Why did Gandhi reject the concept of an all-powerful state

Introduction : The individual, for Gandhi, is the basis of the society that would be self regulating and self governing. He is suspicious of the modern state apparatus and denies the need for an all powerful state leviathan. This is most evident in his statement written in 1924 to which he remains steadfast in his belief that the ‘individual is the one supreme consideration’.

Why did Gandhi reject the concept of an all-powerful state If the individual ceases to count, what is left of society? Individual freedom alone can make a man voluntarily surrender himself completely to the service of society. If it is wrested from him, he becomes an automaton and society is ruined. No society can possibly be built on a denial of individual freedom. It is contrary to the very nature of man. Just as a man will not grow horns or a tail, so will he not exist as a man if he has no mind of his own.

In reality even those who do not believe in the liberty of the individual believe in their own. This individual is no Robinson Crusoe but a social being as he is critical of unbridled individualism as being unsuitable for social progress. Gandhi’s individualism is similar to the individualism of late nineteenth century British Idealist, T.H. Green. Within this framework he analyses freedom as not being left alone or to abdicate moral obligation towards others who are equally entitled to freedom for themselves. Why did Gandhi reject the concept of an all-powerful state , A free person can choose to enter into any association with others but cannot simply cut off from others. This is true of nations also. Gandhi’s equation of freedom with self rule is to underline the intrinsic link between freedom and obligation to others and to oneself, without abandoning the voluntary basis of freedom. Why did Gandhi reject the concept of an all-powerful state

Self rule means voluntary internalization of one’s obligations towards others and that a free person and a nation cannot be selfish and isolationist. Unrestricted individualism is the law of the beast of the jungle. We have learnt to strike the mean between individual freedom and social restraint. The concept of an all-powerful stateWilling submission to social restraint for the sake of the well being of the whole society, enriches both the individual and the society of which he is a member. For Gandhi, society is an aggregate of individuals and is incomplete if it ignores the self development of individuals.

The individual, for him, is not only a social person but also a moral one. Individual initiative enhances human dignity and also provides for a mechanism for resolving conflicts in a non violent manner. He underlines the importance of common good without denying the pivotal role for the individual. He considers the individual as the bearer of moral authority vested with the moral law and duty (dharma) to judge the state and its laws, by the standards of truth (satya) and non violence (ahimsa). His faith in the individual as the basis of a modern society is strengthened by his notion of relative truth based on human needs.

AUTONOMY OF THE INDIVIDUAL

Gandhi’s individualism is embedded in his notion of autonomy and is derived from his extensive view of power which he locates in the state, economy and society and in each individual. Within this framework he insists that everyone can and should take charge of his life.

Accepting human dignity and worth as intrinsic goods, he is severe in his indictment of colonialism and untouchability and interestingly, sees the seeds of degeneration that undermines and suppresses human dignity within Indian traditions. Why did Gandhi reject the concept of an all-powerful state , He emphasises that India got subjugated because of its moribund and repressive practices and stresses on the need for reforming the Indian society and in particular, Hinduism, by highlighting some of its inequities and discriminatory practices towards women, the lower castes and the untouchables.

According to Gandhi individuals make and remake their lives through their choices and action. The highest duty for Gandhi is to act morally, regardless of the consequences. The moral way to proceed is through non violence. Since each person knows best about his moral project and the means to realise it in action each one ought to be free from both domination and violence.

Gandhi’s autonomous person is also a social person, never apart from the community to which he belongs and therefore he expects everyone to be concerned not only about their self governance but also the autonomy of others. This, in a nutshell is the meaning of ‘swaraj’ or self rule, a vision of India ruled by Indians with concern for the poorest, the destitute and the most vulnerable. Self rule not only means end of British colonialism but also an end of other forms of domination such as untouchability and modernization.

Conclusion

Gandhi’s emphasis on the individual and his rejection of the all powerful state stems from his belief that individual initiative, voluntarism and decentralisation are to be the organising principles of his ideal society. Why did Gandhi reject the concept of an all-powerful state, Gandhi rejects the idea and institution of the state on the basis of two anarchistic arguments: the state represents an authority that poses a threat to the liberty of the individual and the state represents violence in an organized form. From these two premises he derives his support for a decentralised, non-industrial, non violent, self sufficient and self reliant free society; village swaraj would advance the cause of individual freedom. Gandhi also stresses that political independence by itself is incomplete unless accompanied by a moral or spiritual transformation of the individual in society. Not only does Gandhi insist on moral progress but also in the elimination of slave mentality. Why did Gandhi reject the concept of an all-powerful state-  Equally important is social reform with the help of constructive programme to realising the three pillars of swaraj and thus establishes close link between freedom and social harmony

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