E-Book - Mahatma Gandhi

243 Contextualising Gandhian Thoughtthe motive behind his uncomprising preference for theproximate parochialism or prejudice or hostility to othercountries or other people?Let us take the first question. Gandhi leaves no room fordoubt when he says: "I have never considered the exclusion ofeverything foreign under every conceivable circumstance as apart of Swadeshi. The broad definition of Swadeshi is the use ofall home-made things to the exclusion of foreign things, in sofar as such use is necessary for the protection of home industry,more especially those industries without which India willbecome pauperized. In my opinion, therefore, Swadeshi whichexcludes the use of everything foreign, no matter howbeneficent it may be, and irrespective of the fact that itimpoverishes nobody, is a narrow interpretation of Swadeshi." 3Gandhi is clear that his insistence on priority for theimmediate neighbour will not mean injury to or unconcern forthe interest of those who are not in the neighbourhood. Hisreasoning is lucid and perhaps unanswerable. The neighbourhas a neighbour, and he or she, in turn, has his or herneighbour. Since each gives priority to his or her neighbour, orbases his action on concern for his or her neighbour, there canbe no contradiction or conflict, and no unconcern or injury.Each constitutes or provides a link in the chain of concern thatlinks all humanity. Gandhi "believed in the Truth implicitly thata man could serve his neighbours and humanity at the sametime, the condition being that the service of the neighbour wasin no way selfish of exclusive, i.e. did not in any way involvethe exploitation of any other human being. The neighbourwould then understand the spirit in which such service wasgiven. They would also know that they would be expected togive their services to their neighbours. Thus considered, itwould spread like the proverbial snowball gathering strength ingeometrical progression encircling the whole earth. It followedthat Swadeshi was that spirit which dictated man to serve his