Gandhi And Jainism

Author(s): Shugan C Jain
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

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CHAPTER I
SPROUTING THE ROOTS (1869-1888)
'The education of the child begins at its conception. The physical and mental states of the parents at the moment of conception are transmitted to the baby. During pregnancy, the baby continues to be affected by the mother's desires, moods, temperament, as well as her lifestyle. After birth, the child imitates its parents, and for a considerable number of years entirely depends on them for its growth."
The dominant view in the field of personality psychology today holds that most personality development occurs in childhood, and that an individual's personality stabilises by the end of adolescence but continues to change in meaningful ways throughout life. Individual differences, disposition and behaviour appear early in life and impact traits like neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. This pattern is influenced by many factors including genetic, environmental, and transactional ones.
In this chapter, we will look at the impact of factors like geographical location, family, and education on Gandhi's personality during the early part of his life (1869-1888).
Childhood Location, its geography and demography Chandragupta Maurya (4th century BC)2 conquered a number of earlier states to form what is now Gujarat. Gujarat was open both for trade and commerce as well as to religious currents and thought from many sources like Arabs, Persians, Muslims, Sindhis and their intermingling with local traditions like Hindus and Jains. Such people were welcome by the ruler as they all brought prosperity to the area. Kathiawad peninsula was the