Question

describe gandhiji's constructive program and its benefits in society

Answer 1

Constructive Programme is a part of Mahatma Gandhi’s Satyagraha. Gandhi realised that social evils not only plagued Indian society but also impeded India’s march towards unity and Swaraj. For that, he did not depend on the state and its political agencies, but rather mobilised the social energies of the people. His constructive programme was an aspect of his philosophy of nationalism and national unity. He conceived it as a means of strengthening the social aspect of our collective existence at the grass root level.

The transformation of society according to Gandhi raises two important problems – firstly, the manner in which one set of institutions and relations is to be gradually repressed by another, and secondly, the way in which contradictions and conflicts that would arise in the process are to be resolved.
His answer to the first problem is the constructive programme, that is, a programme for the construction of new institutions and values in the given Indian context. The answer to the second question is Satyagraha which includes simple persuasion in the beginning and various types of non-violent resistance in the end. Therefore, both the elements are closely interrelated means of social control in the political and social thought of Gandhi.

The Constructive Programme may be regarded as the positive aspect of his doctrine of Satyagraha or Non-cooperation. In the Nagpur Session of the Congress in December 1920, when the Congress Party under the leadership of Gandhi adopted the programme of Non-cooperation, it also adopted a constructive programme which included items such as hand spinning, weaving, establishment of national schools, promotion of Hindu-Muslim unity, abolition of untouchability etc. The Congressmen were required to follow this programme along with the Non-cooperation movement. After the withdrawal of the Non-cooperation movement as a result of the Chauri Chaura incident, Gandhi retired from active politics for about eight years and devoted himself to an organization and implementation of the programme of constructive work, mainly based on Khadi, and asked the Congressmen to devote themselves whole-heartedly to the programme. As a result, throughout the eight years, a number of institutions were set up namely – All India Spinning Association, Harijan Sevak Sangha, Hindustani Talemi Sangh, All India Village Industries Association etc.

In December 1941, Gandhi published a booklet under the title – ‘Constructive Programme: Its meaning and place’ – in which he explained, in concrete terms, the activities which he wanted to include under constructive programme. However, in 1945, Gandhi again revised his booklet and added one more item to it, namely, the improvement of cattle, on the advice of one of his close associates.

Answer 2

Answer:

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