August 15, 1997 heralded independent India's fiftieth birthday. Fifty years of existence are always a time for reflection, introspection and ideally, celebration. Thus, it is pertinent to assess where India stands today attainment after half a century of Swaraj, which means positive self-dependence and not mere independence from British colonial rule. To quote Gandhi: "The world Swaraj is a sacred word, a vedic word, meaning self-rule and self-restraint, and not (Mere) freedom from all restraint which 'independence' often means'¦. Indeed, self-government, which does not require that continuous striving to stain it and to sustain it, is not worth the name'¦" Gandhi wanted us to be not only self-sufficient at present but ever on the move. But have we been true to this ideal in the last fifty years? In this book, Gandhian vision, there are fifteen essays which may be taken to suggest some answers to the question but above. Thus, an attempt is here made to assess whether policy makers in free India have shaped the country according to the Mahatma's dreams. The contents of the book will aptly reveal the diverse fields covered; namely, Gandhi on values, religion, politics, democracy, education, economy, development and women's issues. Articles by some foreign scholars and eminent social activists add to the richness of the book.
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