E-Book - Mahatma Gandhi

Gandhi's 'Theory of Trusteeship… 194make it any less of an act of deprivation.4. To burden one's mind with the thought of possession is toinvite an obsession that takes one away from the life of thespirit, makes one oblivious of social ethics, and leads oneto mistake the multiplication of wants for civilization.With such an obsession, one loses one's peace of mind,and makes it impossible for society to find peace.5. Possession means retention for future use, or for theacquisition of power. But one cannot retain a possessionunless one is ready to defend it. To do so one has to useforce, or depend on force wielded by others. One thusbecomes a part of an apparatus of coercion that is set up todefend possessions. A man who believes in non-violence,therefore, has to opt for the path of non-possession. 4The individual would thus work for his bread, earn hislivelihood without exploiting others, minimise his wants, usewhat he requires for current consumption and hold whateversurplus survives as a trust for society.What then are the social implications of aparigraha thatlead to trusteeship?A society that accepts the ideal of non-possession oraparigraha is the anti-thesis of an acquisitive society. In such asociety, wealth will not be the index of respectability.Civilization will not be equated with the multiplication ofwants and the accumulation of material goods to satisfy ourever-increasing wants. No one can satisfy his wants unless heworks, since there will be no inheritance to fall back upon. 5Work then becomes the medium of sustenance and self-expression.Work is a duty cast on man. 6 Everyone, therefore, hasa right to honourable livelihood. 7 The ideal social or economicorder would therefore be one that ensures this right.