Gandhian Ethics in Public Administration

7.1 Gandhi's Theory of the State

Gandhi was deeply ambivalent about the modern state. Unlike liberal thinkers who see the state as neutral arbiter of rights, or Marxists who see it as the executive committee of the ruling class, Gandhi saw the state as inherently violent (it maintains itself through the threat of force). His ideal was a minimalist state — maximum power at the village level, minimum at the centre.

Key Gandhian propositions about administration:

1. Servants, not masters: Officials are "servants of the people" — literally. Gandhi used the term "dasa" (servant). This is not metaphorical — the administrative attitude must genuinely be service.

2. Gram Sabha as primary democratic unit: The village assembly should make local decisions; the District Collector should facilitate, not override.

3. Khadi as symbolic commitment: Gandhi's insistence on civil servants spinning khadi was partly a symbol of identification with rural India's economic suffering — officials should not be culturally disconnected from those they govern.

4. Anti-bureaucratic bias: Gandhi distrusted large bureaucracies — they tend toward paperwork, self-preservation, and distance from people. "The nearest analogy to our government is that of a godfather... The godfather does not rule; he intimidates." — Gandhi favoured flat, participatory governance.

7.2 Gandhian Ethics in Contemporary Indian Administration

Constitutional expressions:

• Preamble: "Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic" — socialistic element reflects Sarvodaya
• DPSP Articles 38-51: Sarvodaya in welfare state obligations — living wage, health, education for all
• MGNREGS: Bottom-up employment guarantee — Gram Sabha planning; social audit — direct Gandhi influence
• RTI 2005: Transparency as accountability — aligns with Gandhi's truth as governance principle
• 73rd Amendment: Gram Swaraj — constitutional mandate for village self-governance

Rajasthan-specific:

• Rajasthan's Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan and social audit tradition echoes Gandhian jan sunwai
• e-Gram Swaraj portal for Panchayats — digital enablement of Gram Swaraj
• Rajasthan's experiment with Right to Hearing Act (2012) — citizens' right to be heard, reflecting Gandhi's commitment to listening to the poorest

7.3 Criticisms and Responses

Criticism	Source	Gandhian Response
Supported varna; ambiguous on caste	Ambedkar	Gandhi opposed untouchability; later opposed inter-caste marriage restrictions; insufficient, but evolution visible
Romanticised village life — ignored its caste oppression	Ambedkar, Nehru	Gandhi prioritised village economic self-sufficiency over caste reform — a real limitation
Anti-industrialisation impractical	Nehru, industrialists	Gandhi sought human-scale technology, not zero industry; distinction: production by masses vs mass production
Paternalistic toward women	Feminist scholars	Gandhi championed women in public life (Dandi March) but held conservative views on sexuality
Seven Sins too idealistic	Political realists	Idealism as aspiration — sets direction even if imperfectly achieved

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