Relevance of Mahatma Gandhi in the Present Times

Abstract

This paper is an attempt to evaluate whether in the 21st century’s globalized world the Gandhian message still has or could have any actuality in managing our century’s real challenges such as violence or the lowering of moral and ethical crisis of the humanity. The paper will present, analyse and comment on the most important concepts. I consider the Gandhian thought is based on such as satya (Truth), ahimsa (non-violence) and Satyagraha (as it is loosely translated: holding on to truth, which in fact is the philosophy and practice of the non-violent resistance). In my paper I will consider Mahatma Gandhi as a philosopher or a thinker even if many did not agree or even if it were difficult to consider him a philosopher according to traditions values. Secondly, the paper will emphasize those facts and views of the Gandhian thought which could give an answer to the captioned title of the paper, trying to evaluate concepts against the changing social fabric of our times, even if at first impression all of these key concepts of the Gandhian thought seem to be a utopia and useless. It seems that Mahatma Gandhi, through his ideas and thoughts, “is still alive” and is among us after more than 70 years of his death.