Abstract:

The proposition of the talk is that Gandhi’s model of self-regulated individual has a better potential of creating just, humane, and nonviolent societies. Gandhi introduces the concept not only as a philosophy but as an evolved understanding from his experiments with Truth. The lecture proposes to trace the evolution of Mohan into a highly self-regulating person. Second part of the lecture will discuss Gandhi’s formulation about the rules and principles for practice by every individual to become an autonomous moral agent. In the third part Gandhiji’s criticism of modern civilisation is addressed and his worldview about a sane and civilised society will be discussed. Finally comments will be made on the modern free individual of the West and features ofemergent society, and relate it with the autonomous moral agent of Gandhi.

About the Speaker:

Prof. Sudarshan Iyengar, Ph.D. Economics, served as the Vice Chancellor of Gujarat Vidyapith, Ahmedabad, (2005-14). He was Director of the Centre for Social Studies, Surat (2004-05), and Director of Gujarat Institute of Development Research (1999-2004). The major foci of his research have been Gandhian thought in new perspective, natural resource development and management, people’s institutions, and role of non-government organisations in development. He hasas participated in rehabilitation of tribal people displaced in the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Project. He was a volunteer in relief activities in the aftermath of the 2001 earthquake in Kachchh. He has published research articles in professional journals in English, Hindi and Gujarati, and contributed to book chapters, in addition to several co-authored and edited books. He iscurrently Vice Chairman, High Level Dandi Memorial Committee, and Member, Gandhi Heritage Mission, Ministry of Culture, Government of India.