Gandhian Economic Thought

Description

Gandhian Economic Thought It is obvious that as is other spheres, Gandhiji’s ideas have a marked influence in the economic sphere also. This is so not only because of the general influence of Gandhiji’s ideas on the masses of the people, but also because the leaders of the Congress who are now in power have imbibed his teachings, and are naturally trying to put the same into practice as far as possible.

It is true that we do not have any definite scheme of economic thought evolved by Gandhiji himself, which can be described as Gandhian Economic Thought. His economic ideas are part of his general philosophy of life; they are reflected in his writings and speeches, mixed up with other related topics; they have to be discerned more in his actions, which must be viewed in their entirety not merely in an isolated way.

In other words, one has to interpret Gandhiji’s economic ideas and build up what may be described as Gandhian Economic Thought from what he did and said in this connection. It should not be difficult for several eminent persons in and out of the Congress organization, who came in intimate touch with him and were in a position to imbibe his ideas firsthand, to help in disentangling Gandhiji’s economic thought so that it may help the future generation to understand it better.

Shri J. C. Kumarappa is well-known as one of the trusted disciples of Gandhiji who was asked to carry out his economic ideas into practice and in doing so had obvious opportunities of understanding firsthand Gandhiji’s point of view. It is fortunate, therefore, that Shri Kumarappa has been good enough to agree to write this book, in which he has attempted to build up the Gandhian Economic Thought in simple, but effective language.

As he rightly points out, there in no such thing as the principles of economics of Gandhiji, According toIt is obvious that as is other spheres, Gandhiji’s ideas have a marked influence in the economic sphere also. This is so not only because of the general influence of Gandhiji’s ideas on the masses of the people, but also because the leaders of the Congress who are now in power have imbibed his teachings, and are naturally trying to put the same into practice as far as possible.