GANDHIAN MOTIVES
Mahatma Gandhi, one of India’s most revered figures, is known for his philosophy of non-
violence and his role in India's independence movement. However, his views on ecology are
also significant and have been increasingly recognized in recent years. Gandhi's motives on
ecology were deeply rooted in his spiritual beliefs, his concern for the well-being of all living
beings, and his opposition to modern industrial civilization. Let us explore Gandhi’s motives
on ecology and how they can inspire us to protect the environment.
Gandhi’s View of Nature
Gandhi viewed nature as a sacred and inseparable part of human existence. He believed that
humans have a moral and ethical responsibility to protect and preserve the environment,
which he saw as a manifestation of God’s creation. Gandhi believed that the exploitation of
nature was a form of violence and that human beings should strive to live in harmony with
nature, rather than dominating it. He was a strong advocate of sustainability, believing that
we should live within our means and not consume more than we need. (His close disciple and
associate, Kaka Kalelkar, narrates that he was in the habit of breaking off an entire twig
merely for four or five neem leaves he needed to rub on the fibers of the carding-bow to make
its strings pliant and supple. When Gandhi saw that, he remarked: “This is violence. We
should pluck the required number of leaves after offering an apology to the tree for doing so.
But you broke off the whole twig, which is wasteful and wrong.”)
Gandhi’s Opposition to Industrial Civilization
The concept of environmental conservation, sustainability etc. is inherent in the ideology of
Mahatma Gandhi. He warned the entire world that the large scale industrialization would
create large scale problems in early 1920’s which the entire world is facing now. His primary
objection to machinery and industrialization was that it tended to concentrate the production
of wealth in a few hands. Central to Gandhi's critique was the notion of Swadeshi, which
advocated for the use of locally produced goods and services. He believed that
industrialization, with its emphasis on mass production and consumption, led to exploitation
of resources, labour, and communities. Gandhi feared that industrialization would exacerbate
social inequalities and disrupt the traditional fabric of society.
He saw industrialization as a system that prioritised profit over people, leading to the
exploitation of workers and the erosion of human values. Gandhi advocated for decentralised
economies based on small-scale production and cooperative ownership, where individuals
could work with dignity and contribute meaningfully to society.
Gandhi’s critique of industrial civilization was not merely theoretical but informed his own
lifestyle choices. He famously lived a simple life, dressed in humble attire, and practised self-
sufficiency through activities like spinning cotton thread (khadi).
Gandhi’s Approach to Sustainable Living
Though Gandhi has not left behind a treatise on ‘environmental ethics’ or its protection, nor
did he even go on fast or launch a Satyagraha in protest against deforestation or the
construction of large dams and nuclear reactors but he did much more than this. He led a life
which was in absolute harmony with his environment, with himself as with others. Gandhi
believed that a sustainable lifestyle was essential for protecting the environment and ensuring
the well-being of all life forms.
Gandhi’s philosophy of ‘non-violence’ and ‘prohibition’ is of great ecological significance.
The concept of non-violence aims at absence of injury to both living as well as non-living
entities of nature such as air, water, soil, etc. Gandhi’s concept of prohibition aims at
conservation of essential natural resources of earth from misuse by humankind.
Gandhi visualized a society which he called as sarvodaya the ideal society which he wanted
to establish. Gandhi’s ideal society the sarvodaya aims at welfare of all. Sarvodaya is based
on voluntary reduction of wants, ending toward system and building up a new world order,
unity of humankind and judicious sharing of the resources, breed labour, simplicity,
recycling, living in tune with nature etc. Gandhi also believed in the importance of simplicity
and advocated for a frugal lifestyle that minimized consumption and waste.
The Contemporary Relevance of Gandhian Ecological Ethics
Although his primary aim was more with social, political and economic reform than with the
environment, Gandhi’s cosmocentric views are often cited as the inspiration behind modern
environmental movements. According to Bhikhu Parekh, “Gandhi’s cosmocentric
anthropology restores his ontological roots, establishes a more balanced and respectful
relationship between him and the natural world, assigns the animals their due place and
provides the bassi of a more satisfactory and ecological conscious philosophical
anthropology.”
Thus, the spirit of Gandhi has influenced environmentalists both in India and elsewhere.
(Especially exponents of Deep Ecology have spoken glowingly of the impress of Gandhi’s
thought upon them. Arne Naess, the Norwegian philosopher with whose name deep ecology
is inextricably intertwined, has testified that from Gandhi he learnt that the power of non-
violence could only be realized after the awareness of “the essential oneness of all life.”) He
was a deep ecologist long before the term’s theorists had arisen. His famous dictum “the
world has enough for everyone’s needs, but not for everyone’s greed” provides an alternative
vision of development which is economically sound and ecologically sustainable in nature.
