Social issued

1. Gandhi’s views on Non-violence
and Social Issues
Why knowing Gandhi is important?
 Gandhi is a person with Global impact. Many
social reformers and political figures arose
before and after him but it is rare to see the
same influence on every part of society as
Gandhi had. He included the values of non-
violence and Satyagrah in the freedom
struggle when they were being thought as a
thing of past. He also opposed untouchability
which was norm of the day in his time. He
linked non-violent and compasionate conduct
to spirituallity as well as worldliness.

2. Gandhi’s views on non-
violence
 Violence perpetuates hatred, hence it
should be eliminated
 Non-violence includes absence of
hatred and passive violence
 Non-violence is utmost bravery, use of
weapons is cowardice.
 Non-violence is conditional (example
of calf)
 Excessive medication is also violence
to the body.

3. Gandhi’s views on Social
issues
Women
 Wives should be comrades of men in
their social duties
 Criticised Manusmriti for harsh
treatment of women
 Opposed child-marriage and Purdah.
 Encouraged widow remarriage, asked
on Harilal Gandhi to marry a widow
 Supported women’s education in at
least domestic matters

4. Education
 Education must nurture mind body
and soul.
 Supported Vocational education (
gave idea of Nayi Taleem, education
that provides employment)
 Moral education is most important
 Supported mass education and
opposed British policy of infiltration

5. Untouchability
 Published papers to make people
aware about the social evil (papers:
Harijan, Harijan Sevak, Harijan
Bandhu)
 Gave untouchables a dignified name
Harijans.
 Practiced cleaning himself and
motivated his followers to glorify the
act.
 Established Harijan Sevak Sangh for
welfare of peole considered

6. Varna System
 Supported organisation of Varna on
basis of birth but opposed the inequality
among Varnas
Trusteeship
 Gandhi was not against owning wealth.
He believed that wealthy people think
themselves as the trustees of society
and use their assets in welfare of
masses. Many capitalists like Jamnalal
Bajaj and GD Birla followed him.

7. Thank you!