The message Gandhi stood for was that public service or politics was not just about power, but about something larger.During this time, he developed his philosophy of nonviolence: that the only way to bring about change was through peaceful demonstrations, such as boycotts, marches, and sit-ins. Gandhi’s philosophy expostulated in his own words on various topics viz. Truth, Peace, Fearlessness, Love, Nonviolence, Vegetarianism etc.

Major Gandhian Ideologies

• Truth and Non-violence
• Satyagraha
• Sarvodaya
• Swaraj
• Trusteeship
• Swadeshi

Significance

• Gandhiji’s vision and philosophy are pillars of the work of the United Nations.

Part of his genius lay in his ability to see the inter-connectedness and the unity between all things. His political achievements included leading the movement that ended colonial rule in India, using peace, love and integrity to prevail. But his vision went far beyond politics to encompass human rights and sustainable development.

• Political strategy: Gandhi promoted non-violence not just as a philosophy and a political strategy, but as a means to achieve justice and change. Indeed, many of his ideas foreshadow the holistic thinking behind the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. To take just one example: Gandhi understood the importance of advocacy and action around the issue of sanitation and led campaigns for clean drinking water and hygienic facilities when this issue was still deeply taboo.
• Anti Casteism: Gandhi’s efforts on behalf of people of lower caste and those considered “untouchables”, whom he renamed “Harijan” or “Children of God”, should inspire us in our efforts to leave no one behind, and to help those farthest behind first.
• International relations: Gandhi looked at the world from the point of view of the lowliest and the most humble – but is acknowledged as one of the greatest leaders of all time. His values truly transcend borders. Perhaps Gandhi’s most important legacy was in creating a culture of peace, in proving the effectiveness of non-violent non-cooperation, and drawing the world’s attention to the gap between what we do, and what we are capable of doing.Gandhi’s ideas drive the work of the United Nations for equality, empowerment and global citizenship every day.
• Environment: Gandhi’s enduring legacy is his continued relevance to our thinking and action on a broad sweep of issues, from protecting the environment to promoting justice, from education to inequality. His teaching remains fresh and thought-provoking, including his emphasis on the importance of facing up to the truth with courage.
• Cleanliness: Gandhiji placed a high value on cleanliness, or Swacchta, as he put it: ‘Swacchta Hin Seva’.The recent Swacchta Bharat Abhiyaan, India’s largest cleanliness initiative, aims to realise Bapu’s dream of making India clean.This cleanliness movement, however, is about more than physical cleanliness and the need to place a greater emphasis on an individual’s internal cleanliness.As a result, in addition to clean roads and toilets, a clean India necessitates a corruption-free society with increased openness and accountability.
• Civil Services: Gandhi’s ideology is based on honesty, and he has attempted to be truthful throughout his life. In diverse situations, Gandhi’s view of truth was irrevocable, regardless of the urgency of the occasion. This is why, after the Satyagrahis strayed from the path of truth and the horrific episode of Chaurichaura, Gandhiji called a halt to the Non-Cooperation movement. In the current climate of rampant corruption, civil workers must adhere to the ideal of honesty to themselves and to the public.
• Secularism: Gandhianism was tolerant of all religions, and the world today requires an increasing number of religiously and faith-wise accepting people in places where religion is used to justify violence. Tolerance in society will aid in the neutralisation of ethnocentric bias in the world, which is occurring on a daily basis on the basis of religion, caste, ethnicity, and area, among other factors.
• Decentralization: The Gandhian concept of decentralisation of power can be implemented in democracies by empowering local self-government at the grassroots level. The Indian government, for example, has implemented local self-governance in rural and urban regions by implementing the Panchayati Raj and Municipality systems.

Gandhiji’s political accomplishments gave us independence, but his philosophies continue to enlighten India and the world after all these years. For a happy, wealthy, healthy, harmonious, and sustainable future, everyone should follow the core Gandhian ideologies in their daily lives.

How to structure:

• Give a brief intro on Gandhiji’s political legacy and philosophy
• Now, compare it with today’s world and examine how it is still relevant to solve these modern day problems. Try to add examples to your points
• Conclude

Reference:

1. https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/reading-gandhi-as-a-lesson-of-political-maturity/article36784243.ece