Political Science and International Relations

Explicate the ideological components of Gandhism. UPSC 2020 Paper 1A Qn 3a Gandhism, as an ideological framework, encompasses the political, social, and spiritual philosophies of Mahatma Gandhi, emphasizing nonviolence, truth, and justice. It is not a rigid ideology but a fluid system of thought that seeks to harmonize moral principles with practical solutions to societal problems. 1.  Satyagraha (Truth-Force or Soul-Force)  -  Gandhi's Satyagraha, is the principle of nonviolent resistance grounded in the pursuit of truth (satya). Features: Nonviolence (ahimsa) is both a moral and practical tool for resisting oppression. Emphasis on self-discipline and suffering to transform the oppressor’s heart. The belief that truth is multifaceted and can only be discovered through dialogue and mutual respect. 2. Ahimsa (Nonviolence)  -  Ahimsa, the practice of nonviolence, is both an ethical ideal and a practical strategy for soc...

Comment on Gandhi's concept of Swaraj. UPSC 2019 Paper 1A Qn 1e Gandhi's concept of Swaraj was articulated during the freedom struggle and the growing democratization of the political processes that already brought in socio-politically marginal sections of society. Swaraj was a foundational theory of Gandhi's social and political thought, swadeshi was the empirical demonstration of those relevant social, economic, and political steps for a society, different from what existed. Swaraj to Gandhi meant human emancipation. Swaraj is defined in the following ways -  These concepts are complementary to each other. 1.  National independence 2. Political freedom - Political freedom to Gandhi meant autonomy within the control of the British administration. 3. Economic freedom - Given the inherent and exploitation nature of colonialism, poverty of the colonized is inevitable. Constitutional autonomy as it appeared did not prove to be worthy of transf...

Comment on Gandhi's views on the State. UPSC 2015 Paper 1A Qn no 1e Gandhi believed the modern state was a manifestation of power and law which were based on coercion as the State is inclined to impose its own will on individuals with the help of an elaborate machinery of police force, law courts, prisons, and military power. Gandhi condemned political power on moral grounds and not on historical or economic grounds. His philosophy was rooted in a vision of self-sufficient, autonomous communities based on non-violence, truth, and self-governance, which he saw as an alternative to the coercive nature of the state. The state, for Gandhi, represents violence in its concentrated form but is necessary since human beings are social by nature and morally incapable of acting in a socially responsible manner. He opposes absolute state sovereignty. He desired a state that would employ as little violence and coercion as possible and wanted individual actions to be regulated by volun...

Examine Gandhi's critique of 'Modernisation'. UPSC 2016 Paper 1A Qn 4c Gandhi's critique of modernization, particularly expressed in his seminal work Hind Swaraj (1909), challenges the Western industrial model and the underlying values of modernity, which he saw as fundamentally harmful to society, the individual, and the environment. His critique addresses the ethical, social, and ecological implications of modernization, arguing that it threatens the holistic well-being of humanity. Gandhi believed that modernization promoted an excessive focus on material progress , which led to a decline in spiritual and moral values. He argued that the pursuit of wealth and comfort, hallmarks of modern industrial society, creates a moral vacuum, leading to selfishness, greed, and social division.  Instead, he advocated for Sarvodaya (welfare of all) and a life rooted in simplicity, truth, and non-violence. He believed that ethical values, rather than material accumulation, shou...