Previous Year Question

Gandhism and Marxism differ fundamentally in their philosophical methods and means of achieving social change. Nevertheless, both envisage an ideal social order in which a coercive State would ultimately become unnecessary. Therefore, the final goal of a stateless society is their common point.

In Marxist thought, the State is an instrument of class domination. In a capitalist society, it protects the interests of the ruling capitalist class. After the establishment of a classless communist society, class conflict and class oppression would disappear, and the State would gradually become unnecessary and disappear. This is described as the withering away of the State.

Gandhi criticised excessively centralised and coercive State power. His ideal order was based on self-governing, self-disciplined and decentralised village communities. In such an order, individuals would be governed by moral self-discipline instead of external coercive authority, and State intervention would become minimal. This ideal condition is sometimes associated with the idea of enlightened anarchy.

The other options are not common to both ideologies:

• Class struggle is central to Marxist transformation, whereas Gandhi supported class cooperation, non-violence and change of heart.

• Marxism favours the abolition of private ownership of the means of production. Instead of compulsory abolition of property, Gandhi proposed the principle of Trusteeship.

• Economic determinism is associated with Marxist thought. Gandhism gives decisive importance to truth, non-violence, morality and human consciousness.