E-Book - Mahatma Gandhi

221 Contextualising Gandhian Thoughtof power whether directly related to economic activity or notthatcan result in economic gains, or power over the minds ofothers. Material possessions can be distributed equitably. Butsince non-material sources of power do not lend themselves toimmunisation through equitable distribution-those who possesssuch sources of power will have to hold them and use them as atrust that they hold for society.Trusteeship then does not ask for the impossible; itdefines a socially necessary attitude to all power, andpossessions that generate power; and visualises a pattern ofsupporting institutions. If the change in attitude is described asa subjective change, the objective and institutional changes thatpromote and safeguard the subjective change lie in the neweconomic order which minimises the concentration ofownership, and maximises the ability to control, and ifnecessary, to resist the abuse of power.Thus it can be seen that in the case of materialpossessions, trusteeship will involve a subjective change ofattitudes as well as a structural or institutional change and astatutory framework, while in the case of non-materialpossessions that generate power and wealth, the primarysafeguard will be in the change to the attitude of trusteeship.At this point, it may be worthwhile to reproduce the text ofa formulation on Trusteeship that received the approval ofGandhi himself:1. Trusteeship provides a means of transforming thepresent capitalist order of society into an egalitarianone. It gives no quarter to capitalism, but gives thepresent owning class a chance of reforming itself. Itis based on the faith that human nature is neverbeyond redemption.2. It docs not recognise any right of private ownership of