Relevance of Gandhi to a peaceful and just world society: Lessons for social work practice and education

Abstract

Abstract This paper examines the relevance of Gandhian philosophy and praxis to deal with peace, development, and social justice. Five core concepts of Gandhian Praxis are examined: 1) Satyagraha (adherence to truth); 2) Ahimsa (nonviolence or love); 3) Swadeshi (self-reliance); 4) Bread-labor (with the sweat of thy brow thou shalt eat thy bread); and 5) Equality. From a Gandhian perspective, social work is a well-chosen profession. This paper proposes a professional peace consciousness for social work, based on Gandhian principles, to deal with violence, oppression, and exploitation. Implications for social work practice on micro, meso, and macro levels are presented. Implications for social work education include recommended curriculum goals and objectives and suggestions for the foundation areas of human behavior in the social environment, multilevel social work practice, and policy.