Remember Gandhi for the relevance of his thoughts

The Statesman

Overview of the Article

The article reflects on Mahatma Gandhi’s intellectual and moral legacy, arguing that his relevance lies not in ritualistic remembrance but in the continued applicability of his ethical framework to contemporary political, social and moral crises. Written in a reflective and normative tone, it situates Gandhi as a moral compass in an age marked by violence, polarisation, consumerism and instrumental politics.

Key Arguments

Gandhi as a moral force, not a historical relic
The article stresses that Gandhi’s significance stems from his ideas—truth, non-violence, moral courage and self-restraint—rather than from his status as a nationalist icon.

Non-violence as active resistance
Ahimsa is presented not as passivity but as a disciplined, courageous and politically potent method of resistance against injustice and oppression.

Critique of contemporary nationalism
The piece implicitly contrasts Gandhi’s inclusive, ethical nationalism with present-day majoritarian and aggressive forms of politics driven by power rather than moral legitimacy.

Primacy of means over ends
A central Gandhian idea highlighted is that unjust means inevitably corrupt outcomes, a principle relevant to governance, politics and public life today.

Inner transformation as social change
The article underscores Gandhi’s belief that sustainable social and political transformation must begin with individual moral reform.

Author’s Stance and Bias

Stance
The author adopts a strongly affirmative and reverential stance towards Gandhi, presenting him as an enduring ethical guide for modern society.

Biases
There is a clear normative bias in favour of Gandhian ethics, with limited engagement with critiques of Gandhi’s methods or their perceived impracticality in contemporary geopolitics and statecraft.

Pros Highlighted

Timeless ethical framework
The article convincingly argues that Gandhi’s principles transcend historical context and remain applicable to modern governance and civic life.

Counter-narrative to violence and cynicism
Gandhi is presented as an antidote to political nihilism, moral relativism and the normalisation of violence.

Relevance to democratic practice
Ideas such as civil disobedience, moral accountability and ethical leadership are shown to be central to healthy democracies.

Limitations and Critiques

Idealism versus realpolitik
The article does not sufficiently address arguments that Gandhian methods may be difficult to operationalise in complex, security-driven modern states.

Selective engagement with history
Structural constraints, historical contingencies and failures of Gandhian experiments are largely absent from the discussion.

Lack of policy translation
While philosophically rich, the article offers limited guidance on how Gandhian ethics can be institutionalised in contemporary governance.

Policy and Societal Implications

Ethical governance
Gandhi’s emphasis on integrity and accountability offers a moral framework for public administration and leadership.

Conflict resolution
Non-violence and dialogue remain relevant tools in managing social conflict, dissent and protest.

Civic education
Incorporating Gandhian values into education can strengthen democratic citizenship and social cohesion.

Real-World Impact

The continued invocation of Gandhi influences social movements, civil resistance, environmental activism and debates on ethical politics globally. However, symbolic reverence without practical application risks reducing Gandhi to a ceremonial figure rather than a living influence.

UPSC GS Paper Linkages

GS Paper I – Modern Indian History
Gandhian movement, philosophy of non-violence, freedom struggle.

GS Paper IV – Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude
Values of truth, non-violence, moral courage, ethical leadership.

GS Paper II – Governance
Democratic ethics, civil disobedience, accountability in public life.

Conclusion and Future Perspective

The article persuasively argues that remembering Gandhi must go beyond anniversaries and iconography to genuine engagement with his ideas. While Gandhian ethics may appear demanding in an age of expediency and power politics, their relevance lies precisely in offering a moral corrective to such tendencies. The future challenge is not whether Gandhi is relevant, but whether society and its leaders are willing to practise the discipline his ideas require.