Poorna Swaraj Constructive Programme: Its Meaning and Place

"Contributes to current analyses of the health of liberal democracies." —Rajmohan Gandhi, author, Gandhi: The Man, His People, and the Empire

"An impressive contribution to Gandhian studies." —Bhikhu Parekh, author, Gandhi: A Very Short Introduction

Time and again, Mahatma Gandhi’s life, work and philosophy have played pivotal roles in bringing positive change in society. Poorna Swaraj, through its reading of the Constructive Programme: Its Meaning and Place, opens a window to his vision of attaining real and complete independence or ‘swaraj’ for India. With his ideas on communal unity, prohibition, basic education, emancipation of women, advisasis’ concerns, farmers’ distress, removal of untouchability, demystification of leprosy, the role of khadi, charkha, village and small-scale industries, among others, this book brings to light Gandhi’s road map for an egalitarian society.

This first critical edition, with a comprehensive contextual introduction by Dhananjay Rai, sets the backdrop for readers to understand Gandhi’s thoughts on making an ideal society. Amazingly relevant and thought-provoking, Poorna Swaraj is a must-read for students and scholars of history, social science, politics and Gandhian studies. An invaluable companion for policymakers and general readers, this book is a treasure trove.

M. K. Gandhi was born in 1869 in Porbandar, India. He studied law in London and was admitted to the Inner Temple in 1891. He worked to improve the rights of immigrant Indians in South Africa and returned to India in 1915 to take up the struggle for independence from Britain. Gandhi never wavered in his belief of non-violent protests and in 1947, he succeeded in uniting India with a national movement. In January 1948, Gandhi was assassinated as he walked to take his evening prayers.

Dhananjay Rai is a visiting fellow (2022-24) at the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, Delhi, and faculty (2011 onwards) at the Centre for Gandhian Thought and Peace Studies, Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar.

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