Neo- Gandhian Approach to Civil Disobedience

1. Who are Neo- Gandhians?

Practitioners of Gandhian tools such as Anna Hazare, Nehru, Patel etc.

2. How is Neo-Gandhian approach different from Gandhian approach?

(i) While Gandhian approach is averse to the use of technology, Neo- Gandhian has no such
reservation against it.

(ii) Gandhi fasted for his own reasons (such as in South Africa) and for other people's causes as well.
Satyagrah in Gandhian philosophy is a mode to achieve - Sarvodaya (welfare of All). On the other hand,
Neo- Gandhian approach uses method of Civil Disobedience very selectively i.e., for their own cause,
which according to them is right, and will accrue results benefiting the nation at large. However, this
might not happen in reality because of the absence of a long-term vision in Neo-Gandhian approach.

Hence, we can say that while Gandhian outlook of civil disobedience is broad, Neo-Gandhian is quite
narrow with limited applicability. Eg. Anna Hazare's Satyagraha for Anti-corruption Bill did not lay focus
on other measures to combat coruption.

(iii)Thirdly, Gandhan philosophy is a call for simplicity - from choosing to live like a Mahatma to picking
a simple tool of salt to fight the mighty British Empire, Gandhian philosophy believed in winining big
battles with simplicity as a weapon. This is often seen missing in Neo- Gandhian approach. Neo
Gandhians from Nehru to Patel to Hazare did not focus on simplicity as an essential element of
Satyagraha. They were in favor of industrialization and some of them followed a consumerist lifestyle.

(iv) We can say that if Gandhian approach to civil disobedience was spiritual, the neo-Gandhian
approach to civil disobedience was political. This is evident from the life of Mahatma Gandhi himself
who stayed aloof from politics and presented civil disobedience as a tool of purification of the soul and
not only of winning political battles. On the other hand, Neo-Gandhian leaders like Arvind Kejriwal went
ahead and became a part of mainstream politics.

In short, Gandhian approach to civil disobedience is a holistic philosophy of pursuing Truth in every form.
For Gandhi, means are as important as the ends. But the Neo-Gandhian approach looks at Satyagraha as
merely a tool to achieve political ends.

Note - Kindly read Anna Hazare's Satyagraha and make notes of the same as an illustration of Case Study
of Neo Gandhian Approach to Civil Disobedience.