Gandhi's Vision of Development: Relevance for 21st Century
| Author | Nuti Namita |
| DOI | 10.1177/0019556120140109 |
| Published date | 01 January 2014 |
| Date | 01 January 2014 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
GANDHI'S VISION OF DEVELOPMENT:
RELEVANCE FOR 215T CENTURY
NUTINAMITA
Development through the use
of
state apparatus is integral
to
the notion
of
freedom, and poverty becomes a problem
of
politics
and
power. This process confers rationality
and
acceptability
of
practices and techniques
of
the government
(and its agents) among the individuals in society. Mahatma
Gandhi was deeply suspicious
of
the power
of
state to influence
growth, and hence relied on the self-control
of
an individual
as the force that could transfonn the society.
He
believed that
there was no need to have a society based on the Western
notions
of
greed and wealth but on moral individuals who cared
for
each
other
q.nd
followed
their
spiritual goals. This
translated, in his vision, to a more equal society based on
different religious groups showing tolerance towards each
other,
and engaged in small-scale economic activities.
INTRODUCTION
TO SAY that the state exists. to help the poor
is
a statement that is often
considered to be self-explanatory. However, this notion
of
state action has
a historical basis even before India's Independence. Even though it is
reflected in post-Independence, certain governmental institutions and
practices; it was not without contestation between the competing visions
of
architects
of
modern India: Gandhi and Nehru.
The evolution
of
ideas
of
development are traced here
in
the sense of
objectives
of
state action during the nationalist struggle for Independence,
role
of
Gandhi and Nehru, and reasons for eventual triumph
of
Nehruvian
idea
of
rational planning with the bureaucracy
as
the agent
of
pro-poor
growth in Independent India. It is relevant to note here that while
development has failed to reduce poverty in India, it has also led to
expanding the state power because it has become self-perpetuating.
The genesis
of
pro-poor development can be found in the social reality
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