Gandhian Model of Development

Gandhian Model of Development

• Gandhian ideas debated for their relevance to
overall development including rural development
• Gandhi comes up as a critique of modern civilization
and development
• Gandhian ideas per se have attracted attention given
their focus on humanistic, ethical and decentralised
approach to development.
• Added relevance of Gandhi in the light of the ills of
modern development like growing violence,
inequality, immorality, and environmental
degradation; and search for an alternative
• It would be useful (under DTP) to have an exposure to
basic Gandhian ideology of development
• Gandhi’s writings found in various publications:

- Hind Swaraj (1908),

- Sarvodaya,
- Gram Swaraj
- Writings in Young India, Navjivan, Harijan
- The Constructive Programme
- Autobiography
- Papers/works of Gandhian scholars

• Gandhi was influenced by thinkers like Ruskin, Marx,

Tolstoy and various religions
• Gandhi followed an interdisciplinary approach to
development going beyond economic rationality.
 Gandhian Critique of Capitalist Development
and Modern Civilization
• Modern civilization is a curse and disease:
Immoral / Irreligious / Bodily-welfare
• Capitalist Economics: 'Gospel of Mammon’
• Industrialization based on machines is crises
ridden with bleak future
• Unemployment / dehumanization
• Creates artificial needs and greed leading to
violence, plunder, waste, competition and
exploitation
• Full of Poverty and inequality: Illusion of Progress
and myth of wealth
• Creates centre and periphery dichotomy
Limitations of Marxian system:
• Though Gandhi agreed with the goal of the
Marxian system including ending alienation of
man
• But did not agree with the means involving
violent and radical methods and class war
Gandhian Model as Via-media
• Gandhian model is posed as a via-media for
the ills of Capitalism and Socialism
• Advocated even as a ‘way of life’ with certain
spiritual approach
Gandhian Goals and Principles:
• Creation of New Social and Political Order
(Swaraj) based on democracy, equality,
justice, freedom, decentralisation and
spirituality
• Guided by certain principles of universal nature

1)Truth and Non-violence: Honesty and Transperancy;

No class war but conversion through Truth-force

2)Simplicity and limiting wants: Happiness and

permanence through contentment; no reckless pursuit
of wealth;
3)Morality and Spirituality: Significance of Ethical
Values; life is more than money.
4) Human centric development: Not machines or
wealth; every individual to become a fully
developed member of the society; ‘Mass
production by masses not machines’
5) Sarvodaya (welfare of all); Feeling of fraternity;
each according his need and abilities
6) Dignity of labour: Respect for labour;
‘bread-labour’ ‘Work for all’’
7)Self-sufficiency (Swadeshi): Depend on local
than on remote; village centric development.
Gandhian Model of Rural Development :
Enunciated an integrated and a decentralised
model of (rural) development
1. Village Centric Development
- India lives in villages.
- Superiority of rural way of life
- Economy must revolve around villages
- Need to reverse centre-periphery model.
- ‘Dung Heaps to Model Villages’
2. Gram Swaraj (Village Republic)
- A village which is politically and economically
independent.
- Has own panchayat with self-governance.
3. Self-Sufficiency:

– Water, food crops, cotton, non-farm

products, school, temple all in the village
– Work on the basis of Swadeshi (but not in a
dogmatic sense)

4. Co-operative Approach
- Living Together
– Adoption of co-operative way of life
– Co-operatives for farm and other activities
– Co-operation based on voluntarism and
morality
5. Khadi and Village Industries
– Revive village industries to avoid evils of
industrialization.
– Decentralized production and distribution.
– To ensure income and employment to
millions
– Khadi and Charaka is a symbol of
‘commercial peace.’
6. Education
– For training both mind and body
– Development of vocational skill
(Nai-taleem) for employment.
7. Trusteeship for Equality

– Gandhian idea for equality

– Resources belong to god or nature (hence
to everybody)
– Owner is only a Trustee
– Trusteeship to transform the present
capitalism without violence.
– Change of heart among owners is needed
– Owners share their earnings with society
– State may intervene if necessary to take
possession of property
– Talents of rich need not be curtailed.
 Assessment of Gandhian Ideas
• Gandhian ideas have made considerable
political and economic impact
• Attempted an integrated model which
combines ethics with development
• Comes up as a strong critic of capitalist and
industrial development
• Emphasized the need for decentralization for
overall and rural development
• Has a clear answer to the challenge of
sustainability (permanence)
• Gandhian approach has been criticized by
many for its limitations
• Critics calls it a model of `Anti-Progress
Technology & Machines’ ;
• ‘Romanticisation of tradition and village life’
• ‘Status quoist’. ‘Idealist’ and ‘Reformist’
• But Gandhi was not dogmatic and may have
to be read more holistically
• His ideas enunciated based on concerns of
human development, ethics, employment and
decentralization have many relevance and
have been adopted in varying degree.