‘Hind Swarajya’ was born in the middle of the ocean on a ship called ‘Kildonan Castle’! Gandhiji worked very hard during this stay! In a letter written to Maganlal Gandhi from the ship itself, he writes that ‘the work I did on the steamer this time has no limits’. Gandhiji wrote the entire book ‘Hind Swarajya’ on the ship itself! He translated Tolstoy’s letter ‘Letter to a Hindu’ into Gujarati, wrote its preface in English and Gujarati and also wrote some letters! When he got tired of writing with his right hand, he started writing with his left hand! A copy of ‘Hind Swarajya’ has been published with Gandhiji’s signature, in that too he has written with his left hand at many places! If you see it written with your right hand, you can imagine how fast it must have been written!
‘Hind Swarajya’ was written in just ten days between 13 and 22 November 1909. Finally, on 22 November, Gandhiji wrote its preface. After reaching South Africa, the first twelve chapters were published in the 11 December issue of ‘Indian Opinion’ and the remaining 8 chapters were published in the 18 December issue as a series of articles. The readers liked this series of articles very much, so it was immediately published in the form of a book in January 1910. It was also sent to India. In March 1910, the Mumbai government confiscated this book.
Gandhiji was very keen that the ideas of ‘Hind Swarajya’ should spread everywhere as soon as possible. The original book was in Gujarati. So, he got its English translation written for his German friend Polak by saving some time and Mr. Polak wrote it. On receiving the news that the Mumbai government has seized ‘Hind Swarajya’, Gandhiji got the English translation published on 20 March without a moment’s delay. Gandhiji wrote, ‘It is my duty towards my English friends to make them aware of the ideas expressed in this book.’
On 4 April, as a ‘humble follower’, Gandhiji sent a copy of this book to Tolstoy and wrote a letter along with it. In response, on 9 May, Tolstoy wrote, “I read your book with great interest! Because I believe that the subject discussed in it – Satyagraha, is of utmost importance not only for India, but for the entire human race! I consider your book very valuable!
The second edition of Gujarati ‘Hind Swarajya’ was also published in South Africa in May 1914. In its preface Gandhiji wrote, “It has been about five years since these ideas appeared. During this period many people have discussed the ideas of this book with me. English and Indian people have corresponded with me. Many have expressed their differences. Despite all this, the ideas I have expressed in it have become stronger as a result. If I get time, I can write the same ideas in more detail with more examples and arguments. I do not think of making any change in those ideas.
In reality, this was an insult to man’s humanity, an auction of it! It was like salt losing its saltiness! If an intelligent and awakened creature like man does not think about what is right and wrong, then who will? This is the real humanity of man! – Mahatma Gandhi, Hind Swarajya
Gandhiji did not accept modern civilization because it is completely opposite to his basic philosophy! He wants to change it from its roots! From this point of view, Gandhiji’s vision of revolution is absolutely unique! A western poet-writer Fassote has drawn attention to this:
“It is one of the best modern guides to a true fundamental revolution within all of us if we are to achieve a creative purpose in life.”
Gerald Hurd has explained this thing more clearly, “Some books are not just books, but are like great natural events!” Hind Swaraj is one such book! What such books say is important, but what they do is more important than that. Rousseau’s ‘Social Contract’ was one such book! Another such book was ‘Karl Marx’s ‘Das Kapital’! Despite this, ‘Hind Swaraj’ is better than both of them! The above two books became inspirational from political and economic point of view during the revolutionary era of Europe! ‘Hind Swaraj is special in the sense that it is not only an indicator of the end of an era but is a book in the form of the beginning of a new era, a new system! The above two books were a symbol of the developing self-realization of the man of the West! The man there wanted freedom from all bondages and resorted to violence to achieve that freedom! By resorting to the same violence that had bound him, he broke his own bondage and bound others. As a result, counter-revolutions inevitably arose from such revolutions. The first lesson that every revolutionary has to learn is – ‘Tat Ttvam Asi’! The revolutionaries of the West ignored this truth. As a result, after suffering so much, other tyrannical rulers sat on the throne. By assimilating this truth, Gandhi shows a new direction. Pure means can only lead to pure ends. Impure means will only bring bad results. – – – Non-violence has been showing us a new path. If we can make it a reality, the world will always remember Gandhi as the guide of this new era. – – – The whole world is interested in Gandhi’s experiment and its importance will remain for ages.
Thus, ‘Hind Swarajya’ is an epoch-making book! It is a book that announces a new era! It has a new philosophy of life! It wants to bring a massive revolution in the life of the individual and the society! When this book was written, the new industrial civilization was prevalent everywhere! The new discoveries of physical science have dazzled man, and his ears have become deaf due to the loud announcements of progress! The horse of materialistic civilization was becoming victorious everywhere! But Gandhiji was able to understand the difference between this noise and commotion! This materialistic industrial civilization is destroying the human race, and causing immense harm to it, such was Gandhiji’s ancient philosophy and the same has been expressed with full force in ‘Hind Swarajya’!
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Marx has also done a poignant review of this civilization. He has also done a very accurate analysis of the increasing inhumanity (de-humanization) and alienation (alienation) due to this civilization. Despite all this, he could not get to the root of the disease of this civilization. Marx could not free himself from the materialistic principles of the time. He did strongly criticize capitalism and imperialism, but he continued to consider the new industrial civilization as the best form of society. In his opinion, modern industrial civilization was a symbol of the progress of mankind. Marx believed that through industrial civilization, mankind will achieve physical, intellectual, moral perfection and machines and mechanics will play a special role in it.
Today, after so many years, it can be clearly seen how Marx’s beliefs were wrong! Gandhiji was able to grasp the root of the disease of this civilization and he challenged the materialistic ideology that was at its root! ‘Hind Swarajya’ is a book of a strong challenge to this civilization, and is a call to create a new era through a massive revolution!
Dr Suresh Khairnar is former president of Rashtra Sewa Dal (RSD)
