Liberty In Indian Political Thinking- A Comparative Study of Gandhi and Nehru

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The present effort concentrates on finding out the concept of liberty in the Indian political thinking. In order to achieve this goal an elaborate discussion has been done to illuminate different aspects of the Western political thinking regarding the concept of liberty On the basis of these aspects the Ideas of Gandhi and Nehru have been analyzed in order to find out the Indian concept of liberty. In addition to it, a comparison between the ideas of M.K. Gandhi and T.H. Green as well as J. Nehru and H.J. Laski help us to find out basic differences between the Indian and the Western concept of liberty so, a comparison between Gandhi and Nehru's political ideas reveals that both support the individual concept of liberty. But, the indigenous philosophical influence & cultural background of Gandhi enables him to undertake a different attitude regarding the concept of liberty. This aspect strengthens the principles of spiritual realization.

I have chosen Gandhi and Nehru as the subject matter for this piece of work as I have always been fascinated by their lines of thinking and practical activities during the freedom movement. Both tried hard to attain the goal of political independence for India. In course of their activities, their political ideas regarding the individual, the society and the state developed. The study of their ideas and attitudes regarding these help us to find out the Indian concept of liberty.

In order to complete this work, much of the reference materials have been gathered, from various Universities of India, namely, Dibrugarh University, Arunachal University, KolKata University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Burdwan University & ICSSR, New Delhi.

Dr Seema Roy Kurmi is a senior lecturer in Margherita College of Assam. With consistently brilliant academic career, she topped among the first class holders in P.G. Examination in Political Science at Dibrugarh University. Her area of specializations are international relations and political theory. She did her Ph.D. on Gandhian study and published several papers in this Dr. Kurmi is actively engaged in academic pursuit and she attended several national and international seminars. She is the life member of reputed organizations like NEPSA, NEHA, NEEA and a founder member of Bhartiya Dalit Sahitya Academy Branch at Nargherita. Recently, she has been awarded fellowship award of Bharatiya Dalit Sahitya Academy in 2005.

Liberty as it stands is more intimately related to human nature as a predominant value than all other human values. It enunciates a set of terms and a range of distinctions that are the expression of certain purposes, concerns or interests of an author, group, people and the like The term assumes the greatest achievement of the intellectual community in the entire liberal world. This is not only achievable in conception but can also be affected in a particular context. Therefore, to renounce liberty is to renounce being a man and such renunciation is incompatible with human beings. Hence to remove all liberty from one's will is to remove all morality from one's act. This value has been influencing human civilization since the seventeenth century. It encourages individuals to use it against arbitrary as well as despotic regimes and to demand freedom from control, interference, restriction, hampering conditions, confinement, captivity and the like. It illuminates their hearts with the sense of self-dignity, courage and perfection. It was the basic force behind all revolutions of the world to challenge the status quo of the privileged class and to empower individuals to act according to their choice.

The concept of liberty is many faceted and dynamic and does not submit itself to a neat definition. The word 'liberty' itself is derived from the Latin word 'liberty' which means being free. Semantically speaking the term 'liberty' means the state of being emancipated from captivity, slavery, imprisonment or from any tyrannical domination or government by others. In other words, the state of being free is to uphold the right or power to take decision for one's own action or to mold one's pattern of living According to Encyclopedia Biennia, it is an idea committed to freedom as a method or policy in government as an organizing principle in society and a way of life for the individual and community The term can be reassessed as individual freedom without "unwanted restraint" in politics, religion, self-expression or self-defense.

In the field of social sciences 'liberty' means the right to share fully in political power, religious belief, of full and undifferentiated portion by the law. It is an unjustifiable and meddlesome act attempting to exert artificial or acquired pressure or regulation or the individual by a constituted authority. Hence, any attempt of such kind does not give satisfaction to his personality and his role. It has been further observed that liberty is related to the phenomenal world in taking part with a logical acumen but not with violence. For this a sense of adjustment on the part of an individual is required. Such a participation on the part of an individual strengthens a particular 'political system' whereby the individual could also get equal right as a result of his social effort.

Liberty consists not merely in having one's conduct directed largely as the conduct of a marionette. It is a privilege and a proper condition of human being arrived at the maturity of his faculties to use and interpret experiences in his own way. On the basis of these experiences one should be capable enough to exploit the opportunities for purposeful activity. This purposeful activity enables one for self-realization in work and rest. But in order to acquire this self-realization a free society is needed which could make its people to do right and good by respecting their human nature. It enables them to do right action on the basis of their experiences. These experiences helps one to choose and take right decisions in the alternate course of action in a given opportunity

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