Hind Swaraj, or Indian Home Rule or Self-Rule, is a book written by Gandhiji in 1909. In this book, he expressed his view on Swaraj, modern civilization, etc. He wrote this book in his native language, Gujarati, in which he gives a proper diagnosis for the problems of humanity in modern times, their causes, and remedies.
In Hind Swaraj, he expressed his view. He was a great critic of modern civilization. The British banned the Gujarati edition of Hind Swaraj in 1910, preventing its publication in India. In response, Gandhiji translated the work into English. Interestingly, the British did not ban the English version, assuming it would have little influence on English-speaking Indians who had already become subservient to British rule and ideas.
In this book, he advocates for Home Rule, which translates to self-rule, a need of the hour. According to him, every nation should have Swaraj. By Swaraj, he means that self-rule or freedom should be practiced at three levels.
Purpose of the book
Gandhi did not write this book without a purpose. He had a purpose in his mind. The main purposes were.
1. Response to Revolutionaries:- It is a response to the terrorist whom he met in London. There were some Indians, like Veer Savarkar and his colleagues, who were living in London. They were fighting for Indian independence with the help of violence. Gandhi did not like their method to bring back independence in India. He chose non-violence, and he criticized this method, and he considered them terrorists.
2. India’s future: He also wanted to provide a blueprint for India’s future. This book explained what India should be if there were no British rule.
Why did Gandhi write Hind Swaraj?
This book was written by him to fulfill a particular mission, and this mission is both ideological and political. Ideologically, he wanted to develop a model of non-violence and criticize British colonialism. Politically, he wanted to conceive future India on the basis of the ideas that he articulated in this particular book, Hind Swaraj.
Gandhi’s Vision: What is Swaraj?
His vision was to be independent from British rule. That’s why he raised his voice against the Britishers. He wanted Indians to rule themselves without the interference of outsiders. According to Gandhi, Swaraj means self-rule, not just political freedom from the British, but also self-control by individuals, moral independence, and self-reliance of villages. True Swaraj comes when people govern their own lives with truth, non-violence, and responsibility.
The Three Pillars of Swaraj:
- 1. Individual Swaraj or Swaraj of the Self
- 2. National Swaraj or Swaraj for the Nation
- 3. Village Swaraj, Grama Swaraj, or Swaraj of the Village.
1. Individual Swaraj: He championed the cause of individual Swaraj. A state could enjoy Swaraj if it can boast of good people or good citizens and free citizens. A state should provide such an environment where individuals enjoy full freedom, that are crucial for the development of their personality. To him, individuals should observe certain essential rules – truth, non-violence, fearlessness, non-possession, use of swadeshi, equal respect for all religions, eradicating untouchability, etc., which are crucial for achieving Swaraj.
He was a staunch nationalist who wanted to free India from the bondage of British colonialism. He demanded self-rule for Indians, which was the mission of his life. Through his speeches and writings, he insisted that the Britishers should leave India immediately by granting Swaraj to Indians. He accepted the famous mantra of Tilak that ”Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it.
2. Rashtriya Swaraj: Swaraj means not only freeing the country from foreign yoke but also freeing the country from every yoke. It means the government of India must be based on the consent of the people. Swaraj must be held by all men, women, and children. Freedom of speech and expression is the foundation stone of Swaraj. Swaraj guarantees a stateless society, a classless society. For Gandhiji, real Swaraj was not about a handful of people gaining authority, but about everyone developing the capacity to challenge and correct authority whenever it was abused.
3. Grama Swaraj. It is a third category of Swaraj where Gandhiji wanted Swaraj by the people of India, who represent the rural masses. He emphasized that India’s true soul resided in its villages, and therefore, Swaraj must begin from the villages themselves. To Gandhiji, if the village developed, then India would be developed. It is important to give the essence of Swaraj to the village. He realized that political decentralization would allow the village communities the fullest possible autonomy in managing their own affairs without any interference from the government.
A Different Path to Independence: Non-Violence and Swadeshi:-
In Hind Swaraj, he advocates for home rule, which simply translates to self-rule. According to him, independence can be achieved without violence, as he was in favor of peaceful and non-violent resistance. Gandhiji believed in the power of love and non-violence, considering it infinitely stronger than the force of arms. Non-violence is the technique of silently defeating and destroying the evil power and aim of changing the heart and mind of the opponents by love, peace, goodwill, and humanity. He advised that Swadeshi should be exercised in India, as he rightly realized the English were in India because of trade, and so that the Indians should boycott the British product.
Critics of the English Education System
He opposed the English education system because it promoted foreign culture and values over India’s own traditions. English education has increased hypocrisy, cheating, and exploitation. He stated that Indians should not strive to make India English after attaining their independence, when India becomes English. It does not call Hindustan, it calls Englistan.
Supporter of the Village Industries
He was against their industrialization in the Western sense, which involved the use of large-scale machinery. He focused on the cottage industry that can make these people self-sufficient in remote areas. Industrialization creates employment for a new generation but unemployment for many. This is a capitalist trend that must be disapproved of again. He demanded revival of village industry, and that is crucial for village self-sufficiency. He strongly criticized Western or modern civilization. To him, India could never be truly free unless it rejected Western civilization. He argued that if English were accepted merely as a language, it could be accommodated, but if the British insisted on imposing their entire civilization, then there was no place for it in India.
Conclusion
It has been a century since this book was written, yet people still debate Swaraj. Questions are raised: Was Gandhi right to reject the English education system? The most important question is whether India can truly achieve Swaraj and spread its influence globally by producing products through village industries. Does it have that capability? Many such questions arise, but his contribution will always remain in our hearts.