Question

Explain Mahatma Gandhi’s idea of liberty.

Answer 1

Mahatma Gandhi accepted the concept of Swaraj as liberty. He spelt this out in his work, 'Hind Swaraj'. The term Swaraj implies a combination of two ideas: Self (Swa) and Rule (Raj). Thus Swaraj means Self-Rule. Gandhiji's concept of Swaraj was comprehensive. He did not accept Swaraj only as freedom from British rule but also as freedom from western cultural domination. Swaraj would mean freedom from the trampling of humanitarian values. This concept gives more importance to self-governance, self-discipline, and human values.