Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- Editor's introduction
- A note on the history of the text
- Principal events in Gandhi's life
- Biographical synopses
- Guide to further reading
- Glossary and list of abbreviations
- HIND SWARAJ
- Preface to the English translation
- Foreword
- I The Congress and its officials
- II The Partition of Bengal
- III Discontent and unrest
- IV What is Swaraj?
- V The condition of England
- VI Civilisation
- VII Why was India lost?
- VIII The condition of India
- IX The conditions of India (cont.): railways
- X The condition of India (cont.): the Hindus and the Mahomedans
- XI The condition of India (cont.): lawyers
- XII The conditions of India (cont.): doctors
- XIII What is true civilisation?
- XIV How can India become free?
- XV Italy and India
- XVI Brute force
- XVII Passive resistance
- XVIII Education
- XIX Machinery
- XX Conclusion
- APPENDICES
- SUPPLEMENTARY WRITINGS
- Bibliography
- Index
XIV - How can India become free?
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 November 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- Editor's introduction
- A note on the history of the text
- Principal events in Gandhi's life
- Biographical synopses
- Guide to further reading
- Glossary and list of abbreviations
- HIND SWARAJ
- Preface to the English translation
- Foreword
- I The Congress and its officials
- II The Partition of Bengal
- III Discontent and unrest
- IV What is Swaraj?
- V The condition of England
- VI Civilisation
- VII Why was India lost?
- VIII The condition of India
- IX The conditions of India (cont.): railways
- X The condition of India (cont.): the Hindus and the Mahomedans
- XI The condition of India (cont.): lawyers
- XII The conditions of India (cont.): doctors
- XIII What is true civilisation?
- XIV How can India become free?
- XV Italy and India
- XVI Brute force
- XVII Passive resistance
- XVIII Education
- XIX Machinery
- XX Conclusion
- APPENDICES
- SUPPLEMENTARY WRITINGS
- Bibliography
- Index
Summary
reader: I appreciate your views about civilisation. I will have to think over them. I cannot take in all at once. What, then, holding the views you do, would you suggest for freeing India?
editor: I do not expect my views to be accepted all of a sudden. My duty is to place them before readers like yourself. Time can be trusted to do the rest. We have already examined the conditions for freeing India, but we have done so indirectly; we will now do so directly. It is a world known maxim that the removal of the cause of a disease results in the removal of the disease itself. Similarly, if the cause of India's slavery be removed, India can become free.
reader: If Indian civilisation is, as you say, the best of all, how do you account for India's slavery?
editor: This civilisation is unquestionably the best, but it is to be observed that all civilisations have been on their trial. That civilisation which is permanent outlives it. Because the sons of India were found wanting, its civilisation has been placed in jeopardy. But its strength is to be seen in its ability to survive the shock. Moreover, the whole of India is not touched. Those alone who have been affected by western civilisation have become enslaved. We measure the universe by our own miserable foot-rule. When we are slaves, we think that the whole universe is enslaved.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Gandhi: 'Hind Swaraj' and Other Writings , pp. 72 - 74Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1997