Gandhi: A Very Short IntroductionGandhi (1869-1948) was one of the few men in history to fight simultaneously on moral, religious, political, social, economic, and cultural fronts. During his time as a lawyer in South Africa he developed his strategy of non-violence: the idea of opposing unjust laws by non-violent protest, which he made the basis of his successful struggle against British rule in India. In this Very Short Introduction to Gandhi's life and thought, Bhikhu Parekh outlines both Gandhi's major philosophical insights and the limitations of his thought. He looks at Gandhi's cosmocentric anthropology, his spiritual view of politics, his unique form of liberal communitarianism, and his theories of oppression, non-violent action, and active citizenship. He also considers how the success of Gandhi's principles was limited by his lack of coherent theories of evil, and of state and power, and how his hostility to modern civilization impeded his appreciation of its complexity. Gandhi's life and thought has had an enormous impact both within and outside India, and he continues to be widely revered, as one of the greatest moral and political leaders of the twentieth century. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable. |
Contents
Life and work | 1 |
Religious thought | 35 |
Human nature | 49 |
Satyagraha | 64 |
Critique of modernity | 78 |
The vision of a nonviolent society | 92 |
Critical appreciation | 111 |
Glossary | 127 |
Bibliographical background | 129 |
133 | |
135 | |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
achieve action active argued asked basis became become belief body British called capacity Christian citizens claims collective colonial complex concept concern Congress consisted constituted cosmic spirit create critical cultural deeply desire develop distinct duty economic encouraged energy equality evil existence experience fact faith felt fight followers force freedom Gandhi Gandhi’s view give heart Hindu human idea ideal important independence Indian individual industries institutions integrity interests involved knowledge lacked largely latter leader liberal limited living means method mind modern civilization moral Muslim nature necessary needed never non-violence one’s opponent organized political practices principle rational reason relations religion religious represented respect responsibility rule satya¯graha sense separate shared social society sometimes soul South Africa struggle suffering theory thought took traditions truth turned unique universe violence vision