Mahatma Gandhi and His Philosophy

Book Details

• Author: B.M. Sharma

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

• Binding: Hardcover

• Release Date: 01-01-2017

• Pages: 214

• Language: English

• ISBN: 9788131608456

About the Book
This book offers an in-depth exploration of Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy and life, providing a holistic study of his journey through various popular movements over the decades. It traces his early life, including his parentage and childhood, explaining the formative influences that shaped his public life later. The author, B.M. Sharma, delves into Gandhi's efforts to establish Ashrams, which became training grounds for future Satyagrahis, showcasing Gandhi as both an organizer and an experimenter of his novel ideas.

The book goes beyond a simple biography, analyzing Gandhi’s worldview on society, especially regarding the future of Eastern and Western societies. It provides a theoretical examination of Gandhi’s 'Sarvodaya Samaj' and critically evaluates his political philosophy in a national and international context. Additionally, the book addresses Gandhi's approach to secularism, explaining how a secularist can still be religious in the Gandhian way.

One of the central themes of the book is Gandhi's concept of 'Gram Swaraj' and how Panchayati institutions can be revitalized without perpetuating caste-based issues or crude power dynamics. It also reflects on Gandhi’s core beliefs—truth, non-violence, Sarvodaya, Satyagraha, and Gram Swaraj—in the context of the challenges posed by the modern world.

The author examines the contemporary trends of liberalization, privatization, and globalization, linking them with Gandhi’s doctrines of trusteeship and Swadeshi. The book demonstrates the relevance and dynamism of Gandhian principles for global society in the new millennium.

Contents

1. Gandhian Philosophy: A Conceptual Study of Fundamental Principles, Origins, and Influences

2. Gandhian Ashrams: Laboratories for Experiments with Truth and Non-violence

3. The Social Philosophy of Gandhi

4. The Economic Philosophy of Gandhi

5. The Political Philosophy of Gandhi

6. Gandhi and Secularism

7. The Concept of Village Swarajya in Gandhian Thought

8. The World View of Gandhi and Challenges of the New Millennium

About the Author
B.M. Sharma has had a distinguished career in academia, particularly at the University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, where he held various leadership roles including Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Head of the Department of Political Science, and Director of the Social Sciences Research Centre. He has served as Chairman of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission, Ajmer, and as Vice-Chancellor of Kota University.

An award-winning scholar, Sharma has contributed extensively to the fields of Indian Government and Politics, Panchayati Raj, Indian Political Thought, Public Administration, and Police Administration. He has authored over thirty books and has been recognized for his contributions with multiple awards, including the Paul H. Appleby Award from the Indian Institute of Public Administration in 2014. His research papers have been published in numerous national and international journals.