Swaraj

Mahatma Gandhi's fundamental work - a key to understanding both his life and thought, and South Asian politics in the twentieth century.

The last one-and-a-half years in India have been defined by the anti-graft agitation led by Anna Hazare. His key lieutenant, Arvind Kejriwal, has played a central role in the movement. In 2012, as it became clear that the political establishment was not going to accede to the main demand of the movement - to pass the Lokpal Bill. Team Anna demanded the setting up of a Special Investigative Team to probe corrupt politicians. On 25 July 2012, Kejriwal, along with two of his colleagues and Anna Hazare, sat on a fast to press this demand. This book, which serves as a manifesto for the movement going forward, gives practical suggestions as to what the ordinary citizen, the opinion makers and the political establishment in India can do to provide a political alternative, or to achieve true swaraj (self-rule). The author's central point is that power must shift from New Delhi and the state capitals to the village councils and the town communities, so that people can be directly empowered to take decisions about their own lives. A must-read for anyone with a dream to leave behind a better India for the next generation.

Swaraj is a multi-dimensional concept. It not only relates to political freedom, but also means autonomy and harmony in all spheres of life—political, economic, social, cultural, spiritual and moral. This book presents a spiritual and moral exposition of the concept of Swaraj as interpreted by great Indian thinkers like M. K. Gandhi, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Sri Aurobindo, Raja Rammohun Roy, Rabindranath Tagore and Swami Vivekananda.

It contributes to current analyses of the health of liberal democracies-Rajmohan Gandhi An impressive contribution to Gandhian studies-Bhikhu Parekh This work merits attention-Gopal Guru An extremely valuable and timely work-Prabhat Patnaik Time and again, Mahatma Gandhi’s life, work and philosophy have played pivotal roles in bringing positive change in society. Poorna Swaraj, through its reading of the Constructive Programme: Its Meaning and Place, opens a window to his vision of attaining real and complete independence or ‘swaraj’ for India. With his ideas on communal unity, prohibition, basic education, emancipation of women, advisasis’ concerns, farmers’ distress, removal of untouchability, demystification of leprosy, the role of khadi, charkha, village and small-scale industries, among others, this book brings to light Gandhi’s road map for an egalitarian society. This first critical edition, with a comprehensive contextual introduction by Dhananjay Rai, sets the backdrop for readers to understand Gandhi’s thoughts on making an ideal society. Amazingly relevant and thought-provoking, Poorna Swaraj is a must-read for students and scholars of history, social science, politics and Gandhian studies. An invaluable companion for policymakers and general readers, this book is a treasure trove.

Mahatma Gandhi, one of the greatest global icons of all times, is known as much for his successful leadership of India’s non-violent anti-colonial freedom movement as for his virtue and simplicity. His ideals have inspired diverse social and political movements across the world: against apartheid in South Africa, racial segregation in the United States, several state policies and actions in India and nuclear weaponisation, and for environmental sustainability and world peace. Hence, a pertinent question is often raised by media and academia: How would Gandhi have responded to the contemporary Indian and global situation marked by ethnic conflicts, terrorism, economic insecurity under the dominance of a global neo-liberal economic order and moral degeneration in private and public lives? Addressing this question in this volume through critical and variant re-readings of Hind Swaraj (1909), his key manifesto of socio-political transformation, social scientists, political philosophers and social activists seek to establish a social and academic dialogue with Gandhi, interrogating his thoughts, values and vision, and examining their relevance to present-day problems. In spotlight is a contentious issue: the relationship between modernity and emancipation of subalterns, in the light of his critique of modern civilisation, the central thesis of the text. This book will be of interest to those in Gandhian studies, political science, history, philosophy, sociology, development studies, as well as activists, policy makers and the lay reader.

One may be getting dangerously close to the tipping point as a result of continued use of energy threatening our very survival. Sustaining meaningful existence and leading a productive life that contributes value, under the circumstances, has become a challenge for the majority of the world population that still suffers deprivation. The book by the eminent author and modern-day Solar reformist, Dr Chetan Singh Solanki, “Energy Swaraj - My Experiments with SOLAR truth” makes a compelling case for localised energy generation & consumption by communities and individuals for sustainability is based on his real-life experiments with Solar and the surrounding truth. - Anil Kakodkar, Former Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission, India.