WHAT CONGRESS AND GANDHI HAVE DONE TO THE UNTOUCHABLES : GANDHISM 275
Gandhists, notwithstanding my exposure of Mr. Gandhi, might take advantage of it and continue to preach that if Mr. Gandhi has failed to solve the problem of the Untouchables still the Untouchables will find their salvation in Gandhism. It is because I wish to leave no room for such propaganda that I have overcome my original disinclination and engage upon discussion of Gandhism.
II
What is Gandhism ? What does it stand for ? What are its teachings about economic problem ? What are its teachings about social problem ?
At the outset it is necessary to state that some Gandhists have conjured up a conception of Gandhism which is purely imaginary. According to this conception Gandhism means return to the village and making the village self-sufficient. It makes Gandhism a mere matter of regionalism. Gandhism, I am sure, is neither so simple nor so innocent as regionalism is. Gandhism has a much bigger content than regionalism. Regionalism is a small insignificant part of it. It has a social philosophy and it has an economic philosophy. To omit to take into account the economic and social philosophy of Gandhism is to present deliberately a false picture of Gandhism. The first and foremost requisite is to present a true picture of Gandhism.
To start with Mr. Gandhi’s teachings on social problem. Mr. Gandhi’s views on the caste system—which constitutes the main social problem in India—were fully elaborated by him in 1921-22 in a Gujarathi Journal called Nava-Jivan. The article [1] is written in Gujarathi. I give below an English translation of his views as near as possible in his own words. Says Mr. Gandhi:
“1. I believe that if Hindu Society has been able to stand it is because it is founded on the caste system.
“2. The seeds of Swaraj are to be found in the caste system. Different castes are like different sections of military division. Each division is working for the good of the whole...
“3. A community which can create the caste system must be said to possess unique power of organization.
- It is reprinted in Vol. ‘II of the series called Gandhi Sikshan as No, 18.