mindofmahatmagandhi

The Mind of Mahatma Gandhi
our greatest obstacle to progress—an obstacle that each man, if he only wills it,
can clenr away.' 1
There is a common criticism that Gandhiji's vision outsoars his perception, that
he proceeds on the comfortable but incorrect assumption that the world consists
of saints. This is a misrepresentation of Gandhi's views. He knows that life
at best is a long second best, a perpetual compromise between the ideal and
the possible. The kingdom of God knows no compromise, no practical
limitations. But here on earth there are the pitiless laws of nature. We have to
build an ordered cosmos on the basis of human passions. Through effort and
difficulty ideals struggle to realization. Though Gandhi feels that non-violence
is the ideal of a civilized society, he permits the use-of force. 'If one has the
courage, I want mm to cuii.ivd.tc uie art of killing and being killed, rather than
in a cowardly manner flee from danger.' 2 'The world is not entirely governed by
logic. Life itself involves some kind of violence and we have to choose the path
of least violence.' 3 In the progress of societies three stages are marked, the
first where the law of the jungle prevails, where we have violence and
selfishness; the second where we have the rule of law and impartial justice
with courts, police and prisons, and the third where we have nonviolence and
unselfishness, where love and law are one. The last is the goal of civilized
humanity and it is brought nearer by the life and work of men like Gandhi.
There is so much misunderstanding today about Gandhi's views and ways of
thinking. This book, where we find collected together the relevant extracts
from Gandhi's own writings on the central principles of his faith and conduct,
will help to make Gandhi's position clearer to the modern mind.
Benares
S Radhakrishnan
4 April 1945
1. Liberty. London, 1931
2. Harijan, i ".-1-1933, p. 413
3. Harijan, 28-9-1934, p. 259
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