There are two freedoms - the false, where a man is free to do what he likes; the true, where he is free to do what he ought. * ~ Charles Kingsley
If you go through the book “Hind Swaraj”(Home Rule), written by Mahatma Gandhi in 1908, you might as well realize that the sixty years of freedom which we all are celebrating today, might actually be of the false kind. Gandhiji believed that the real Swaraj, couldn’t be attained in driving the English out from the country. He said that would simply lead to the exploitation of the people from brown hands rather than the white hands. Hundred years down the line I’d say his words still stand true and we are yet to attain the real Swaraj.
The book is a fierce critique of the so-called “modernized” civilization. Gandhi has managed to give Buddhism a political and economic context through this book, emphasizing on – simple living high thinking; opposed to the slavery of modern day machinery & robotic lives. It was banned by the government in Bombay and even Gandhi’s mentor Mr Gopal Krishna Gokhale rubbished the book by saying that after a few years Gandhi himself would dump it in the dustbin of history. However, Gandhi stood firm on his views till the last. Allow me to point out his views and mine on some of the issues covered.
~ Parliament~
Gandhi staunchly opposed following the British model of parliamentary system. If you read his words written hundred years back, and compare India’s current situation with the same, you will be amazed at the accuracy of his prophecy.
“The natural condition of the Parliament is such that, without outside pressure, it can do nothing. It is like a because it is under control of ministers who change from time to time. If India copies England, it is my firm conviction that she will be ruined.”
~ Civilization~
Gandhi regards Indian civilization to be far greater than any other in the world. But I feel there is something good and bad about each civilization. I don’t think there is anything wrong in following the good of others and sanitizing our own germs for instance the Sati. Bapu, thankfully didn’t overlook the cons and wished to eradicate them.
“It is my deliberate opinion that India is being ground down, not under the English heel, but under that of modern civilization. It is groaning under the monster's terrible weight. There is yet time to escape it, but every day makes it more and more difficult.”
~ Railways~
Gandhi opposes the Railways; blaming it for the increase in crime rate, famines and urban alienation. Though I agree but then I find this ideology to be too impractical in this day and age. Or maybe, I’m just a spoilt brat of modern day civilization.
“Our difficulties are of our own creation. God set a limit to a man's locomotive ambition in the construction of his body. Man immediately proceeded to discover means of overriding the limit.”
~ Hindu-Muslim Unity~
This is one issue in the book where I agree with him wholeheartedly. If not for anything else, I hope some of our modern day political leaders and the ignorant mass read the book for just this. Especially those, who like to call India “Hindu-sthan” in the name of fake patriotism.
“There are deadly proverbs between the followers of Siva and those of Vishnu, yet nobody suggests that these two do not belong to the same nation. It is said that the Vedic religion is different from Jainism, but the followers of the respective faiths are not different nations. If the Hindus believe that India should be peopled only by Hindus, they are living in dreamland.”
~ Lawyers~
Gandhi, though himself a lawyer, realized with time that this was a truly disgraceful profession and caused harm to the society. A lawyer earned his living on quarrels and wanted them to prosper and elongate. He believed, two people should solve their issues within themselves rather than going to a third party. I kind of agree with him here. Can you even imagine now living in a society without courts? I guess it shows the extent of our deterioration.
“It is wrong to consider that courts are established for the benefit of the people. The parties alone know who is right. We, in our simplicity and ignorance, imagine that a stranger, by taking our money, gives us justice.”
~ Doctors~
Even the doctors couldn’t survive his condemnation. He believed that they just cured the symptoms and not the cause of the disease by prescribing drugs. Gandhiji felt a person should suffer from the symptoms so that he is careful the next time, but the doctors pamper him with their medicines, making the patient careless and prone to sickness. Maybe it's this line of thought that makes him a Mahatma and not us.
“Understand that if by not taking drugs, perchance the patient dies, the world will not come to grief and that he will have been really merciful to him.”
~ Machinery~
Gandhiji were totally against the use of machinery. He believed that would turn us into slaves, people will become money-minded, unhappiness will increase and so will poverty. I know most of us are ardent supporters of capitalism, but I agree with him here, as machines have been used more for the bad rather than the good. But I’d rather blame the humanity factor of the people here than directly attacking the machines.
“It was not that we did not know how to invent machinery, but our forefathers knew that, if we set our hearts after such things, we would become slaves and lose our moral fiber.”
~ Gandhigiri~
I’m sure most would be acquainted with this term after “Lago Raho Munnabhai”. You’ll find a chapter on that whole theory in this book. Gandhiji calls it passive resistance. I believe the theory has tremendous practical scope of working, but sadly not many consider it, since it follows the easiest and yet the toughest path of truth and non-violence.
“Both men and women can indulge in it. It does not require the training of an army; it needs no jiujitsu. Control over the mind is alone necessary, and when that is attained, man is free like the king of the forest and his very glance withers the enemy.”
~ Education~
Gandhiji believed that the ancient Indian system of education was better than the one under British rule. He believed much of what was taught in schools could only make a person literate and not educated. He believed that the real primary education lied in “character building” rather than studying arithmetic or geography.
“Both you and I have come under the bane of what is mainly false education. I claim to have become free from its ill effect, and I am to giving you the benefit of my experience and in doing so, I am demonstrating the rottenness of this education.”
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Wishing you all a very happy 60th Independence Day! But I guess the 1st anniversary of Swaraj as defined by Gandhiji is still a long way away…
One request – please don’t buy paper flags of India if you can’t care for them. It’s disheartening to see them lying torn on the roads with cars and people moving over them. I can’t pick and collect them beyond a limit.
