Gandhi Sarvodaya – Possessions / things:

I am referring to article by Mahatma Gandhi in Amritbazar Patrika dtd. 17/09/1933.

Gandhiji in this article said that we have to be clear about our purpose and about our means of achieving that purpose. Just knowing purpose is not enough. We have to be clear about the means. We have to be clear about the ways by which we will reach up to that purpose.

Gandhiji said that he has always been careful about preserving the ways of achieving purpose. He has been keen to use the means in right way so that the intended purpose is well achieved.

If the ways / means of reaching the purpose are well preserved and well used, the purpose can be achieved.
If our means are pure our purpose can be achieved. Corollary to his is – our purpose is achieved to the extent of purity of our means.


My interpretation:

Gandhiji said some things that look redundant in to-days time, but are not so.

Gandhiji refers to means of purpose. Preserving means is very important. What is organizational budgeting all about? We have to monitor what resources are deployed and how are they deployed. None of us can use our resources the way governments in developing nations do. They nearly squander everything resulting in huge fiscal deficit.

Here the concept proposed by Gandhiji gains importance. Is your child preparing for exam? Are you preparing for project? Are you starting some new venture? Concept given by Gandhiji is very practical and can be put to use right away.

A child has to be clear about his purpose – passing exam. He has to be clear about means – the tool – his books and his studies. He must preserve books, he must work hard. He has to be honest. This is child’s purity of means. If he is more pure, he is certain to reach his goal of passing exams.

Same is a case with entrepreneur. He has to be innovative. His purpose is success in product launch. His tools are his innovativeness and his creativity. More creative – more clear about market means more success in product launch. So – Gandhiji’s description about purpose and preservation of means for achieving that purpose is very important.

Rest for some other time.