One of the fundamental ideas of Gandhi’s political philosophy is that religion lies at the core of all human life and endeavour. Politics to be useful has to be based on religion. Man cannot advance politically without becoming more moral and more religious. He believed that political freedom will result only from moral freedom i.e. freedom from the fear of death, punishment and poverty. The fear of God is the beginning of political wisdom. Trust in God will procure us our political desires. For him, those who say that religion has nothing to do with politics do not know what religion means. Religion is his politics and his politics is part of his religion.

The religious character of Gandhi’s vision of politics can be known from the religious character of the instruments he has pressed into his political service: Satyagraha, fasting, penance and self-imposed suffering. The uniqueness of his method consists in the fact that the methods like voluntary suffering and sacrifice which were used to enhance religious life are proved to be efficient in bringing changes in the political landscape. Gandhiji showed that they can be used to change the hearts of rulers in favour of implementing upright policies.

While claiming that religion is the foundation of political life he does not insist on everyone conforming to one particular form of religion. His view is that there is only one God for all whether we find him through Koran, the Bible, the Zen Avesta or the Talmud of the Gita.’ Religion is one tree with many branches. As branches you may say religions are many but as tree religion is only one. When he was criticized for using religious categories for political ends, he explained his perception clearly: ‘It is not the Hindu religion which I certainly prize above all other religions, but the religion which transcends Hinduism, which changes one’s very nature, which binds one indissolubly to the truth within and whichever purifies.’ These lines show that Gandhi never meant a particular religion but the ethical ideal which underlies beneath all religions.

Gandhi envisioned a secular foundation for the Independent Nation. He never entertained the idea that the independent India will once become a Hindu Rashtra. He had out rightly clarified that Swaraj will favour Hinduism no more than Islam not Islam more than Hinduism. Gandhiji believed that there will be peace in India only if the Hindus tolerate the Mohammedan form of worship of God and vice-versa. Toleration will be ever a need in India for all times and for all races. By tolerance he means neither indifference to one’s own religion nor approval of what he tolerates in other’s faith as the truth. Mahatma looked forward to seeing India as a pluralistic country where men of different creeds and castes would live in brotherhood and harmony. He was critical of the Hindu Maha Sabha, one of the anti-Muslim movements of the time.

His wish was that in the free country the minorities should be protected and their individual rights should be respected. He said, ‘The Swaraj recognizes no race or religious distinctions. Nor is it to be the monopoly of lettered persons nor yet of moneyed men. Swaraj is to be for all, including the former but emphatically including the maimed, the blind and the starving toiling millions.’ Yes, Gandhian concept of Ram raj was very different from the Hindutva model of Hindu Rashtra, although the protagonists of Sangh-Parivar try often to patronize Gandhi for their political ends.

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