Power, Politics and Corruption: A Gandhian Solution

The question of power has assumed particular importance both in the realm of theory and practical politics. With politics turning into a business enterprise – in fact the most flourishing industry which knows no recession or slump – a new breed of political entrepreneur has emerged ready to storm the citadels of power. Almost all the politicians during their own life time groom their own sons and daughters and other close relatives to enter politics. It has become by and large a family business. Political corruption is a part of practicing politics everywhere, sort of a necessary evil or price of political freedom. Freedom to govern includes freedom to be corrupt. Here the focus is on how Gandhi viewed political power, what is its role in society: can it be used non-violently: can the element of coercion be removed from it in accordance with Gandhi’s view of non-violent moral power: what was its nature when Gandhi gained political power? Did he succeed in eliminating coercive element in his exercise of power? Generally it is assumed that political power flows from top to bottom but Gandhi tried to put the whole process in the reverse gear and generated power from below. To what extent he had been successful in his attempt? It is a matter of great interest to any student of political behaviour that while Gandhi was suspicious of the possible abuses of political power and advocated complete decentralization of it, he himself exercised immense political power. Was it in accord with his suspicion of power? Was there any dichotomy between his theory and practice? Are corruption and criminalisation always the essential ingredients of politics? Has it become a business or an industry? These questions cannot be answered unless we study how Gandhi rose to power and how he wielded it after having gained it. This book gives different aspects of his political thinking in the light of his actual behaviour in tackling political issues. This book pierces the all pervasive smog of permissiveness surrounding the canker of corruption eating into the vitals of our body politic.