Liberty and Individualism in Gandhian Perspective: Implications for Sustainability of Societies

Most mainstream intellectuals, particularly economists, have almost dismissed Gandhiji.. Economists are important here because they influence the socio-political thinking the most. In traditional societies, economic system was subservient to the social system. In the modern societies the reverse appears to be true. Gandhian thought does not figure prominently in the development debate in the world in general and in the West in particular, because the Western thought has been polarised mainly into two ideologies. At one end, is conservatism, which ideologically places a strong emphasis on ‘the individual’. The facilitating agency is free. At the other end are the communism and socialism. Recent changes and developments have caused turbulence at both the ends. Neither systems is able to fully comprehend the changes and so, not able to cope with the problems of sustainability. In this contemporary context, the Gandhian Way holds a reasonable promise to ensure sustainability of the societies.