“The Story Of My Experiments With Truth” “Gandhi as a wonderful economist”
Q: - 3 Gandhi was a wonderful economist, Is it true?’ Elaborate your views in reference to the Autobiography. OR
What are Gandhi’s views on economics, agriculture in industry and industry over all? – Explain them.
Gandhian philosophy is blended with economic views. It is surprising he is not a professional economist, yet his practice, thinking and own life-style is of spirituality, he found welfare of people through practice of truth and Ahimsha. Success of economic thoughts of Gandhi denied on it. Truth is social, political matter govern the life so they should be kept in mind. Gandhi moved to various places of Africa and India
Factories:-
‘Gandhi was against industry’ is common belief which isn’t true. Industry good but where hands are few. To remove the labour it was necessary but not few the removal of labourers. In idleness word is required. In largely populated country. India
Capitalism and Labour:-
These are extreme ends. Industrialization helped a few and pained many. Two groups came into existence. Gandhi was against capitalism. They earn a lot and spend a little which generates vicious circle of ‘Have & not Haves.’ To remove this idea of trusteeship and equal distribution came to him. Accumulation of wealth is a sin, according to him. The rich should utilize the wealth for wealth of society. If they don’t do this then Gandhi tells that the poor should use the weapon of non cooperation. The labourers work. That’s why they earn money. Without the help of the poor it would be impossible. The rich should know that ‘labour is power’. Gandhi thought an ideal condition where both will enjoy the life. Inequality should be removed and economic independence should be encouraged so that there’s no problem of exploitation or hardships. Through this the rich and the labour would reach to equal status. They would be complementary to each other. Social order, moral order because of economic equality would bring welfare of all. To bring this labour should be organized and the capitalist must understand the value of human beings.
Rise of Everybody Sarvodaya:-
The idea of everybody’s rise came from John Ruskin’s book ‘Unto This Last’. The Book deeply influenced Gandhi. The book and the Gandhi advocated that everybody should work and should common wage. This will bring equality in economic status and push forward welfare. To execute the same he established Phonex Farm in Durban Johannesburg
Brahmacharya; To Check Population:-
“Brahmacharya” is another example of Gandhi’s spiritual life. For him it means ‘control of desires’. It is a moral restraint. In the beginning it was limited for not having more children but it was artificial. Later he found it as the protection of body the mind and the protection of body, the mind and the soul. He told that once it was realized. Gandhi wrote ‘to believe that the sexual act is independent function necessary like sleeping or eating is height of ignorance.”
Village Industry:-
Industrialization was a great blow to agricultural and villages. Thousands of fertile agricultural land areas were absorbed by Industrialization. Village was a great source of employment. Gandhi considered a village as an independent and complete public state.
Family is backbone of country life. Many villagers and educated villagers began to go to cities leaving villages. Cities grew and bred many evils. To escape from the village breakings he insisted on ‘swaraj’ and ‘local production’. The latter one brings independence. The needs are met there. This leads progress of a village. Many problems would come to an end.
‘Swadeshi’ movement & Rural Craft:-
To revive villagers and to achieve independence ‘swadeshi’ movement was the need. It brings self reliance and self sufficiency. Actually the city depends on many rural skills and the villagers are exploited. If this is stopped the villagers would acquire independence. In a village there are carpenters, farmers, blacksmith, cobbler, barber, weaver, spinner, potter and many more. They produce and sell the articles. Market is dependent upon them. Gandhi encouraged these people.
This also helped ‘swadeshi’ movement. English India resources were used but production in England India India
Use of Khadi:-
Khadi is one of the rural skills. As unemployment prevailed, weaving of Khadi but within a short time it spread all over century. It became symbol of unity and humanity. Equally and economic freedom both remained at it’s base. When he returned from South Africa
Example of Economic Practices:-
Many Ashrams are the examples of his Economic principles of his Economic principles and practices. He himself wove Khadi, laboured hard and led simple life following ‘Brahmacharya’. Inequality and cruel labour prevailed in Champaran. The farmers were exploited. Gandhi used his weapon of Ahimsa for economic justice and ‘tinkathiya’ system was removed. Then followed other agitations like Bardoli Satyagraha and Ahmedabad Mill workers Agitation.
Thus the views related economics, really farsighted and vita. They brought welfare of the people in real sense.
Gandhi as a Writer
Q: - 4 Describe Gandhi as a writer.
Q: - 4 what is Gandhi’s Contribution as writer- Discuss his greatness in this regard.
Q: - 4 Discuss Gandhian style of writing.
M.K Gandhi was not basically a writer. He was a leader in social and political fields. He started writing during his stay in Africa . His life style is reflected in the autobiography. He became a knowledge person and made him conscious of Writing. Moreover his profession also influenced in careful creation. He began to use writing for various motives. There is explanation, appeal, or clarification. Clarity and simplicity have remained great merits. Figurative use isn’t found as his purpose was to describe plainly. Digressions have come. Yet we have to remember that the narration is interesting, orderly, assertive and very much effective.
Simplicity in Narration:-
Gandhi’s aim was functional when he wrote Autobiography. As there’s this motive he kept in mind the readers. The greatment of his writing is simplicity. It is quite plain, easy, graceful and yet forceful. He narrates plainly what he felt. His heart is revealed directly. Even the torments and secrets have been put straightforward. Thoughts, ideas become very clear, as a result. The preface asserts all this.
“I am not going to conceal or understate any ugly things that must be told. I hope to acquaint the reader fully with all my faults and errors. My purpose is to describe experiments in the science of Satyagraha, not say how good I am”.
To have simplicity is really a difficult task. But as his living was so was his style. It is in quite contrast to the great leaders and writers of the time. During 1920’s writers like Gandhi, Aurobind, Naidu, Jawaharlal Nehru, Nirad Chaudhary and C. Rajgopalachari. They all were pedantic and figurative and rearmed in their writing. Yet it is remarkable that Gandhi stood tall in comparision to them.
Lucid and Forceful Flow:-
The autobiography is a picture. It is rellected marvelously. Things comes so swiftly that any one is swept away with it. But for the writer it is a hard task to put into black and white. After all he write and as a writer conscious how to put the things. Lucidity is achieved through simple and short sentence. Logical order, brevity, sincerity have come over there. Difficult philosophical and heavy matters have even put in a very plain way that there’s no burden found of such things. Notice how forceful and lucid statements are found.
“Labour is power.”
“Hate the sin and not the sinner.”
“Ahimsa is not goal. Truth is the goal.”
We can easily understand hardbarish meaning through easy style.
Persnasiveness (Power of Explanation) : -
Classical influence could be seen on him. The way classical writers explain anything he does the same. In the childhood Hindu classics the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Later on writings of Ruskin, Carlyle and Tolstoy. Ruskin’s “Unto this last’ had a deep mark. He has affinity to him. Prophetic tone came from there which helps him to explain his arguments e.g.
“Earn your crosses by all means but understand that your wealth is not yours; it belongs to the people. Take what you require for your legitimate needs and use the reminder for society.”
“Truth is like a vast tree which gield more and more fruit, the more you nurture it.”
For the explanation whenever it is necessary he defines the thing first. This clarifies any matter. Above sited second example prove it. There are others:-
‘Satyagraha in its essence is nothing but the introduction of truth and gentleman in political i.e. the national life.” So on
For persnation he often uses phrases, clauses, quotations and repeatitions. See how self realizations came to him.
“Because it came to me without my seeking, because I had an aptitude for it.”
Gandhi also uses very good quotes. They came from his various readings. Being a Gujarati many Gujarati writers have appeared. even from the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and other religious books things appear. e.g. regarding ‘Moksha’.
(vPyi (vn)vt<ºt[ (nrihirAy d[(ht: i
rsvt< rsi[D¼yAy pr> dOTvi (nvt<t[ ii
For the protection of week
(nb<l k[ blrim –
(He is the help of the helpness.)
From Gita:-
“Finally, this is better that one do
His own task as he may even though he fail.”
There are such some but they are not plenty. Restricted used has been done. This saven burden of readers. It also saves from much ornamentation.
Antithesis(contrast) : -
Through contrast or parallelism desired effect is brought out. The arguments become forceful. Ideas are stressed. Gandhi has used this style. e.g.
A half- hearted operation is much more dangerous that no operation.
Suffering is the law of human beings war is the law of the jungle.
Figurative Language:-
Gandhi never thought to make the language ornamental. But he is not unconscious to it. His language is prosaic not poetic. Yet effective examples of his use of metaphors and similes. They give deeper meaning or explain the things. The following examples show that when he used these tools they are apt.
‘Three parts of bible and one part Shakespeare – is the description of the English language.’
‘Truth is like a vast tree.’
‘The path of self purification is hard and steep.’
‘Pilgrimage to swaraj’ is as a painful climb. It will not spring like the magician’s mango.”
They are effective. They persuade the readers. Meanings get edge and this is what his purpose was.
Contribution to Journalism:-
Gandhi’s Contribution in writing is many folded. He began writing for journals, magazines and newspapers. Autobiography came later. During African stay, he largely wrote for ‘Indian Opinion’. In it becomes his reflection of various moods, experiments with truth. ‘Young India’ and ‘Harijan’ were also started by him. These were for his missions in life. Circulation of these magazines was large. It shows his good managerial and writing style. Skill for work and vigorous arguments have created lasting effect. Journalism grew because of him. In India
Contribution to Indian Languages:-
It is a question did Gandhi leave any field untouched. Hardly any could be the answer. He wrote in Gujarati and English. He enhanced the tradition of bilingualism. Regional languages got encouragement. His language becomes attraction for the periods as it has simplicity, pointedness and directness. It breaks the pedantic tradition and bring the dawn of Indian literature. Philosophical, journalistic and creative writing owe a great debt to Gandhi. Translations too came later on. His ‘Sarvodaya’ translations of ‘Unto this last’ of Ruskin is a great gift. Gita also remained a great interest for him. This led many translations. Biographics and autobiographics to flourished during his time. Speeches were written. Another thing is that there are plenty of works written on him. All this has enriched literature.
The influence is measureless. He remained a great learning house for all of us. Words wouldn’t be suffice for such a supernatural human being.
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