Using and Abusing Gandhi, offers a deep analysis of how Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy is often misinterpreted and co-opted for anti-Western rhetoric in modern Indian discourse. Guha provides critical insights into Gandhi’s actual views on Western civilization, showing that Gandhi was neither completely anti-Western nor purely an indigenist. Here’s a more detailed breakdown of the article’s key themes and points:
- Misuse of Gandhi’s Legacy:
Guha opens by highlighting how Gandhi’s name is used in almost every major debate in India. However, modern invocations of Gandhi tend to focus on portraying him as a figure solely opposed to Western influence, which is a misrepresentation. Both conservative and left-wing voices in India often invoke Gandhi to argue against Western cultural and economic dominance, particularly in the context of post-colonial India.
- Right-wing conservatives: They view the West as a threat to India’s traditional culture, blaming Western media (like MTV) for cultural corrosion.
- Left-wing nationalists: They criticize foreign capital and economic policies tied to Western powers, claiming that these increase poverty and stifle India’s self-reliance.
Both sides, according to Guha, use Gandhi selectively to support their own agendas while ignoring the broader, more complex aspects of his thinking.
- Rising Indigenism in India:
Guha draws attention to the growing indigenist (anti-Western) sentiment in India since independence. He points out that even intellectuals in India, who once aligned with Marxism, have shifted toward a form of multiculturalism that pits the West against the rest of the world. This has led to an intellectual atmosphere where Western ideas are seen as inherently harmful, and anything seen as culturally “foreign” is met with suspicion.
Guha contrasts this attitude with the nuanced way Gandhi approached Western civilization. While Gandhi opposed British colonialism and advocated for Swadeshi (self-reliance), he was open to learning from the West’s positive contributions. Gandhi’s criticism of Western industrialism did not amount to a blanket rejection of all Western ideas or values.
- Gandhi’s Intellectual Influences:
One of the article’s core points is that Gandhi was, in fact, heavily influenced by Western thinkers and ideas. Guha outlines how Gandhi’s philosophy was shaped by various Western figures, including:
- Leo Tolstoy (Russian populism)
- Henry David Thoreau (American radical democracy)
- John Ruskin (English anti-industrialism)
In Hind Swaraj (1909), one of Gandhi’s foundational texts, his recommended reading list includes many Western writers like Tolstoy, Ruskin, and Thoreau. The only Indians on the list are Dadabhai Naoroji and Romesh Chander Dutt, who wrote about the economic effects of British colonialism rather than celebrating Hindu culture. This demonstrates Gandhi’s broad-mindedness and refusal to box himself into a purely indigenist or Hindu-centric worldview.
- A Broader View of Civilizations:
Guha also addresses the modern-day intellectuals who view civilizations as mutually exclusive and inherently opposed to one another. He critiques both Harvard’s Samuel Huntington (who wrote about the “clash of civilizations”) and Edward Said of Columbia University, who argued against Western domination, noting that both thinkers oversimplify the relationship between cultures. Gandhi, in contrast, saw civilizations as capable of learning from each other.
This perspective was evident in Gandhi’s relationships and writings. He maintained close friendships with Westerners and engaged deeply with Christianity and Western philosophy. He believed that India could adopt the best parts of Western civilization while retaining its own cultural values.
- Gandhi’s Balanced Approach to the West:
Guha cites an anecdote about Indian freedom fighter Yusuf Meherally and American Bertram D. Wolfe. Meherally, once a fervent critic of colonialism, mellowed in his attitude towards the British after hearing Gandhi’s advice. Gandhi suggested that while India would gain independence, it should retain the best aspects of British civilization, such as the rule of law and sense of fair play.
This story reflects Gandhi’s pragmatic approach: once India gained independence, it should not reject everything British, but rather selectively adopt practices that could contribute to India’s growth and stability.
- The Dangers of Superficial Westernization:
Guha criticizes Indians who admire the West for the wrong reasons. He argues that many Indians are drawn to Western consumerism—preferring Madonna to Ravi Shankar, T-shirts to kurtas, and Kentucky Fried Chicken to tandoori—rather than emulating the West’s stronger public institutions and scientific achievements.
While criticizing superficial Westernization, Guha argues that India should focus on adopting the best aspects of Western civilization:
- Judicial systems: In the West, courts are free from corruption, and judges cannot be bought.
- Educational institutions: Western universities function with discipline, where teachers conduct classes regularly and students are not constantly on strike.
- Healthcare: Western hospitals provide equal treatment to both the rich and poor, a stark contrast to India’s unequal systems.
By focusing on such systems of governance and public service, Guha argues that India can make meaningful progress without abandoning its cultural identity.
- Japan and Singapore as Examples:
Guha points to Japan and Singapore as countries that have successfully navigated the balance between adopting Western innovations and retaining their cultural uniqueness. Both nations have embraced modernization and industrialization while preserving their traditions, something Gandhi would have advocated for India.
Japan, for instance, integrated Western technological advancements while maintaining its cultural values. Similarly, Singapore adopted Western models of governance and infrastructure without losing its unique identity. Guha suggests that India should learn from these countries rather than fall into the trap of seeing Westernization as a zero-sum game.
- The Call for Selective Borrowing:
In the article’s conclusion, Guha reiterates that India must stop indulging in anti-Western rhetoric and begin thinking strategically about what it can borrow from the West. Gandhi understood the importance of this balance, recognizing when it was time to stop talking about Western imperialism and start building a self-reliant but open-minded nation.
Guha’s final message is clear: India, with its ancient culture and growing democracy, should have the confidence to take what it wants from the West and leave the rest. Instead of imitating the West in superficial ways, India should focus on emulating its strengths—strong public institutions, scientific achievements, and transparent governance—while maintaining its cultural core.
Conclusion:
Guha’s essay challenges both the knee-jerk rejection of the West and the blind admiration for Western consumerism. He suggests that Gandhi’s true legacy lies in his ability to balance Indian traditions with selective adoption of Western ideas. In today’s world, Guha argues, it’s time for India to follow Gandhi’s advice: embrace what’s useful from Western civilization and ignore the rest.
By Ramachandra Guha
