UNITY – GANDHIJI’S
CONCEPTION
by
J.B. KRIPALANI (Extract)
One great contribution of Gandhiji
towards the progress of humanity is the idea that human life is a unity. It is
a synthetic whole. It cannot be divided into air-tight compartments.
The idea is not altogether new. In
primitive society too human life was conceived as a unity. But this unity was
mechanically based upon tribal customs, conventions and taboos. The individual
never understood the underlying principles on which these were built.
In religious societies too human life
was conceived as a unity. It was not compartmentalized. All higher forms of
religion have one single purpose for the individual. They rarely think of the
group life. They hold that man is a spiritual entity. This world is material….
Gandhiji’s synthesis of human life and
its unity differs from the primitive conception as also from that established
by the great religions of the world. The unity of Gandhiji’s conception is on
higher level. It is based upon certain principles which are intimately
correlated and which are fundamental to all social life and are recognised by
all the great religions of the world….
Gandhiji in his life and teachings discards
all dual standards of morality. He wants us to eschew all falsehood and
violence. He holds that evil contaminates good and desirable ends. All
activity, political, economic or any other must be guided and informed by
truth, non-violence and scrupulous regard for means. Gandhiji lays down no
detailed rules of conduct. He merely provides the measure of certain moral
principles to which conduct in all departments of life must be referred. For
Gandhiji there are no departments of life, whether political or economic which
can afford to dispense with truth and non-violence or a scrupulous regard for
the means used. All these three principles are equally important. They are
intimately connected. They flow from each other. None can be dispensed with.
Acting in conformity with them one avoids a split personality and a double
conscience. These principles do not apply merely to individual life but they
are valid even in collective and international life. It is on the bases of
these principles that a new and just social order, free from selfishness,
greed, violence and exploitation can be build and Ram Rajya established here on
earth.
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