Workshop on Gandhian Philosophy

One Day Workshop on
Gandhian Philosophy
celebrating
Sesquicentenary of
Mahatma Gandhi
Organized by
Bardhaman Science Centre
National Council of Science Musuem
Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India
Date: 31st July, 2019
Resource Person: Er. Faruk Bin Poyen
faruk.Poyen@gmail.com

Full Name Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
Date of Birth October 2, 1869
Place of Birth Porbandar, Gujrat, India
Spouse Kasturba Gandhi (m. 1883-1944)
Parents: Karamchand Uttamchand Gandhi (father); Putlibai Gandhi (mother)
Wards (4 Sons) Harilal Mohandas Gandhi; Manilal Mohandas Gandhi
Ramdas Mohandas Gandhi; Devdas Mohandas Gandhi
Demise January 30, 1948, New Delhi (5.17 PM)
Assassin Nathuram Vinayak Godse
Education Barrister
Also known as Father of Nation; Bapu; Mahatma; Rashtrapita;
Political Affiliation Indian National Congress
Known for Non-violent Resistance
Movements Indian Independence Movement
Occupation Civil Rights Leader
Facts known about Mahatma Gandhi:
Gandhian Philosophy - Er. Faruk Bin Poyen 2

Facts:
• The 1982 movie the movie, Gandhi won the Academy Award for best motion picture.
• His birthday is a national holiday in India. It is also the International Day of Non-
Violence.
• He was the 1930 Time Magazine Man of the Year.
• Gandhi wrote a lot. The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi have 50,000 pages!
• He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize five times.
• He was first called “Mahatma” in 1914 while in South Africa.
• His causes included civil rights for women, the abolition of the caste system, and the fair
treatment of all people regardless of religion.
• He called the untouchables harijans, which means “Children of God.“

Facts:
• February 22 is celebrated as Mother’s Day in India to commemorate the death anniversary
of Kasturba Gandhi.
• Mahatma Gandhi’s image has appeared on all denominations of Indian currency printed
since 1996.
• Gandhi lived for 21 years in South Africa. He was imprisoned there many times as well.
• In 2007, UN declared 2nd October as International Day of Non-violence.
• Gandhi is the youngest child of his parents. He has 2 elder brothers and 1 sister.
• Gandhi was born on Friday, India got freedom on Friday. Gandhi was assassinated on
Friday.
• Great Britain raised a stamp honouring Gandhi 21 years after his death.

Famous Quotes of Mahatma Gandhi:
 "You must be the change you wish to see in the world."
 "An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind."
 "The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are
treated."
 "There is more to life than increasing its speed."
 "Man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes."
 "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of
others."

Mahatma Gandhi and Nathuram Godse

Major Movements by Mahatma Gandhi:
1. Champaran Movement (1917)
2. Kheda Movement (1918)
3. Khilafat Movement (1919)
4. Non-Cooperation Movement (1920)
6. Quit India Movement (1942)
5. Civil Disobedience Movement: Dandi March and Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931)

1. Champaran Movement (1917)
The Champaran rebellion in Bihar was the first active involvement of Gandhi in the Indian freedom
struggle. When Gandhi returned to India in 1915, the country was reeling under the tyrannous
colonial rule. The British forced the farmers to grow indigo and other cash crops on their fertile land,
and then sell these crops to them at a much cheaper price.
The situation became more gruesome for the farmers due to harsh weather conditions and levy of
heavy taxes pushing them towards abject poverty.
Having heard of the situation of farmers at Champaran, Gandhi immediately paid a visit to this
district in April 1917. He adopted the approach of civil disobedience movement and launched
demonstrations and strikes against the landlords bringing them down on their very knees.
As a result, they signed an agreement in which they granted control and compensations to the
farmers, and cancelled the hikes in revenue and collection. The success of this movement earned
Gandhi the status of Mahatma.

2. Kheda Movement (1918)
Kheda movement was the consequence of the financial atrocities afflicted by the British
landlords on the farmers of the Kheda village in Gujarat.
The village was massively affected by the floods and famine in 1918 which resulted in the
destruction of the crop yields. The farmers requested the British government to exempt them
from the payment of taxes but the authorities refused.
Under the leadership of Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the farmers launched a crusade
against the government and pledged for the non-payment of taxes.
As a result, the government threatened the peasants with the seizure of their land but they
remained undeterred.
After five months of persistent struggle, in May 1918, the British government let go of the
payment of taxes by the farmers until the deluge got over and also returned the seized properties
of the farmers.

3. Khilafat Movement (1919)
After the World War I, several humiliating allegations were placed on the Caliph and the Ottoman
Empire.
The Muslims became fearful for the safety of their Caliph and launched Khilafat movement under
the guidance of Gandhi to fight against the British government to restore the collapsing status of
the Caliph in Turkey.
Gandhi approached the Muslim community in 1919 for their political support in India’s freedom
struggle and in return supported the community in launching the Khilafat movement.
He became a notable spokesperson of the All India Muslim Conference and returned the medals
received from the British Empire in South Africa.
The success of this movement made him the national leader in no time.

4. Non-Cooperation Movement (1920)
Jallianwala Bagh Massacre was the only reason behind the commencement of the Non-
Cooperation Movement in 1920. It shook Gandhi to the core making him realized that the
Britishers were successful in enjoying control over Indians because of the cooperation they are
getting from us, fellow Indians.
This was the moment when he decided to launch a Non-Cooperation Movement. With the
support of the Congress and his invincible spirit, he became successful in convincing people that
adhering to non-cooperation in a peaceful way is the key to attaining independence.
Subsequently, Gandhi framed the concept of Swaraj and since then it became the core element in
the Indian freedom struggle.
The movement gained momentum and soon, people started boycotting establishments run by the
British like schools, colleges, and government offices.
But soon this movement was ended by Gandhi himself after it led to Chauri Chaura incident in
which 23 police officials were set ablaze and killed.

5. Civil Disobedience Movement: Dandi March and Gandhi-Irwin Pact (1931)
The Civil disobedience movement was a vital part of Indian freedom struggle led by Mahatma
Gandhi against the ruling colonial government.
While addressing the nation in a newspaper, Young India, in March 1930, Gandhi expressed his
willingness to suspend the movement if his eleven demands get accepted by the government.
But Lord Irwin’s government did not respond back to him. As a result, he initiated the
movement in full vigour.
The movement began with the Dandi March which was led by Gandhi on 12th March 1930
from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi in Gujarat. After reaching Dandi, Gandhi and his followers
violated the salt laws by making salt from the salted sea water.
After this, breaking the British laws became the widespread phenomena in India. People started
the sale of the restricted political pamphlets violating Section 144.

Gandhiji urged Indian women to start spinning and soon people started protesting in the front of the
government offices and shops selling foreign goods.
Women of India have started taking part in the Indian freedom struggle.
Sarojini Naidu came to the leading edge during this movement.
In the north-west, the movement was led by their most popular leader Abdul Gaffar Khan, often called
“Frontier Gandhi”.
The Lord Irwin’s government called for a round Table conference in 1930 in London and the Indian
National Congress refused to be a part of it.
Just to make sure that Congress attend the second roundtable conference, Lord Irwin signed a pact with
Mahatma Gandhi in 1931.
It was called the Gandhi-Irwin Pact.
The pact talked about the releasing of all the political prisoners and cancellation of all the oppressive laws.

6. Quit India Movement (1942)
Quit India movement was launched by Mahatma Gandhi on 8th August 1942 during the second
world war in order to drive British rule out of India.
The India Congress Committee, under the insistence of Gandhi, demanded a mass British
withdrawal from India and Gandhi delivered a “Do or Die” speech.
As a consequence, the entire members of the Indian National Congress were immediately arrested
by the British officials and imprisoned without trial.
But both demonstrations and protests continued across the country.
Even though the Britishers were somehow successful in suppressing the Quit India Movement but
soon realized that their days of the rule in India were over.
By the end of the World War II, they made clear indications of handing over the power to India.
Eventually, Gandhi called off the movement resulting in the release of thousands of prisoners.

Salient Features of Gandhian Philosophy …..:
1. Truth:
He who adhered to it, had to bear many sufferings for truth.
The real God is not He who does miracles and magic, but sets the highest standards in truthfulness.
Truth is all pervading; it is not created by any one nor is it destroyed by any means.
Truth can make and unmake things. Truth can make some one great and at the same time bring
down the most powerful to dust.
Truth can cause one momentary embarrassment but brings him courage for eternity.

Salient Features of Gandhian Philosophy:
2. Non-Violence (Three Types)
Non-violence of the Brave.
Non-violence is not adopted under compulsion.
The basis of the non-violence of the brave is morality and inner strength.
Non-violence based on Expediency
It is the non- violence of the weak.
It is used as a matter of expediency or utility.
It is the result of weakness and helplessness and not of moral conviction.
It is used for the fulfillment of selfish interests.
Non-violence of the Coward
The worst form of non-violence as Cowardice and non-violence can never really go together.
A coward does not face danger, he runs away from it.

3. Satyagraha – Clinging to the Truth.
Mahatma Gandhi advocated dependence upon Satyagraha as the means to resist evil.
It is a moral weapon which is based on soul force and not physical force.
Satyagraha is the vindication of truth, not by infliction of suffering on the opponent but on
one’- own self.
Satyagraha is the vindication of truth, not by infliction of suffering on the opponent but on
one’- own self. Satyagraha is nothing but Tapsya for truth.

4. Non-Cooperation – Not to cooperate with the Unjust.
Gandhiji was of the opinion that oppression and exploitation were possible only through co-
operation given by those who were being oppressed.
When the people decide to refuse to co-operate with an unjust Government the unjust system
sooner or later, comes to an end. Non-violent non-cooperation can even bend the absolute power
of a despot.
When negotiations and petitions fail, the evil can be resisted only through non-cooperation. Even a
despot government cannot continue in rule without the cooperation of the people.
When the people adopt the path of non-cooperation after shedding all fear, the despot also
becomes helpless, and he has to bow before the public.
Gandhiji led the struggle for freedom by sing non-violent non-cooperation means.

Non-co-operation can assume different forms:
• Stoppage of Work
• Social Boycott
• Picketing
• Strike
• Fasting
• Civil Disobedience
• Hijrat

5. Relationship between Religion and Politics:
Gandhian Philosophy advocates the view than religion and politics are not entirely separate things.
The relationship between the two is like the relationship between body and soul.
Gandhiji entered politics for the sake of religion.
He spiritualised politics.

6. Faith in the principle of Purity of Means and Ends:
Gandhism firmly believes in the use of good means for the realisation of good ends.
It firmly stands against the materialistic principle of end justifies means.
Gandhism is totally against the use of bad means for the attainment of a good end.

7. State as a Souless Machine:
Gandhism describes state as a ‘Souless Machine.’,
“The state represents violence in a concentrated and organised form. The individual has a soul, but
the state is souless machine.
8. State as a Means and not an End:
Gandhiji considered state as a means and not an end. In the words of Gandhiji,
“The state is not an end in itself, but a means of enabling people to better their conditions in every
department of life.”
9. Support for a Limited Functioning State:
Gandhiji wanted to limit the functions of the State.
Like individualists, Gandhiji regarded the State as a necessary evil.

10. Decentralization of Powers:
Gandhiji was in favour of a democratic state with its powers decentralised.
He was of the opinion that the greater the centralisation the lesser was the democracy in the state.
Centralisation leads to a misuse of power.
11. Decentralised Economy:
Gandhism is opposed to centralised economy.
Economic centralisation helps capitalism to flourish.
It leads to economic exploitation of man by man and nation by nation.
Gandhiji launched “Swadeshi” movement and gave priority to Khadi.

12. Principle of Bread Labour:
Gandhiji believed in the principle that every man should do some physical labour to earn his bread.
Gandhiji said, “Those who feed themselves without doing physical labour are parasites on society.”
13. Trusteeship theory of Private Property
14. Ideal Society or Ram Rajya
15. Democracy and Panchayats

16. Nationalism and Internationalism:
Gandhiji did not find any antagonism between nationalism and internationalism.
He was opposed to narrow, violent and aggressive nationalism.
He was a firm supporter of world peace and world brother-hood.
“Nationalism is the first step towards internationalism.”

Practicing Gandhian Philosophy:
Cultural Humility:
Cultural humility is a framework for supporting lifelong learning and reflection with the goal of influencing and redressing
structural inequalities amongst us.
Cultural humility is a process of self-reflection and discovery in order to build honest and trustworthy relationships.
It offers promise to understand and eliminate disparities of all sorts, a continual and disturbing problem necessitating
attention and action on many levels.
Relaxed, Resilient Communication:
Conflict is often presented to us as a negative experience to avoid. But if we face it with an open mind towards resolving it, it
helps us become resilient, steadfast and neutral.

Conflict-Resolution Spaces:
Put yourself in the situation, analyse the issue, think on how you would have felt and reacted. Reciprocate the
feeling honestly, to succeed is to remain honest to self.
Be creditable.
Set clear Expectations.
Build rapport
Don’t take it to the heart.
Listening as an Act of Love & Social Change:
Being able to listen to and be heard is at the core of human relationships.
One would definitely benefit from practicing listening skill in both verbal and non-verbal communications.

Grief Cafe
“Grief is subversive, undermining the quiet agreement to behave and be in control of our emotions. It is an act
of protest that declares our refusal to live numb and small” – Francis Weller
How to share grief within a community
Impacts of physical well-being
Strike a balance between silence, self-reflection, and communal sharing.
Conversation on Race / Conversation on Race & Poverty
Awareness of racial identity helps us to express us – Showing empathy and not apathy or
sympathy.
Practicing active listening skills
Finding ways to be more informed of racial privilege and atrocities.

Mahatma GANDHI photographed upon his release from the prison in Poona, walking with some of his followers between 1914-1922.

16th April 1938: Indian nationalist leader Mahatma Gandhi leaves the Presidency Jail in Calcutta after interviewing political prisoners.

1930: Indian nationalist leader Mahatma Gandhi, and politician Mrs Sarojini Naidu, with a garland, during the Salt March

22nd September 1931: An admiring East End crowd gathers to witness the arrival of Mahatma Gandhi, in East London, as he calls upon Charlie Chaplin.

Mahatma Ghandi enjoys a laugh with his two granddaughters Ava and Manu at Birla House in New Delhi.

References
http://www.preservearticles.com/essay/essay-on-the-salient-features-of-
gandhism/30545
https://www.ducksters.com/biography/mohandas_gandhi.php
https://www.tripsavvy.com/interesting-gandhi-facts-1458248
https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/10-facts-about-mahatma-gandhi-
1411388534-1
https://www.mkgandhi.org/articles/murphy.htm
https://www.news18.com/photogallery/india/mahatma-gandhi-100-rare-photos-
you-must-see-1645549-1.html
https://www.gettyimages.in/photos/mahatma-
gandhi?sort=mostpopular&mediatype=photography&phrase=mahatma%20gandhi

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