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Gandhi is certainly a staunch supporter of democracy. He believed that state is best which governs least and this is his second best ideal. He held the view that there are certain things which cannot be done without political powers, even though there are numerous other things which do not at all depend upon political power. While in ideal society, there is no room for the military and police, yet in the actual state there is provision for it according to the moral level of its citizens. Democracy should be intermingled with nonviolence in even manner and governmental interference is minimum. The present democratic systems can overcome the problems most importantly "violence and terrorism" only when nonviolence is accorded supreme status in practice as well as in principle and at social as well as individual plane. Only such a democracy can be successful in its real goal. The existing democratic deficit can be overcome by incorporating "Gandhism in democracy". Violence is not sacred, pure or welfaristic from any point of view. Whatever is gained on the basis of it is impure and temporary. Democracy and violence can never be mutual. The basis of democracy is non-violence in toto. In it, people will grow accustomed spontaneously to observe their social obligations without the operation of the State The more the individuals have imbibed the spirit of non-violence, the less the necessity of state. This is the implication of Gandhi's concept of Swaraj.
"The attempt to win Swaraj is Swaraj itself. It is a developing ideal and is "better than the best". Gandhi calls it "indefinable". Whatever political institutions Gandhi accepted, he did so as a transitional device, to be transcended by better ones. No institutional device is final. They must involve with the evolution of the individuals. The state should work in the direction of development of nonviolence at individual, community, social and national
સત્ય-અહિંસા-અપરિગ્રહ
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levels. Gandhi believes that politics can remain pure and free of corruption only if and so far it is based on ethical principles- ethics which are common to all religions. He stands for the spiritualization and secularization of politics.
Gandhi said: "If they are to be truly made democratic, they must be valiantly non-violent. In case of its absence, democracy shall be there for namesake only and it would be better for it clearly be supporter of dictatorship". This democracy must be such that it should not warrant power of punishment. In it people will certainly be conscious of their duties. Peace requires peaceful method. There is no alternative to non-violence.
IV
Gandhi's experiences in South Africa became his laboratory where he conducted experiments and formulated his worldview. The discovery was Satyagraha. The policy of apartheid by the white Minority Government made the lives of the millions of the coloured people deplorably miserable. Colonialism was legitimized. He valiantly fought against racialism, apartheid and colonialism. The historic challenge before him was whether the weak could fight the strong. Through his constant experimentation he realized that non-violence was the strongest weapon of the colonized masses and taught them to use it. He was able to induce courage and strength in the weakest of the weak and remorse in the hearts of the cruelest of the cruel
and his belief that good exists in all humans, one only has to awaken that good within.
On his return from South Africa, Gandhi took the leadership of Indian National Congress and adopted a positive and dynamic stand on international affairs. He said: "My idea of nationalism is that my country may become free, that if need be the whole of the country may die so that human race may live. There is no room for race
ઑક્ટોબર- ૨૦૧૮
પણ જીવનઃ ગાંઘી સાર્ધશતાબ્દી વિશેષાંક
