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Swaraj - The Strength Within
Concept Note
Swaraj, as Gandhiji outlines in his seminal work Hind Swaraj, and much of his later day works, is not bound by time and situation. It was neither his tool for political resistance nor for social mobilisation. It is a framework and approach that derives its strengths from the core of the Indian civilisation.
That Indian civilisation is unique in its understanding and world view is well recognised; that it has much to offer in terms of spiritual understanding too has been highly acknowledged. However, such a civilisation rooted in its spiritual force, when it carries on its temporal affairs could have produced systems of economy, administration, governance, production, trade, law and other social functions is not adequately recognised. An approach to understanding of this society that is caught up in dichotomy of concepts, reduces and interprets temporary set-backs on social affairs as backwardness.
There was a society consisting of such social systems in India is known to historians for long and some of them have strived to bring these to light. Many local communities even today continue to manage institutions and practices that were set-up long back and thus retain these systems in their midst as a collective living memory.
It is amidst such communities that people's movements in India have found their support base. The ordinary people through the strength of these institutions have imbibed certain qualities that are unique, often collectively called the Indian psyche. Such qualities when provided with appropriate tools of expression and adequately mobilised by a situation, collectively become a force to shake empires, destroy tyranny and decimate corporate houses.
It is this strength dormant within the Indian society that has to be understood for social change. The tools of such change were best articulated by Gandhiji through his various concepts and actions, an outline of which he provides in Hind Swaraj.
We at SAMANVAYA have been trying to understand swaraj in the light of Hind Swaraj, and in the process, have been researching on the strengths of institutions and practices established and managed by ordinary people that are functional and successful, have been ploughing through archival documents on historical records on Indian society and systems, exploring Gandhiji through his writings and interaction with Gandhian scholars and workers, looking up materials on various aspects of Hind Swaraj written by various personalities at different times.
The SwaRaj course currently being offered to educational institutions and developmental agencies has been structured by us based on our understanding and experience in the light of the concepts outlined in Hind Swaraj. These sessions could be a one time programme for institutions, part of a curriculum programme for academic institutions or as part of an organisational learning process.
The Session-wise details of the SwaRaj programme are given below.
Session I: Introduction - Introduction to Gandhiji's philosophy, thought and work. About the book Hind
Swaraj and its place in Gandhiji's work.
Session II: Civilisation - Civilisations are born and evolved out of a people's shared conception of Life, Reality and Creation. Indian Civilisation along with the Chinese has one of the longest continuum in the history of civilisations. During this session, the participants explore the basic concepts of civilisation and try to understand the Indian civilisation and its uniqueness.
Session III: Swaraj - Swaraj or Sovereignty is the result and process of manifesting one's unique swabhava and strength. During this session, the participants look at a few examples in different functions in the Indian society where there is a continuous expression of this swabhava since time immemorial.
Session IV: Soul Force - Manifesting one's swabhava or strength comes from a force that in the Indian context is very organic and which is derived from its allegiance to one fundamental value of this civilisation, Satya (Truth) or Ahimsa (Love). This session tries to unravel the spiritual force of India and its sadhana (practice) through the ages and its manifestation in social systems.
Session V: India Today - How is Swaraj relevant today? Is it an outdated concept or an ideal much ahead of its times? During this session the participants will analyse the situation of India and the world today and the meaning of Swaraj in this world.
The programme is offered as 5 half day workshop sessions consisting of lectures and discussions. Each session is accompanied with well researched reading material. Books for additional reading are also suggested during the sessions. Follow-up programmes are offered on need basis.
→Please write to knowledge@samanvaya.com if you want
to organise a SwaRaj programme in your institution.
→Please browse through the related links section to read about earlier SwaRaj programmes.