Gandhiji's vision for Swaraj: A dream of an inclusive India

Sumit Bhattacharya | NT

Bengaluru: Gandhiji's Dream of Swaraj Mahatma Gandhi, fondly known as Gandhiji, envisioned an independent India or "Swaraj" in various for ms and on multiple occasions.

His dream for Swaraj transcended racial or religious boundaries, and he believed it should not be the exclusive domain of the educated or wealthy.

He emphasized that Swaraj should be accessible to all, including the farmers and the marginalized, such as the maimed, blind, and starving toiling millions. His vision was one of inclusivity and justice, as he expressed in Young India on March 26, 1931.

In another statement from Young India on April 16, 1931, Gandhiji vehemently opposed the idea that Indian Swaraj would be dominated by the Hindu majority community.

He saw this as a grave misconception and declared that true Hind Swaraj should be the rule of justice, embracing people from all walks of life.

Mukherjee's exploration

Prof. Mridula Mukherjee, a distinguished authority on Indian history, delved into Gandhiji's multifaceted vision for India during a recent talk.

She examined his views on religion and secularism, democracy and dissent, as well as the dichotomy of violence and non-violence within his philosophy.

The central question she raised was whether contemporary India remains faithful to Gandhiji's dreams and, if not, where it has fallen short. Is the India of today still an embodiment of his ideals?

Mukherjee's take on Gandhiism

During her recent speech at Bangalore International Centre, Mukherjee shed light on Gandhiism and what "swarajya" meant to Gandhi. She discussed the nonviolence movement and its strategic dialogues while recognising progressive movements that resorted to violence against British commodities, not people.

Mukherjee contested the perception of Gandhi's philosophy as a capitalist method and emphasised that Gandhiism should be accessible to all, transcending dedicated books and becoming a collective understanding of the pioneer's ideals.

She posed a challenging question: Can nonviolence truly win battleships.