Isabella Carter
The 'Gandhian Constitution for Free India' was a 60-page document published in 1946 by Shriman Narayan Agarwal, a Gandhian economist. It was based on Gandhi's ideas and included chapters on 'Basic Principles', 'Fundamental Rights and Duties', 'Provincial Government', 'Central Government', and the 'Judiciary'. The constitution strongly advocated for a decentralised political and administrative setup with village panchayats as the core units. While the document was discussed within the Constituent Assembly, the idea of a Panchayati Raj-based administration was ultimately rejected in favour of the Draft Constitution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Author | Shriman Narayan Agarwal |
| Year of Publication | 1946 |
| Inspiration | Mahatma Gandhi |
| Genre | Non-fiction |
| Topics Covered | Non-violence, harmony, education, trade, property, fundamental rights, duties of the people, decentralisation, and indigenous constitutional traditions |
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What You'll Learn
Shriman Narayan Agarwal
Agarwal was greatly inspired by Mahatma Gandhi and joined the Indian independence movement at a young age. He was a member of the Working Committee of the Indian Youth Congress and later enrolled as a member of the Indian National Congress. In 1942, he was imprisoned for his involvement in the Quit India Movement.
In 1946, Agarwal wrote and published the 'Gandhian Constitution for Free India', a 60-page document divided into 22 chapters. The constitution was based on Gandhian principles and ideas, including non-violence, harmony, and political and economic decentralisation, with a focus on the Panchayat Raj system. However, Gandhi himself did not write the document, but he did provide a foreword, acknowledging that the constitution was based on his writings and consistent with his values.
Agarwal believed that any constitution for India should be rooted in indigenous constitutional traditions, harking back to ancient times. He sought to synthesise Gandhian ideals into a document that could guide a newly independent India. After India's independence, Agarwal continued to work in the education sector and played a crucial role in the Planning Commission, drafting the Five-Year Plans. He was also elected as a member of Parliament to the Lok Sabha in 1952.
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Gandhian economist
Shriman Narayan Agarwal, a Gandhian economist, authored the 'Gandhian Constitution for Free India', which was first published in 1946. The book was written based on Gandhi's ideas, and Gandhi wrote a foreword to the document, stating that the constitution was "based on [Agarwal's] study of my writings" and was not "inconsistent with what I would like to stand for".
Agarwal's work focuses on Gandhi's ideals of non-violence and harmony, as well as his reformative conceptions on education, trade, and property, among other things. He synthesised these ideas into a document that could inspire the direction adopted by an independent Indian nation.
Gandhi believed in a self-reliant economy with the participation of people to achieve equitable and sustainable growth. Gandhian economics is a school of economic thought based on the spiritual and socio-economic principles Gandhi expounded. It is characterised by a rejection of the classical economic thinking concept of a human being as a rational actor always seeking to maximise material self-interest.
Gandhian economics contains elements of protectionism and nationalism, adhering to the principles and objectives of non-violence and rejecting class warfare in favour of socio-economic harmony. It promotes spiritual development and rejects materialism. It also does not distinguish between economics and ethics, deeming economics that hurt the moral well-being of individuals or nations as immoral and sinful. The value of an industry, according to this school of thought, should be based on its effect on the bodies, souls, and spirits of the people employed, rather than the dividends paid to shareholders.
Gandhian economics further emphasises small-scale and locally-oriented production, using local resources to meet local needs, thus creating employment opportunities everywhere and promoting the ideal of Sarvodaya, or the welfare of all. This goes hand-in-hand with labour-using technology that increases employment, rather than labour-saving machinery.
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Decentralisation and devolution of power
The 'Gandhian Constitution for Free India' was authored by Shriman Narayan Agarwal, a Gandhian economist, and published in 1946. The text was based on Mahatma Gandhi's ideas, with a foreword written by Gandhi himself. In the foreword, Gandhi states that the constitution is "based on [Agarwal's] study of my writings" and is consistent with his own values.
Agarwal's work focuses on Gandhi's ideals of non-violence and harmony, as well as his reformative conceptions on education, trade, and property. One of the key principles in the text is the decentralisation and devolution of power, which is seen as a cornerstone of a future constitution. This principle is in line with Gandhi's support for political and economic decentralisation, with a particular emphasis on Panchayat Raj institutions.
In the 'Gandhian Constitution for Free India', Agarwal advocates for a return to village life and rustic existence, which he believes is instinctive to India and a way to maintain a civilised society. This decentralisation is positioned as a way to preserve Indian culture and traditions, with a focus on the duties of the people as well as their rights.
The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments in India established Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and mandated the election of local governments, including panchayats and municipalities. This process of democratic decentralisation aimed to devolve functions, resources, and responsibilities from the central government to lower levels of governance, thus facilitating greater direct participation of citizens in decision-making.
However, challenges to effective decentralisation and devolution of power include untimely elections, insufficient funding for local governments, and corruption. Despite these issues, the 'Gandhian Constitution' continues to be referenced in scholarly works exploring alternative conceptions of democracy and Gandhian thought, with organisations such as the Servants of the People drawing on its principles.
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Gandhian principles
Shriman Narayan Agarwal, a Gandhian economist, authored the 'Gandhian Constitution for Free India', which was first published in 1946. The work focuses on Gandhi's ideals and seeks to synthesise them into a document that could inspire an independent Indian nation. Gandhi wrote a foreword to the document, in which he acknowledged that the constitution was based on his (Agarwal's) interpretation of his (Gandhi's) writings.
Agarwal's work was based on Gandhi's principles, and in this answer, I will outline some of these principles, also known as Gandhism.
Gandhism is a body of ideas that encapsulates Gandhi's vision, life work, and words. Gandhi was critical of the hypocrisy in organised religion, and his religious views reflected an inclusive and pluralistic outlook. He was inspired by Leo Tolstoy's critique of institutional Christianity and faith in the love of the spirit. Gandhi's residence in South Africa was named after Tolstoy, and he wrote the foreword to Tolstoy's essay, 'A Letter to a Hindu'. Gandhi's experiment with a utopian political economy was called 'Gram Swaraj'. This concept was influenced by John Ruskin's book 'Unto This Last', in which Ruskin critiques the 'economic man'.
Gandhi's 11 principles include the following:
- Truth
- Non-violence
- Purity
- Detachment from material possessions
- Compassion
- Swadeshi (indigenous constitutional tradition)
- Fearlessness
- Service
- Unity
- Removal of discrimination
These principles provide strong life lessons and continue to guide millions globally on upholding non-violence, integrity, and public service.
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Gandhian Plan of Economic Development for India
Shriman Narayan Agarwal, a Gandhian economist, authored the book "The Gandhian Constitution for Free India", which was first published in 1946. The book was based on Mahatma Gandhi's ideas, with a foreword written by Gandhi himself. In the foreword, Gandhi said that the constitution was "based on his [Agarwal’s] study of my writings" and was not "inconsistent with what I would like to stand for".
Agarwal's work focuses on Gandhian ideals of non-violence and harmony and his reformative conceptions on education, trade, and property, among other things. He synthesised these ideas into a document that could inspire the direction of an independent India. One of the key principles in Agarwal's book is the fundamental idea of decentralisation and devolution of power, which he believed should be the cornerstone of India's future constitution. He also emphasised the importance of framing a constitution with the background of Indian traditions, stating that most Indian leaders had neglected to study ancient Indian institutions.
Agarwal also authored "The Gandhian Plan" in 1944, which emphasised the expansion of small-unit production and agriculture. The fundamental feature of this plan was the decentralisation of the economic structure, with a focus on self-contained villages and cottage industries. This plan aimed to address the problems of poverty and unemployment, national defence, and economic regeneration.
The Gandhian model of economic development is based on the development of local and rural areas, with a particular focus on villages. It aims to enable people living in villages to earn money and fulfil their basic needs, as well as providing education to students living in these areas. The business organisation in this model must maintain cooperation and trusteeship, and it helps to maintain equality between all levels of citizens. The economy in this model is designed to be self-sufficient and to solve problems related to production, distribution, and labour. It emphasises treating all employees or labourers equally, regardless of economic growth.
Overall, the Gandhian Plan of Economic Development for India, as outlined by Shriman Narayan Agarwal, seeks to transform and develop society by promoting non-violence, cooperation, self-sufficiency, and human value. It aims to address the issues of poverty and unemployment, inequality, while also emphasising the importance of India's cultural and traditional values.
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Frequently asked questions
Shriman Narayan Agarwal authored the Gandhian Constitution for Free India.
The book was published in 1946.
Shriman Narayan Agarwal was a Gandhian economist and author.
The book focused on Mahatma Gandhi's ideals of non-violence and harmony and his reformative conceptions on education, trade, and property.
Gandhi did not write the book, but he agreed with its contents and wrote a foreword.
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