Gandhism: A Philosophy of Inclusion

Political Science

Exclusion/Inclusion Perspective is not a new view rather it is a new way of looking at social and political questions. Inclusivist view and way of life is holistic and wholesome whereas exclusivist view and way of life is parochial and harmful. All culture is born of inclusivist view of life. The very concept of culture defined as Universalism divided by Individualism (Universalism÷ Individualism) emphasizes inclusiveness. The Vedic precepts of Vasudhaiva kutumbakam1 and AnoBhadrahkratvoYantu Vishwatah2 (let noble thoughts come to us from all sides) impress upon us inclusivist view. Crusades and Jihads of 12th and 13th centuries were exclusivist by their nature whereas Hindu Sanatan Dharma is inclusivist by nature. Secularism when defined as Sarva Dharma Samabhava emphasized inclusivist attitude towards different faiths, whereas communalism is exclusivist by its very nature. Our Upanishads are the best repository of the philosophy of inclusion and at the same time they contain injunctions against exclusion, e.g. the following verse from Ishopanishad contains one of the finest expositions of inclusivist philosophy

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