University of Virginia Library

'HIND SWARAJ' OR THE INDIAN
HOME-RULE

It is certainly my good fortune that this
booklet of mine is receiving wide attention.
The original is in Gujarati. It had a chequered
career. It was first published in the columns
of the `Indian Opinion' of South Africa. It
was written in 1908 during my return voyage
from London to South Africa in answer to the
Indian school of violence, and its prototype in
South Africa. I came in contact with every
known Indian anarchist in London. Their
bravery impressed me, but I feel that their
zeal was misguided. I felt that violence was
no remedy for India's ills, and that her civilization
required the use of a different and higher
weapon for self-protection. The Satyagrah of
South Africa was still an infant hardly two
years old. But it had developed sufficiently
to permit me to write of it with some degree
of confidence. It was so much appreciated
that it was published as a booklet. It attracted
some attention in India. The Bombay
Government prohibited its circulation. I

replied by publishing its translation. I thought
that it was due to my English friends, that they
should know its contents. In my opinion it is a
book which can be put into the hands of a child.
It teaches the gospel of love in the place of that
of hate. It replaces violence with self-sacrifice.
It pits soul force against brute force. It has gone
through several editions and I commend it to
those who would care to read it. I withdraw
nothing except one word of it, and that in
deference to a lady friend, I have given the
reason for the alteration in the preface to the
Indian edition.[1]

The booklet is a severe condemnation of
`modern civilization.' It was written in 1908.
My conviction is deeper to-day than ever. I
feel that if India would discard `modern
civilization,' she can only gain by doing so.

But I would warn the reader against
thinking that I am to-day aiming at the
Swaraj described therein. I know that
India is not ripe for it. It may seem an
impertinence to say so. But such is my conviction.
I am individually working for the
self-rule pictured therein. But to-day my corporate
activity is undoubtedly devoted to the

attainment of Parliamentary Swaraj in accordance
with the wishes of the people of India.
I am not aiming at destroying railways or
hospitals, though I would certainly welcome
their natural destruction. Neither railways
nor hospitals are a test of a high and pure
civilization. At least they are a necessary evil.
Neither adds one inch to the moral stature of
a nation Nor am I aiming at a permanent
destruction of law courts, much as I regard it
as a consummation devoutly to be wished for.
Still less am I trying to destroy all machinery
and mills. It requires a higher simplicity and
renunciation than the people are to-day prepared
for.

The only part of the programme which is
now being carried out in its entirety is that of
non-violence. But I regret to have to confess
that even that is not being carried out in the
spirit of the book. If it were, India would
establish Swaraj in a day. If India adopted
the doctrine of love as an active part of her
religion and introduced it in her politics,
Swaraj would descend upon India from heaven.
But I am painfully aware that that event is
far off as yet.

I offer these comments because I observe
that much is being quoted from the booklet
to discredit the present movement. I have
even seen writings suggesting that I am
playing a deep game, that I am using the
present turmoil to foist my fads on India,
and am making religious experiments at
India's expense. I can only answer that
Satyagrah is made of sterner stuff. There is
nothing reserved and nothing secret in it. A
portion of the whole theory of life described
in 'Hind Swaraj' is undoubtedly being carried
into practice. There is no danger attendant
upon the whole of it being practised. But it
is not right to scare away people by reproducing
from my writings passages that are irrelevant
to the issue before the country.