

  • SBM Launched on 2nd October, 2014 (Birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi).
  • Administration –
    • IAS Prashant nayar – Tere mere beach me (Waste management in Kozhikode beach)
    • IAS Mir Mohammad Ali – Made Kannur plastic free district
    • IAS P S Pradyumna – 1 Lakh toilets with the help of SHGs

Gandhi on End Vs Means

  • End is everything – Utilitarianism, Charvaka, hedonism, Chankya, Karl Marx etc.
  • Means is everything – Deontology (Kant), John Rawl, W. D. Ross.
  • Gandhi – Both are the same. Firmly reject the rigid dichotomy between the ends and means. Evil means can never lead to good ends (A seed and the tree- As we sow, so shall we reap).
  • Means and end are convertible terms in my philosophy of life – Gandhi in Young India.
  • End of all ends – Satya (Truth) and Means- Non violence (Ahimsa). Both are equally necessary.
  • Individuals have control over the means but not over the end (law of Karma dispassionate action).
  • For purity of means one must do fasting and prayer.

Application/Examples –Truth cannot be attained through untruthful means; justice cannot be secured through unjust measures; freedom cannot be obtained through tyrannical methods, socialism cannot be realized through enmity and coercion and war cannot lead to enduring peace.

Politics – 

  • Just means – Votes on development
    • End – Peaceful, prosperous India
  • Unjust means – Votes on money, power, communal angle
    • End – Crime, Exploitation, Unjust society

Economics –

  • Just means – Free and Fair trade
    • End – Employment, equitable distribution of resources, sustainable trade
  • Unjust means – Trade distortion (China)
    • End – Global instability, Dumping, Unemployment, Uneven distribution of wealth, Neo-colonialism

Administration –

  • Unjust means – Fake encounter
    • End – Public fear of the police

Swaraj

  • Literal meaning – self-rule or self-governance
  • For Gandhi, Swaraj encompassed multiple dimensions, including individual self-discipline, ethical living, and the moral and spiritual upliftment of society
  • Swaraj also means freedom from one’s own weaknesses, vices, and dependencies
  • Gandhi’s Swaraj envisioned a society free from social injustices like untouchability, caste discrimination, and gender inequality
  • Gandhi’s idea of Swaraj also included economic self-reliance. He promoted the use of indigenous products and the revival of traditional industries like hand-spinning and weaving (Khadi) to reduce dependency on foreign goods and industries

Gandhi’s 7 SIN

Religion without sacrifice – 

  • Sacrificing dogmas, Superstition, blind devotion
  • Sacrificing Pride and prejudice, greed, worldly attachments, selfishness, Lust etc then only we can achieve god in true sense 
  • In our culture we have this tradition to sacrifice something dear –
    • Lord Ram sacrificed his kingdom 
    • Ibrahim  sacrificed his son Ismail
    • Buddha sacrificed wealth and kingdom 
    • Jesus sacrificed his life 
  • An Administrator –
    • Must sacrifice false pride, Apathy, ignorance to worship his/her work “

Science without humanity – 

  • Nuclear power can either light a house or destroy a house 
  • While developing science, We must keep track of employment [69% of jobs are in threat in India due to automation] 
  • Technology should be to serve humanity, not other way round 
  • New technology like Bioengineering, genome editing, AI, Ml etc need moral and human angle to avoid potential destructive misuse
  • Administration – Use of biometric, CCTV, e-governance but must keep in mind human perspective [Jharkhand tribal girl death]

Knowledge without character – 

  • Ex – Ravana 
  • Giving knowledge to an immoral person is like giving steering of a racing car to an inexperienced teenager high on drugs 
  • Character education (Naitik Shiksha) 
  • White-Collar Crimes like Insider trading, conflict of interest (Chanda Kochar), Harshad Mehta scam, Nirav Modi case etc 
  • Increasing C-section cases, Organ trading, Pure Commercialization of education 
  • Administration – Knowledge of IPC, CRPC, Code of conduct, Code of ethics but character must include humility, sympathy and welfare attitude

Commerce without morality – 

  • Every business owner must ask himself/herself – Is it fair and does it serve the interests of all the stakeholders?
  • Maintain legitimate surplus only [Ex – Delhi High court of commercialization of education]
  • Ex – Volkswagen emissions scandal, Satyam scam, Bofors scam, Facebook–Cambridge Analytica data scandal

Wealth without work – 

  • Ex – Gambling, Match fixing, Corruption, embezzlement, Extortion and Criminal Activities, Ponzi Schemes (get-rich-quick schemes) etc 
  • Administration – RBI cautions Public against Multi Level Marketing Activities

Politics without principle – 

  • Politics must have principles like Accountability, Transparency, Public service, Respect for Rule of Law, internal democracy, constitutional loyalty etc

Pleasure without conscience – 

  • Hedonism, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Environmental Exploitation, Social Media Trolling, Excessive Consumerism etc  
  • Administration – Misuse of government resources like car, harassment at workplace

Tagore vs Gandhi

Gandhian Ethics
  • Tagore admired Gandhi immensely, often praised his leadership, and insisted that he be called “Mahatma”– the great soul.
  • But Tagore frequently disagreed with Gandhi in matters over the need for adhering to logic and reason.
  • Gandhi used the catastrophic Bihar earthquake of 1934 that killed many to further his fight against untouchability. He called the earthquake “a divine chastisement sent by God for our sins,” in particular the sin of untouchability. Tagore protested, insisting that “it is all the more unfortunate because this kind of unscientific view of phenomena is too readily accepted by a large section of our countrymen.
  • Gandhi advocated that everyone should use the charkha (the primitive spinning wheel) – thirty minutes a day. Tagore opposed this injunction. He disagreed with Gandhian economics. Tagore thought that in general modern technology reduced human drudgery and poverty. Nehru shared similar views.
  • Tagore championed family planning through preventive methods. Gandhi insisted on temperance and self restraint.
  • Two differed sharply on the role of modern medicine, which Gandhi distrusted.

Practice Questions

QuestionMarks
Gandhian ethics is an amalgamation of different ideologies. Explain5M
Explain the relevance of the concept of Gandhi’s Sarvodaya in administration5M
Gandhi’s eleven vows are needed in the 21st century as never before. Analyze in terms of social and administrative context10M
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