Answer:
THE APPROACH
THE INTRODUCTION: Briefly mention the relevance of Gandhian thoughts in present times, highlighting their continued impact and influence on societies worldwide.
THE BODY
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- Discuss the key aspects of Gandhian philosophy that remains relevant today.
- Provide how these principles affected social, political and economic realities of the today.
THE CONCLUSION: Emphasise on the importance of Gandhi’s thoughts in present times and the need to continue these principles for a more peaceful world.
THE INTRODUCTION:
Mahatma Gandhi was an enlightened writer, freedom fighter, social worker and philosopher by nature. He was a visionary who enriched the world by presenting his views on basic humanitarian issues and problems faced by India at that time. However, these thoughts and principles remained extremely relevant in present times as well as they continue to provide guidance and inspiration for individuals and societies across the world.
THE BODY:
Some key aspects of Gandhi’s philosophy that continue to be relevant today include:
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- Non-violence (Ahimsa): The philosophy of nonviolence has been a source of inspiration for many global movements advocating for social justice, equality, and human rights. Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violence or ‘ahimsa’ is related to fostering harmony in a polarized world.
- Truth (Satyagraha): Truth was spoken by Mahatma Gandhi in both words and acts. God and morality were the ultimate truths in his Moral rules and a system were established as a result. In today’s world of misinformation, fake news, and propaganda, the principles of truth and honesty is more important than ever.
- Swaraj (Self-rule): Gandhi’s ideas of Swaraj encourage people to be responsible citizens, making decisions based on the welfare of the entire community. In the present era of globalization, the principle of Swaraj can help in empowering communities.
- Simplicity and minimalism: Gandhi emphasises on living a simple life, minimizing demands, and living in tune with nature, is critical for sustainable development. Gandhi’s conviction in simple living and higher thought is still applicable in today’s consumer-driven world.
- Environmental sustainability: Gandhi’s principles remind us to respect the environment,conserve resources, and strive for sustainable development.
- Social justice: Gandhi’s tireless fight against societal injustices such as untouchability, caste discrimination, and gender inequity continue to inspire modern social movements.
- Inclusive education: His emphasis on holistic education, focused on the development of the mind, body, and spirit, can guide modern educational systems to foster well-rounded individuals who contribute positively to society.
- Religious harmony: Gandhi’s idea of religious harmony promoted interfaith understanding and tolerance. In an era where there are tensions along religious lines, his pluralistic vision where people of all faiths live in brotherhood can promote social cohesion.
These thoughts and principles may be applied to handle a variety of issues as discussed below:
Social Issues:
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- His ideas of tolerance, compromise and non-violence can serve as a useful tool for the current social crisis of hatred, terrorism and racial and religious conflicts around the world.
- He advocated the principle of being truthful and fearless throughout life. His idea of fearlessness allowed him to be tolerant of different viewpoints accommodating different sections of society.
Political Issue:
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- Gandhi advocated the idea of Gram Swaraj at national level which led to the constitutional recognition of Panchayats and Over the last three decades, policies promoting decentralization of governance and politics have aligned with Gandhi’s Gram Swaraj ideology.
- Gandhi’s concept of ‘interdependence at the world level’ is quite relevant today. No country in the globe can handle the global concerns of environmental degradation, poverty, and terrorism alone.
Economic issues:
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- Gandhi believed that ‘poverty is the deadliest form of violence’. Gandhi’s concept of upliftment and empowerment of the underprivileged is the first step in achieving inclusive and sustainable development. This is reflected in his concept of Sarvodaya.
- These principles are relevant to achieve Sustainable Development Goals, including poverty alleviation, hunger-free world, illiteracy, gender equality, labour dignity, employment opportunities, and improved healthcare.
THE CONCLUSION:
Gandhi’s ideas of nonviolence, truth, self-rule, simplicity, environmental sustainability, social justice, and holistic education acts as a guide to build a more peaceful, just, and sustainable world in achieving political and social goals. Thus, Gandhi has always been a forward- thinking leader whose ideas continued to be more relevant and vital now than ever before.
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