Gandhi's View On Democracy Analysis

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Question:-
Uday Singh Mehta states that 'Gandhi was substantially unimpressed by democracy'. Do you believe that Gandhi was right in his views on democracy?

Answer:-
In Abraham Lincoln’s word democracy is nothing but a government of a people, by the people, for the people.
In general idea of democracy is consist of bunch of characteristics like regular elections, broad representation and individual rights1. But Gandhi was not impressed by these characteristics.
Gandhi’s thought about democracy are like idea of self-rule, transparency, accountability, self-dependency, inclusiveness, mutual cooperation and accountability. These thoughts are the associated with the basic ethos of democracy. He had a deep commitment to openness, truth and non-violence. Also he had a deep commitment regarding the public interest, abstract principles of justice and improvement …show more content…

Violence is used to secure the individual and public interest. Violence can be an instrument for peace and order.
I think that Gandhi was right on his view about the democracy. If we see his ideas about democracy where he mention non-violence. His view about non-violence originated from the day to day life experience and not from the peace and politics.
For Gandhi violence and politics are otherworldly. He saw an interconnection between the violence and politics. Democracy is a modern form of a politics. Democracy is based on the political power. This political power is used for the betterment of the society but they can’t lead the people to achieve the goal of life. As Gandhi believed in individual self-rule based on development of one’s character and self-discipline. Where the political power comes there will be violence. One simple example is if anyone got the power then he tries to put his thoughts on others and he started to violate the others life. This is not the fact about only democracy, other forms of politics also have the same

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