Mahatma Gandhi on Moral Bankruptcy

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During struggle for Swaraj, Gandhi felt and observed that upholding ethics is necessary for India and every Indian. He rightly said that British conquest of India is because of collapse of morality and ethics. So, time to time, Gandhi writes on the subject to re-establish morality at individual, societal and national level. Without transforming individual, one cannot change the society and nation. One cannot transform India without transforming every Indian. This is most appropriate time when one can realize that Mahatma Gandhi's views which are more relevant than ever before or when he was alive.

Gandhi is now part of history and his words belong to humanity. In this book, original writing of Gandhi gives us the crystal clear understanding of the subject without any distortion. A reader friendly book on Moral Bankruptcy is useful and worthwhile contribution on the subject with its immense current and future significance not only for Indian politicians and public servants, but also for the others.

Dr. Anil Dutta Mishra is a distinguished Gandhian scholar and writer. He started his career as Assistant Professor in the Department of Non-violence and Peace Studies, Jain Vishva Bharati University, Ladnun, Rajasthan, became Deputy Director of National Gandhi Museum and Honorary Professor, Centre for Gandhian Philosophy and Human Development, Gayatri Vidya Parishad Degree College (Autonomous), Visakhapatnam and Treasurer, IIPA Delhi Regional Branch, New Delhi. Dr. Mishra has held the post of General Secretary of Indian Society of Gandhian Studies, Alliance for Sarvodaya, Member Board of Studies, Nagpur and Punjab Universities and is Member of Gandhian Studies Centre of different colleges and universities across India sponsored by UGC. He has authored/edited 30 books and published a number of research papers. His recent book, Reading Gandhi, is widely acclaimed. Presently, he is Professor Research, Uttar Pradesh Rajarshi Tandon Open University, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh.

Gandhi was really a great man in every sense. He was a creative philosopher, writer, warrior, institution builder, journalist and nationalist, par excellence. While leading humanity across the globe to fight against injustice, discriminatory laws, racial discrimination, Gandhi was also responding to the challenges coming in the way and always come up with unique methodology to overcome these challenges. The issues were contemporary, but its impact was everlasting and time tested. As a mass mobilizer he has to deal with number of issues concerning with human behaviour and its action. One of the issues that human being is confronting since its existence is that of Kanchan (arth) and Kamini (kama). Most of us are tempered to wealth and women. Wealth and women are natural attraction of human being. Wealth gives you power, prestige and through it you can have everything which you wish. In fact, wealth is not God, but it is also true that it is not less than God. Similarly, Kama is natural instinct of human being. It gives you ultimate pleasure, mental peace and is necessary for recreation. It is in fact union of souls. No pleasure is greater than pleasure of sexual intercourse under the restriction of dharma. Therefore, almost all our great saints lived a married life. Even a married one can lead a life of brahmacharya. Raja Janak is the best example. During struggle for Swaraj, Gandhi felt and observed that upholding ethics is necessary for country like India. He rightly said that British conquest of India is because of collapse of morality and ethics. So, time to time, Gandhi writes on the subject to reestablish morality at individual, societal and national level. Without transforming individual one cannot change the society and nation. One cannot transform India without transforming every Indian.

Gandhi was deep-rooted in Indian Culture and Civilization. He understood Indian Culture and Civilization and its downfall in-depth. His analysis and understanding was fundamental, unique and rare. He always questions the fundamentals. Gandhi placed morality at highest pedestrian. Morality is always a vital issue for the humanity. Morality is casuality in industrial and post-industrial society.

Gandhi published in 1926 in Young India under the title "Towards Moral Bankruptcy" in eight-part series. Whilst Gandhi was thinking of the problem and of the question of reading the literature on the subject, a book called Towards Moral Bankruptcy was placed in his hands for reading. It deals with this very subject and, as it appears to me, in a perfectly scientific manner. The original is in French by M. Paul Bureau and is entitled L'Indiscipline des Moeurs which literally means "the indiscipline of morals". The translation is published by Constable Company and has an introduction by Dr. Mary Scharlieb, C.B.E., M.D., M.S. (London). It covers 538 pages in 15 chapters. Gandhi had the habit of summarizing its main arguments and published them in his weekly newspaper.

**Contents and Sample Pages**