Gandhi\'s Philosophies Mahatma Gandhi Is Still One

Gandhi's Philosophies

Mahatma Gandhi is still one of the most influential spiritual and political leaders ever to have made his presence known to the world. Through his fight for independence using non-violent resistance, Gandhi spread the word of gaining independence without loosing one's dignity or pride in the midst of a bloody struggle. His principles were based of the piousness of spirituality, and therefore aim to help guide individuals to truth and independence without damaging their self-respect or morality.

Gandhi's principles were incredibly spiritual, and were often intertwined with one another. Take for example the relationship between satyagraha and swaraj for Gandhi. These are essentially two very different principles for Gandhi, yet they are closely intertwined. Gandhi stated that "Satyagraha literally means insistence on truth" (Gandhi 81). It is the search for truth and the effort to live one's live within respect for absolute truth. Yet, many times, this path can be hindered by the cumbersome politics which restrict individuals' quest for this truth. Thus, civil resistance when the governing body or agency does not represent absolute truth. Yet, Gandhi was calling on his followers to not show anger or distain towards those government officials they were opposing, as they were seeking truth and truth cannot come from a negative place in one's heart. Then, the concept of swaraj represents the essence of freedom through self rule or self-empowerment. It is the idea that each one of us can live a better live through our own self-empowerment. In this, the concept is related to satyagraha because satyagraha becomes a method for which the individual can attain the level of swaraj necessary to live a productive and fruitful life. This relationship also goes much further than the limitations of the life of the individual. It was also related to the concept of India ruling over its own affairs in the absence of the British control in the region. In this context, the people of India could come together in collaboration in order to exercise satyagraha to attain their swaraj. Civil disobedience through non-violence was essentially a path that Indian people could take in order to free themselves from the over burdensome rule of the British crown and reach a level of independence, where the Indian people could govern over their own affairs.