Gandhi's Gram Swarasj: Novel Interpretations, Renewed Experiments and Best Practices in India

Abstract

Gandhi posited Gram Swaraj as involving self-rule politically and self-sufficiency economically. However, the Panchayats in the country have been subjected to several pitfalls and proneness to neglect the interests of the community. Consequently, 71 years after independence as the country prospered, the countryside is experiencing distress. On crucial welfare indicators like health, education and economic growth, the situation in the villages in India has turned from bad to grim. Across the country, however, there are inspiring instances of how villagers survive debilitating odds and bring about a positive change not just in their lives but also of those around them. This paper attempts to bring these stories together in an effort to reinforce the thesis that there are alternative ways to achieve freedom and prosperity in the villages of India without imperilling the earth and precluding half of humanity.