Arun Umrao - Explain Gandhi's views on the State and Swaraj.

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Gandhi's Views on the State and Swaraj.

Gandhi & Swaraj:

Gandhi was concerned with distinguishing between Independence and Swaraj/self rule/freedom. He pressed for Swaraj i.e. self-rule. For him, Swaraj was disciplined rule, positive in nature and a sacred word for self-rule and self-restraint.

Gandhi regarded this right to self-rule or freedom in the very nature of man as an autonomous moral agent, and that society and the continuation of community as dependent upon the effective freedom of individual. If this freedom is wrested from him, he becomes automation and society is ruined. No society can be built on the denial of individual freedom. Against the negative liberty of the individual of Mill, Gandhi emphasized on the moral and social necessity of individual freedom.

Gandhi's notion of Swaraj is applicable equally to individuals and nations. He repeatedly asserts the connection between the individual and collective self-rule and especially between individual and national freedom.

Gandhi & State:

Since Gandhi had no faith on state which is an embodiment of violence and coercion, he did not support any other branch of this political organisation. Response of the states in British India, during the period of 'struggle for freedom' was oppressive and negative. Even British parliament was not keen to look after the misery of Indian masses and provide relief by enacting good laws and transferring governance in hand of Indians. He said that the British parliament is the mother of all parliaments. But this parliament, on its own accord, has not performed a single good work.

Gandhi, did not always oppose to the State or Parliament. Later, after independence of India, he said that the legislatures are performing good job and asserted that no attempt should be made to destroy them.

Gandhi was great advocate of decentralization of power. He advocated for Village Panchayats for local self rule. He asserted that, to empower people, we should have given power to them in decision making.

Gandhi was not interested at all in building up a comprehensive and well-argued political theory. He was a mass leader, philosopher and freedom fighter. On various issues and situations he expressed opinions which constitute certain aspects of political theory and state sovereignty is such a theory. In Western political thought, state sovereignty is a much talked theory and large number of scholars and philosophers has dealt with this concept.

Though Gandhi does not deal with society and its relationship with state it is not difficult to frame certain conclusions about his attitude to society keeping his general outlook and philosophy in mind. His inordinate love for liberty rights of the individual and democracy and strong opposition to violence and coercion make it abundantly clear that he stressed more importance on society and less importance to state.

Gandhi, embodies the maximum social consummation of the ultimate values of non-violence, Freedom and Equality The practical social ideal, derived from the sum total of Gandhi's practical ideas resembles a form of liberalism, socialism and embodies relative non-violence freedom and equality. Nonviolence, brotherhood is also important elements of Ram Raj about which Gandhi spoke a lot.