Gandhi's Image and Symbols:

1. Ascetic Tradition:
○ Gandhi's simple dress (like his loincloth) and humble appearance were
inspired by the Indian ascetic tradition, which emphasizes a life of simplicity,
discipline, and self-restraint.
○ This choice of image was deliberate, reflecting his commitment to Indian
values and traditions.
2. Symbols Used by Gandhi:
○ Khadi (Hand-spun Cloth): Symbolized self-reliance and economic
independence from British industrial goods.
○ Ram Rajya: Represented an ideal society based on justice, truth, and
equality, as envisioned in Indian tradition.
○ Sanatan Dharma: Refers to the eternal and universal moral order that
underpins Indian society.
○ Satyagraha: A method of nonviolent resistance that Gandhi developed as an
ethical and spiritual force against oppression.
○ Swaraj: Means self-rule, but for Gandhi, it was more than political
independence; it was about self-discipline and moral governance.
3. Critique of Modernity:
○ Gandhi used these traditional symbols as a counter to the core elements of
modern Western civilization, such as nationalism (focused on state power),
industrialism (focused on economic growth at the cost of human values), and
Western education (which he saw as disconnected from morality and
spirituality).
○ He saw Western modernity as being in conflict with Indian values and
believed it was essential to resist these influences to preserve the moral
fabric of Indian society.

Gandhi's View on Civilisation:

4. Western Civilization (Modern Civilization):

○ Materialism: Gandhi criticized Western civilization for prioritizing material
wealth and physical comfort over spiritual and moral values.
○ Negative Features: He highlighted several negative aspects of Western
civilization, including:
■ Greed and Aggression: Driven by a desire for more wealth and
power.
■ Colonialism and Imperialism: Exploiting other nations and peoples.
■ War Technology: Focus on creating more destructive weapons.
■ Inequity and Exploitation: Growing disparities between the rich and
poor.
■ Immorality and Valueless Education: Education that focused on
producing workers for industries rather than fostering moral
individuals.
 ○ Gandhi believed that Western civilization, with its focus on bodily comforts
and material success, was not sustainable and would ultimately lead to its
own downfall.
5. Indian Civilization:
○ Moral and Spiritual Focus: Gandhi praised Indian civilization for its
emphasis on morality, spirituality, and self-discipline.
○ Cultural Continuity: Despite various invasions and challenges, Indian
civilization had remained fundamentally sound and true to its core values.
○ Traditional Living: Gandhi admired how Indian society traditionally lived in
harmony with nature, valued manual labor, and respected moral and spiritual
leaders over kings and warriors.
○ Acknowledgment of Flaws: Gandhi recognized that Indian society had its
flaws, such as child marriage and certain religious practices, but he believed
these were not representative of the core of Indian civilization and could be
reformed.

Hind Swaraj (Gandhi's Critique of Modern Civilization):

6. Written in 1909:
○ Hind Swaraj was Gandhi’s early and seminal critique of Western civilization,
written during his journey from London to South Africa.
○ It was a manifesto where he contrasted the spiritual and moral superiority of
Indian society with the materialism and violence of Western states.
7. Critique of Materialism:
○ Brute Force vs. Moral Force: Gandhi argued that Western civilization was
built on "brute force" (military power, economic exploitation) whereas Indian
civilization was based on "moral force" (nonviolence, spiritual strength).
○ He described modern Western civilization as being obsessed with material
success, technological advancements, and bodily comforts, often at the
expense of morality and spirituality.
8. Violence vs. Nonviolence:
○ Gandhi saw Western civilization’s reliance on violence and military power as
fundamentally flawed.
○ In Hind Swaraj, he criticized both Western imperialists and Indian militants
who adopted violent means, advocating instead for nonviolent resistance
(Satyagraha) as the true Indian way.

Key Concepts in Gandhi's Philosophy:

9. Satyagraha:
○ A form of nonviolent resistance that Gandhi believed was rooted in the moral
and spiritual traditions of India.
○ It was not just a political tool but a way of life, emphasizing truth, nonviolence,
and self-discipline.
10. Civilization Definition:
○ For Gandhi, true civilization was defined by moral conduct and self-control,
leading to self-realization and spiritual growth.
 ○ He believed that Western civilization, which focused on increasing bodily
comforts, ultimately failed to fulfill the deeper needs of humanity.

Conclusion:

11. Indian Civilization’s Resilience:

○ Gandhi emphasized that Indian civilization had survived numerous challenges
over the centuries because of its strong moral foundation and spiritual depth.
○ Unlike other civilizations that had risen and fallen, India’s cultural and spiritual
roots remained intact.
12. Call to Embrace Tradition:
○ Gandhi urged Indians to cling to their traditional values and resist the lure of
Western modernity, believing that India’s true strength lay in its unique
civilization.
○ He saw this as crucial not just for India’s survival but as a way to offer an
alternative to the world that was being increasingly dominated by materialism
and violence.

9.3 Modern Civilization and Loss of India’s Freedom

1. India’s Subjugation by the British:

○ Gandhi argued that India's loss of freedom to the British was not because of
the British's strength, but because Indians themselves facilitated their control.
○ The British initially came to India for trade, and it was Indians who welcomed
them, assisted them, and bought their goods. Gandhi used the metaphor of a
person who blames a bhang (intoxicant) seller for his addiction, emphasizing
that the problem lies within the individual, not the seller.
○ Indian princes, in their internal conflicts, often sought the help of the British
East India Company, which was skilled in both commerce and war. This
assistance allowed the British to expand their influence and military presence
in India.
2. Critique of Indian Civilization’s Shift:
○ Gandhi believed that the root cause of India’s colonization was Indians
distancing themselves from their spiritual civilization and moving towards the
materialism of Western civilization.
○ He criticized the internal conflicts among Indian princes and the animosity
between Hindus and Muslims, which created opportunities for the British to
strengthen their hold.
○ Gandhi concluded that it was more accurate to say that Indians gave India to
the British rather than it being taken by force.
3. Gandhi’s Optimism and Plan for Freedom:
○ Despite the loss of freedom, Gandhi was optimistic, noting that not all of India
was affected by Western civilization, and those who were, became enslaved.
○ He believed that the key to India’s freedom was in removing the cause of its
slavery, which he identified as the adoption of Western civilization’s values.
○ Gandhi’s concept of Swaraj (self-rule) was rooted in preserving the genius of
Indian civilization and rejecting the influences of modern Western civilization.
9.4 Modern Civilization: A Bane for India

1. Critique of Modern Institutions:

○ Gandhi blamed several aspects of modern civilization, such as railways,
lawyers, and doctors, for impoverishing India and warned that continued
dependence on these institutions would lead to ruin.
○ He argued that modern civilization was like a disease, seductive in
appearance but ultimately harmful. He compared it to consumption
(tuberculosis), which makes a patient appear healthy even when close to
death.
2. Railways as a Symbol of Modern Civilization:
○ Gandhi particularly criticized railways, claiming that they allowed the British to
strengthen their control over India by facilitating the spread of epidemics like
the bubonic plague and increasing the frequency of famines.
○ He argued that railways disrupted traditional life, robbed holy places of their
sanctity, and allowed bad actors to carry out their plans more effectively.
3. Rejection of Railways as a Unifying Force:
○ Gandhi rejected the notion that railways were responsible for fostering
nationalism in India. He argued that India was already a unified nation before
the British and the railways arrived.
○ He cited the example of Indian ancestors who established holy places across
the country, promoting a sense of national unity and shared identity long
before modern transportation.
4. India’s Unique National Identity:
○ Gandhi believed that India’s national identity was rooted in its spiritual and
cultural unity, which was unique and different from Western concepts of
nationhood.
○ He lamented that the advent of railways and modern civilization led some
Indians to believe in distinctions and divisions that previously did not exist.

Conclusion:

Gandhi’s critique of modern civilization centers on the idea that the adoption of Western
materialism and institutions led to the loss of India’s freedom. He saw the British colonization
as a result of Indians moving away from their spiritual roots and succumbing to the
temptations of material wealth and power. Gandhi believed that the key to India’s liberation
lay in rejecting modern civilization and returning to the spiritual and moral principles that had
historically sustained Indian society.

9.3 Modern Civilisation and Loss of India’s Freedom

Gandhi asserts that India’s subjugation by Western nations was not due to the superior
strength of the English but rather because Indians allowed it. He believed that the British
initially came for trade, and it was the greed and disunity among Indians, particularly the
fratricidal conflicts among Indian princes and the animosity between Hindus and Muslims,
that allowed the British to establish control. Gandhi emphasized that India’s loss of freedom
was due to Indians straying from their spiritual civilization and embracing materialism, which
was the essence of Western civilization. He believed that only those affected by modern
Western civilization became enslaved, and that by removing the cause of India's slavery, the
country could regain its freedom.

9.4 Modern Civilisation: Bane for India

Gandhi criticized aspects of modern civilization, such as railways, lawyers, and doctors, for
contributing to the impoverishment of India. He argued that railways facilitated British control,
spread epidemics, and increased the frequency of famines by enabling the movement of
grain to more profitable markets, leaving the masses vulnerable. Gandhi also believed that
railways contributed to the decline of India's holy places by making them accessible to those
with evil intentions. He dismissed the notion that railways fostered Indian nationalism,
asserting that India was a unified nation before the British introduced railways.

9.5 Khadi as a Critique of Modern Civilisation

Gandhi used Khadi, the hand-spun and hand-woven fabric, as a symbol of India's resistance
to modern Western civilization. Khadi represented a return to India's traditional way of life,
which was based on self-sufficiency and village-based economies. Gandhi urged Indians to
spin and weave Khadi as a way to connect with the downtrodden and resist the economic
exploitation of British imperialism. He envisioned Khadi as a means of nation-building from
the grassroots and a critique of modernity, which he believed concentrated power in the
hands of a few and displaced human labor.

9.6 Education as Critique of Modernity

Gandhi criticized the Western system of education for being disconnected from Indian
traditions and the needs of the rural population. He argued that it produced clerks and
office-seekers rather than original thinkers and that it created a gulf between educated
Indians and the masses. Gandhi’s basic education scheme focused on rural education, with
handicrafts like spinning and weaving as the medium of instruction. He believed that this
approach would make education self-supporting, train both the body and mind, and promote
self-reliance among students.

9.7 Nation State and Modern Industrialisation

Gandhi rejected the Western concept of the nation-state and modern industrialization, which
he believed were rooted in violence and imperialism. He proposed a concept of "People’s
Swaraj," based on truth and non-violence, with Khadi as a symbol of this ideal. Gandhi’s
vision of Swaraj was deeply rooted in Indian tradition and aimed at including all Indians, rich
and poor, in the national movement. He provided an alternative ideology that emphasized
the moral and social regeneration of India, focusing on the needs of the rural population.

9.8 Summary

Gandhi was not entirely against modern civilization but was critical of its materialistic
pursuits, centralization of production, and disregard for spiritual and social values. He
believed in the economic self-sufficiency of villages and advocated for a socio-economic
order where independence began at the grassroots level. Gandhi was selective in borrowing
from the West, appreciating elements like democratic political philosophy while remaining
suspicious of material progress. He viewed his life as "experiments with truth," reflecting a
scientific approach, and urged his countrymen to adopt the positive aspects of modern
civilization to achieve true independence.