Economic Philosophy Of Mahatma Gandhi

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Dr. S.S. Gupta (1929-2018) is M.A., Ph.D., D. Litt. He retired as Principal of D.S. Post-Graduate College, Aligarh after 37 years of distinguished service. He has been a good student, a popular teacher and recognised as an able administrator. He held important offices as member of the Executive Council of the Agra University: Director, Principal's Workshop: Secretary, Principal's Association: Member, Zonal Advisory Committee, Life Insurance Corporation of India (Kanpur Zone), Founder Member, Lion's Club. Aligarh, etc. In all these capacities he made bold experiments and got rich experiences. His family background gave him discipline, simplicity, fearlessness and boldness, courage of conviction and love for Indian culture. Dr. Gupta, therefore, writes with conviction. He has a prolific pen. He has always broken new grounds and given new dimension. His important works are: Economic Philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi, Socio-Politico-Economic set-up in Valmiki Ramayan, Varna-Vyavastha, Castes and Scheduled Castes, Integrated Development Plan for India: Goal, Tools and Strategies. A Draft Plan of the Indian Education. Planning for Academic Excellence, Socio-Economic Survey of College Students, Utilization fo Electricity in the Village, and dozens of articles. Nobel prize winner, Prof. Gunnar Myrdal and other authors have made use of Dr. Gupta's writings.

Was there ever a man like Gandhi who lived, worked and mesmerized people of India, nay of the World? If a man like Gandhi lived upto January 31. 1948, is he dead now? Gandhi stood for a way of life-Socio-Politico-Economic. What was that life? Is this way of life practicable? Is it good? Is it for India alone or for each country of the World. big or small, strong or weak, rich or poor? such questions I continue coming.

India became free in 1947 with a promise that its leaders who were trusted. tested and trained in Gandhian way of life will soon succeed in removing unemployment, poverty, illiteracy and scarcity of essential things of life and succeed in creating a new socio-politico climate. But what has happened in the last half a century. The ambitions of people have been awakened beyond reasonable limits. Unemployment is not less, may be more. Uneven distribution of wealth has increased. We have failed to provide necessities of life like pure drinking water, sanitary conditions, even a small hut to live in, primary education, etc., to the bulk of people and on the other hand, a few lucky ones have multiplied their wealth beyond all reasonable limits. Moreover, life has really become unsafe with ever rising graph of murders. kidnapping, land grabbing and violence-caste, class and religious. It appears mafia people have taken over the command. It has become difficult to find out patriotic people with the result that states after states are becoming centres of anti-national activities. The economic, social and political life are crossing the danger marks. We are likely to be drowned in the rising water of debt, both internal and international. The utility of GATT and other international agreements is debatable. So. the million dollar question is; what can be the alternative?

This forced me to revive my old love. The present work is an outcome of this love.

It has been the rare good luck of persons of my age-group that from our childhood we have seen Gandhi being at the helm of affairs, controlling and directing the destinies of millions of his countrymen, sometimes in politics, and sometimes in economics, but always, step by step, taking us nearer to the much coveted goal of human happi- ness. For anybody to come under the spell of the greatest man of the century was but natural.

**Contents and Sample Pages**