Swaraj
Swarāj (
IAST: , ) can mean, generally
self-governance or "self-rule". The term was used synonymously with "home-rule" by
Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati and later on by
Mahatma Gandhi, but the word usually refers to Gandhi's concept of
Indian independence from foreign domination. Swaraj lays stress on governance, not by a hierarchical government, but by self-governance through individuals and
community building. The focus is on political
decentralisation. Since this is against the political and social systems followed by
Britain, Gandhi's concept of Swaraj advocated India's discarding British political, economic, bureaucratic, legal,
military, and educational institutions.
S. Satyamurti,
Chittaranjan Das and
Motilal Nehru were among a contrasting group of Swarajists who laid the foundation for
parliamentary democracy in India.
Although Gandhi's aim of totally implementing the concepts of Swaraj in India was not achieved, the voluntary work organisations which he founded for this purpose did serve as precursors and role models for people's movements, voluntary organisations, and some of the non-governmental organisations that were subsequently launched in various parts of India. The student movement against oppressive local and central governments, led by
Jayaprakash Narayan, Udit Swaraj and the
Bhoodan movement, which presaged demands for land reform legislation throughout India, and which ultimately led to India's discarding of the
Zamindari system of
land tenure and social organisation, were also inspired by the ideas of Swaraj.
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