E-Book - Mahatma Gandhi

3Gandhi's Theory of Trusteeship:An Essay in Understanding*Of all novel ideas that Gandhi wove into the pattern of anonviolent revolution, none, perhaps, received the ridicule thatgreeted his ideas on Trusteeship. But to Gandhi himself theidea was an integral part of the pattern. In fact, he had no doubtabout its abiding value: "My theory of 'Trusteeship' is nomakeshift, certainly no camouflage. I am confident that it willsurvive all other theories. It has the sanction of philosophy andreligion behind it . . . No other theory is compatible with nonviolence."1Undoubtedly, the concept of Trusteeship flows from theideals of aparigraha and ahimsa, It appears to me, however,that Gandhi's unique and revolutionary approach to thephenomenon of power has also contributed to the evolution ofthe concept. Ahimsa and aparigraha are ethical ideals: power isa social phenomenon.Bertrand Russell described power as "the fundamentalconcept in Social Science" 2 . To many revolutionaries beforeGandhi, the capture of power was the war-cry of the revolution.To Gandhi, 'capture' of power did not guarantee the end ofinjustice or exploitation. He did not believe in the 'capture' ofpower by a few, but in the 'accrual' of power to the many, to all.If power is the influence or control that an individual or groupacquires, or exercises over other individuals or groups insociety, capture of power is not the solution to the problem ofpower. Power could be abused. If the deposed had abusedpower, those who succeed to the throne with the banner of the