3 Review(s)

Hind Swaraj written by Mahatma Gandhi in 1909 on board of a ship was soon proscribed by the Birish Government and latter debunked by many scholars including Gopal Krishna Gokhale, who happened to be Gandhi's patron and Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru-Gandhi's political heir. No doubt, Hind Swaraj was a critique of moder materialistic civilization and a manifesto of a new world order. Today, when G-20 or all the memebers of U.N. Are taking steps against non-proliferation of Atom Bombs, or steps against unbridled violence of terrorists or steps against heating of earth and sea, or holes in the ozone layers because of emitting excess carbon. Hind Swaraj seems to be more relevant today then 100 years ago. Hind Swaraj is not an Utopia our a realistic manifesto for action. Gandhi minus action is zero. Hence, Hind Swaraj minus Satyagraha is only a verbal jugglery. It is a sacred book like Buddha's Dhammapada. About the Author Ramjee Singh's (born 1927, India) life has been a blend of being an Gandhian academician as well as an activist. Towards his academic achievements, he was earned three Doctorate degrees, a Ph.D in Jainism, a D.Litt in Hindu thought and another D.Litt in Political Science in Gandhism and was awarded Emeritus Fellowship. He has authored and edited about 50 books mostly on Gandhism and Indian Philosophy and Culture. He was also Vice-Chancellor of the Jain University, and a panel speaker at the International Philosophical Congress (Brighton) and at Parliament of World Religions (Chicago, 1993), and Cape Town (2001). He was Secretary and President of All India Philosophical Association for about 12 years and is currently the Vice President of Afro-Asian Philosophical Association etc. As a social activist he participated in freedom movement of India in 1942 under Gandhi's leadership and also suffered imprisonment for 21 months when the Indian govt. Had suppressed all civil and political rights and and imposed Emergency in 1975-77. As a result he was elected to the Parliament of India with a margin of 1.86 lacs votes against his formidable rival who was later chief minister of Bihar. He has also raised his voice against inhuman bringing of under-trial prisoners in jail before the Supreme Court and had moved a PIL in the High Court for the protection of the rights of the landless people. As a Gandhian peace activist he has organized about 70 youth peace camps and helped to set up Departments of Gandhian Studies and Peace Research throughout the country from the time he was President of Indian Society of Gandhian Studies till today.