The Danish Peace Academy

Gandhi, Non-Violence and Democracy with Special Reference to India

By: Dr. Ravindra Kumar

Mahatma Gandhi who had great faith in non-violence was of the opinion that all man-made institutions were not free from risk, particularly a ‘State-like’ institution, “… is symbolic of centralized and organized violence”. He, therefore, regarded it as an essential evil. In a state, democracy can never be developed entirely on the basis of non-violence; it cannot be evolved into its true form until and unless it falls completely under the domain of non-violence.

Will there be any possibility of having the people’s government imbued with non-violence now or in near future? Can we think of founding a stateless society after having eliminated the essential evil- ‘the state’, at the earliest? Gandhi himself was not sure about it. He admitted, “I am making efforts in this direction”. For him the right approach in this regard was gradually to improve the working of present day democracy and having fixed a goal, to advance further making sure that justice and freedom are made available equally to all. Then only the concept of true democracy will be fully materialized. This, as we know, is the Ramarajya of his dreams. The Ramarajya is not a Hindu rule; it is a kingdom of God. Gandhi did not visualize the Ramarajya for India only, nor can it be done so. It can be said without reservation that he wanted to demolish the institution called the ‘state’ and to unite the societies all over the world assuring justice and freedom to all. Naturally, such a great idea could not be confined to a particular country. But for some specific reasons enumerated below, Gandhi wanted to start the work of giving a shape to his concept of democracy or in other words of the Ramarajya from India.

The first of the specific reasons is that the attitude of Indians for non-violence in principle and practice has been significant and unique. The commitment that the Indians have for the application of non-violence in day-to-day life, even today, is hard to be found elsewhere in other countries. India is a country of diversity in unity or of unity in diversity. The people there have faith in various religious communities, sects, ideologies, traditions and customs. Not one or two, but many languages are spoken there. Probably, you know that population of India has crossed the figure of one thousand million. But in spite the vast population and diversity, democracy has been functioning in India for the last fifty-seven years. India has the honour of being the biggest democracy and has set an example before all nations of the world. A scholar commenting on Indian democracy says, “The most important phenomena of the post war era is the survival of the Indian democracy”. This has been possible only because a great majority of Indians is more or less committed to non-violence in practice. It is not surprising, that there may, now and then, occur some incidences of violence in such a big and diversified country. What matters most is that democracy has survived in India for the last fifty-four years and will remain in future also.

Secondly, the history of democracy in India dates back to the ancient times. There are references of it in the earliest Vedic literature. If we throw a glance at the history of India of about 600 B.C., we find that Gautama Buddha’s father Shuddhodana was a member of Shakya’s republican system of government and in the same capacity was proclaimed a king also. Besides Shuddhodana, Bhaddiya and Dandapani were also the members of the republican government. If we study Vinayapatika and Mazzhimanikaya, the Buddhist treatises, we find them clearly mentioned therein. This has also been mentioned that Gautama Buddha’s wife Yashodhara was the daughter of the king of Koliyagana and it was also a republic. The same can be said about Vaishali.

Gautama Buddha himself was a great admirer and supporter of democracy. As has been stated above, he was born in a republic. Addressing the Lichchhavi rulers of Vaishali, he advised them always to sit together and take decisions collectively and having once arrived at a decision, they should dutifully act upon it in unison. He emphasized on observance of a system, law and order, modesty and freedom of women. Not only this, during the time of Buddha himself, i.e. 2500 years and more ago, a unique democratic order could be found in the assemblies of Buddhist, for which Marques of Zetland had rightly pointed out that it could be compared to the parliamentary practice of the present day¹.

The great Greek scholar Megasthenese, who came to India with the army of Alexander, has written about many self-governing communities and federations. They had no kings. Their leaders were elected. In the Mauryan period, there were no kings who wielded power in many self-governing communities and federations. They were republics. It is also a fact that the system of administration in those republics was not the same. Nevertheless, the characteristic feature common to all of them was that there were no kings by inheritance. The head of the republic was either elected or nominated by the community, and it is notable that ‘he could be removed from the office if necessary’². In Cheevervastu³, there is a reference to the Lichchhavi Republic, one of the very powerful republics then. It is mentioned therein that after the death of the leader of the republic, the main condition laid down for the election of a new leader was that he should be a deserving person. The appointment of the candidate was announced with the condition that he would be liable to be removed from the office if he failed to get his decisions endorsed by the community. Moreover, the leader of the republic had only executive powers; the constitutional powers were vested in the community. The community took all-important decisions and they were binding on the people. If anyone dared violate them, he/she was subjected to punishment. The republic was a kind of general-body, the meeting of which was attended by all citizens who were capable of exerting their rights. This point was very important and the Republic of Vaishali in particular can be cited as an example. The important aspect of it was that the decisions had to be endorsed by the majority. It is evident that these states were republics and continued to remain so till 4-5 century A.D., up to Gupta period.

In short, the history of democracy in India goes back to distant past. It is another matter that so far as, the present day democratic system is concerned, the way it functions and the voting right incorporated therein, it may be different from the one that existed in the ancient past. It is generally assumed that the democracy was first started in the City – States of Greece. But, if we study the history of India, we find that the democracy did not first start there about 2000 years ago. Anyway, the position of India is quite apparent on one point, in this context. The villages in India, which are the lowest units, enjoyed autonomy in ancient India. The villagers very often met together, exchanged views and solved many administrative problems. The village chiefs were elected. Although during the medieval period, some political changes took place and there were occasions for the centralization of power, even then the village Panchayats did function and played an important role at the lowest level of the administrative system. It is a clear indication that the common man did get the opportunity, though not tantamount to all, of participating in administration.

During the Sultanate period, there-after, or during the Imperial rule, whatever the form of power might be, whatever changes in the economic field, good or bad, might be, the villages in India had their own importance, and the traditions passed on to them since the ancient times, have left an indelible impression on the people. They have maintained the unity in diversity, have sustained non-violence, the everlasting system of values, and have not allowed the roots of democracy to die. This is another matter that it did not grow properly under adverse circumstances.

In a country, that has an environment conducive to diversity in unity and unity in diversity, the people of which have remained committed to the supreme values of non-violence in practice, and where the system of self-government lies deep rooted at the level of villages, no form of government other than democracy can be effective. That’s why, Gandhi himself has said that’ it is most likely that even in democracy there may be misuse of power, the evils may appear just for the reason that it is man-made system and not the God made institution. But it is not prudent to avoid democracy for fear of evils. It will not solve any problem. Democracy is essential, especially for a country like India. By eliminating chances of constant misuse of democracy it can be developed into a real Ramarajya, serve, or at least efforts can be made in this direction, and it should be done.’ In this direction, Gandhi wanted to make a start from India and set an example before the other nations of the world.

Gandhi had full knowledge of the conditions that prevailed in the past as well as in contemporary times; and so while talking about the development of a democratic system, he gave preference to economic sphere and considered it to be the foremost. He affirmed that “A non-violent system of government”, that is the real democracy, “is clearly an impossibility, so long as the wide gulf between the rich and the hungry millions persists”.³ But he was totally against the use of violent methods to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor. He always favoured the non-violent methods for this purpose. He was against the class-wars also, for the simple reason that “the class-wars were against the basic nature and also against the message that non-violence conveys. Those who consider class-war necessary have not understood the essential meaning of non-violence, or have got to know it superficially.”⁵

Gandhi did not regard class-wars necessary, nor did he want to deviate from the path of non-violence. How, then, could the disparity between the rich and the poor be removed? Gandhi put forward the principle of Trusteeship for this purpose. It was within the scope of non-violence and in this context he has written in Young India of March 26, 1921, “By the non-violent method, we seek not to destroy the capitalists, we seek to destroy capitalism. We invite the capitalist to regard himself as a Trustee for those on whom he depends for the making, the retention and increase of the capital. No need the worker waits for his conversion. If capital is power, so is work. Either is dependent on the other….”

Gandhi held the same opinion for the landowners. Continuing with what he had said earlier, he wrote in Harijan on December 5, 1936 that “he did not want to destroy the land-owners…. He wanted to change their hearts through non-violence.” Desirous of bringing a change, Gandhi was anxious of bringing the landowners within the range of Trusteeship. In fact, he had a preference for the principle of Trusteeship to the ownership, and so he wrote in Young India on November 26th, 1931, “I am inviting those people who consider themselves as owner today to act as trustees, i.e. owners, not in their own right, but owners in the right of those whom they have exploited”.

Though Trusteeship, Gandhi placed before the owners the proposal of ‘Introspection and Self-Reform’ as has been rightly indicated in ‘Simple, Practical Trusteeship Formula’ by two Gandhian Scholars, Mashruwala and Parikh, “Trusteeship provides a mean of transforming the present capitalist order of society into an egalitarian one. It gives no quarter to capitalism, but gives the present owning class a chance of reforming itself. It is based on the faith that human nature is never beyond redemption.⁶

Although Gandhi’s proposal was based on ethical values and moral conduct, it was not an easy task to convince the capitalists and the landowners to come to terms with it and change ownership to Trusteeship. However, Gandhi’s proposal was undoubtedly significant and commendable. It would have served not only India but also other nations of the world as a guideline.

Gandhi gave the utmost emphasis on decentralization of power in order to develop a real democracy. This decentralization was capable of assuring self-reliance at the lowest level, in the villages on one hand, and of ending dependence in economic sphere on the capitalists and the landowners on the other. It also resolved to a participation of each and everyone in political control. In this regard, Gandhi wrote especially about India in Harijan, “India has had experience of… village republics, as they were called by Mayne. I fancy that they were unconsciously governed by non-violence… An effort has now to be made to revive them under a deliberate non-violent plan.”⁷ So, Gandhi did not begin the process of democratization from the villages. Giving it the name of ‘Village-Swaraj’, he says, “My idea of Village-Swaraj is that it is a complete republic, independent of its neighbours for its own vital wants and yet inter-dependent for many others in which dependence is necessary”⁸ and in the same context, he further writes, “Every village’s first concern will be to grow its own food crops, and cotton for its cloth. It should have a reserve for its cattle, recreation and playground for adults and children. Then, if there is more land available, it will grow useful money crops, thus excluding ganja, tobacco, opium and the like.”⁹

As already mentioned, Gandhi primarily talked about self-reliance at the lowest level which would unburden the common man from economic dependence and at the same time ensure him good health. Continuing with it he has said, “The village will maintain a village theatre, school and public hall. It will have its own water-works ensuring clean water supply. This can be done through controlled wells and tanks.”¹⁰ After elaborating the basic issues of economy and health, he comes to education and says, “Education will be compulsory up to the final basic course.”¹¹

According to Gandhi conducting these activities” would be on the co-operative basis. There would be no castes… untouchability. Non-violence with its technique…would be the sanction of the village community. There would be a compulsory service of village guards who would be selected by rotation from the register maintained by the villages.”¹²

Regarding village government Gandhi says, “The Government of the village will be conducted by the ‘Panchayat’ of five persons, annually elected by the adult villagers, male and female…. These will have the authority and jurisdiction required. Since there will be no system of punishment in the accepted sense, this Panchayat will be the legislature, judiciary and executive combined to operate for its year of office…”¹³ Continuing further he writes, “I have not examined here the question of relations with the neighbouring villages and the center if any. My purpose is to give an outline of village government. Here there is perfect democracy based upon individual freedom. The individual is the architect of his own government. The law of non-violence rules him and his government. He and his village are able to defy the might of a world. For the law governing every villager is that he will suffer death in the defiance of his village’s honour…”¹⁴

The outline he has drawn above of Village Swaraj had nothing inherently impossible and “to model such a village may be the work of a life-time. Any lover of real democracy and village-life can take up a village; treat it as his world and sole work, and he will find good result.”¹⁵ In the framework of Panchayat Raj (rule) or Village Swaraj, the public opinion will be the foremost, the justice will be speedy and without cost, and in this way, the disputes will be settled within the sphere of non-violence by co-operation. Naturally, in such a work, the police or army will not be required. In fact, Gandhi must have realized the real democracy in the Panchayat Raj (rule) of his dreams. In his own words, “We would regard the humblest and lowest as being equally the ruler of the State with the tallest in the land.”¹⁶ Everyone will develop higher moral values, forgetting all differences, equally love each other and thus contribute to the formation of a stateless, non-violent world i.e. true democracy.

It was Gandhi’s firm belief that India was capable of leading the world for the formation of true democracy, for it has been unique and exemplary in the practice of non-violence, as the democratic system has its roots deep rooted since long, and it has been a country of diversity in unity and unity in diversity.

Gandhi’s aforesaid views on Indian democracy date back to the period of British rule or just after the independence of the country. As we know, after five months and a half of the independence of India, Gandhi was assassinated on January 30, 1948. Afterwards, the people who took the reins of leadership paid more or less attention to Gandhian thoughts and ideologies. This is the reason that while drafting the Constitution of Indian Republic, they incorporated the Parliamentary system at the Centre and also kept in mind the decentralization of political power as well. Under article 326 of the Constitution, they made provision of voting right for all adults, male or female, who attain the age of 21 years. This age limit was brought down to 18 years by the 61st amendment of the Constitution in 1988. Giving guide-lines to the States, it has been mentioned under article 40 that “the State shall take steps to organize village Panchayats and endow them with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as units of self-government”. Accordingly, about seven lacs villages were brought under the three tiers Panchayat Raj system. Not only was this, the local bodies as the Blocks, District Boards,

Municipalities and others organized. They were gradually given more powers. This was done with the sole objective of taking general public in administration.

About 55 years have passed since the Constitution of India was introduced. The Panchayat Raj system has also been organized in all provinces. In principle, the decentralization of power in India is of its own kind and of the type as desired by Gandhi, but in practice, it is different. I also agree with it. The main basic problems that the country is faced with have affected the democratic system, as well as the Panchayat Raj. The system suffers from the ill effects of castes, sub-castes, religious communities, sects and the various languages spoken in the country. It has also not remained unpolluted with the mafia groups and other subversive elements. This is the reason that the incidents of violence have been observed at times, at the worst, during elections. Nevertheless, democracy has survived in such a vast country and that too stemmed from the lowest level. Very often, we have a glimpse of this ideal system at village level.

Whatever the drawbacks there might be, we cannot put the blame out rightly on Gandhi or on the system he suggested. Gandhi talked about the democracy founded on non-violence for the benefit of all Indians and to set an example before other countries. After Gandhi, it is now for the leaders and the people to tread on the right path. However, his views on non-violence and democracy and his suggestions are certainly precious and their importance can never be undermined. The democracy is necessary not only for India in view of the conditions prevailing in the country, its characteristics and the diversities but for all the nations of the world now. The all-round development can be achieved through it only. The closer it is brought to non-violence and Gandhian thoughts, the more pragmatic it would prove to be.

Kumar, Ravindra: Fundamental Principles of Civilization.
Kumar, Ravindra: Mahatma Gandhi and Higher Education: A Critical Analysis.

Notes

Bibliography

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Diwakar, R. R. (1965). Practical Philosopher: Bombay, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.
Guha, A. C. (1982). India's Struggle Quarter of a Century-Volume 1 & 2: New Delhi: Publications Division.
Gandhi, M. K. (1960). India of My Dreams: Ahmedabad: Navajivan.
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Kripalani, J. B. (1991). Gandhi: His Life and Thought: New Delhi: Publications Division.
Kumar, Ravindra. (2002). Theory & Practice of Gandhian Non-Violence: New Delhi: Mittal Publications.
Kumar, Ravindra. (2004). Mahatma Gandhi at the Close of Twentieth Century: New Delhi: Anmol Publications.
Sharp, Gene. (1973). The Politics of Non-Violent Action-1-3: Boston.

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