IIS University - International College for Girls - ICG Courses

Post Graduate Diploma in Gandhian Studies

Course  Structure

Course Syllabus

PGS 151  Gandhi's life and Philosophy

Life of Gandhi

• Childhood
• Student life
• Lawyer
• Satyagrahi
• Social reformer
• Revolutionary leader

Unit II

Influence of Indian and Western Thinkers and of Religions

• Raychandbhai, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Ruskin, Dadabhai Naoroji, Thoreau and Tolstoy
• TheGita, The Bible, The Buddha, Jainism, Islam and Hindu thought

Unit III

• Philosophy – Gandhian Writing – My Experiment with Truth
• View of Human life: Uniqueness: Goal
• Quest for Truth, Identifying Truth
• Living in the light of Truth in one's life and in society
• Identity of spiritual and social values - Progress - values behind the vows - Basic vows (Ekadash vrat)

Unit IV

• Philosophy -Observances for spiritual life - their social significance today.
• Ashrams
• Truth as God, Truth and Love
• Ends & Means
• Meaning and Power of Non-violence
• Views on Ethical religion/various religions
• Sarvadharmasamabhava/ Equality of religions and equal respect for all religions

Unit V

• The philosophy and Sadhana of Satyagraha
• Concept, theory, variants and techniques of Satyagraha
• Preparation, preconditions, strategy and operational forms
• Satyagraha and Passive Resistance
• Satyagraha and Democracy
• Satyagraha as a weapon of social change/revolution
• Satyagraha and constructive work or service
• Civil Disobedience in Indian tradition
• Satyagraha and the pacifist movement
• Major Satyagrahas led by Gandhi:
  • Satyagraha in South Africa
  • Champaran Satyagrahi
  • Kheda Satyagraha
  • Ahmedabad Satyagraha
  • Non-Violent Non-Co-Operation
  • Salt Satyagraha
  • Individual Civil Disobedience
  • Quit India movement

PGS 152   Political Thought of Gandhi and its relevance

Unit I

• Indian National Congress
• Emergence of Gandhi in Indian political scene

Unit II

• Gandhi - goals and methods of action (Ends and Means)
• Concept and claim of spiritualizing politics

Unit III

• Nation, Society and State
• State and Governments, State and the Individual
• Lokniti (Peoples Power), Ahimsa, Conflict Resolution, Universalism

Unit IV

• Liberty - Meaning and Safeguards
• Citizenship
• Equality - Rights and Duties
• State and religion

Unit V

• Democracy - Communism
• Gahian writing- Hind Swaraj
• Gandhi’s Concept of Swaraj - Decentralized Administration
• Gram Swaraj , Ram Rajya
• Contemporary relevance

PGS 251   Economic and Social Thought of Gandhi

Unit I

• Gandhi’s economic philosophy
• Gandhi’s critique of Industrialism - Evils and consequences
• Need Vs Greed (and Wants) - Consumption
• Production – Technology – Appropriate/ Intermediate
• Distribution - Ownership - Trusteeship
• Centralization - evils and answers
• Decentralisation
• Swadeshi - Khadi - Village industries
• Bread labour

Unit II

• Various movements:
• Bhoodan and Gramdan
• Kisan Movement- Kheda and Bardoli

Unit III

• Philosophy of Sarvodaya
• Gandhian approach to the village community and rural reconstruction Concept of Gramswaraj
• Constructive Programme
• Varanshram system and its distinction from caste system
• Untouchability and the method of struggle against it - Harijan welfare Social service, work and reform Tribal welfare Eradication of social evils with special reference to Gandhi’s drive against alcoholism/drug addiction

Unit IV

• Education - Basic Education, National education (Higher and Technical Education)
• Philosophy of social work and the Gandhian approach
• Social problems in Indian society – caste, communalism and regionalism
• Self-reliance
• People’s participation
• Contemporary relevance of economic and social ideas of gandhi

Unit V

• Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNAREGA)
• Scheme and functions, objectives, ideological basis
• Impact upon rural, social & economic life, political implications.

PGS 252  Project

Course Rationale:

• The paper aims the student to undertake new study in gandhian ideals.
• To acquaint the students with research methodology
• To orient the students with the techniques of documentation

Note : This paper requires two hours of self study outside the class so as to acquaint them with the techniques of Data/ Information collection and Data/Information analysis so as to arrive at valid conclusions. Students need to select a topic relating to Gandhian studies and present a report at the end of the academic year.