Social And Political Thought of Mahatma Gandhi

During his campaign against racism in South Africa and his involvement in the Congress-led nationalist struggle against British colonial rule in India, Mahatma Gandhi developed a new form of political struggle based on the idea of satyagraha or non-violent protest. He ushered in a new era of nationalism in India by articulating the nationalist protest in the language of non-violence or ahisma that galvanized the masses into action. Social and Political Thought of Mahatma Gandhi focuses on the principles of satyagraha and non-violence, and the evolution of these precepts in the context of anti-imperial movements organized by Gandhi, looking at how these precepts underwent changes reflecting the ideological beliefs of the participants. The book focuses on the ways in which Gandhi took into account the views of other leading personalities of the era whilst articulating his theory of action, and assesses Gandhi and his ideology. Concentrating on Gandhi's writings in Harijan the weekly newspaper hefounded, this volume offers a unique contextualized study of Gandhi's social and political ideas.

Bidyut Chakrabarty is Professor in Political Science at the University of Delhi, India.