Hind Swaraj is a unique philosophical text written in 1909 by Mahatma Gandhi. It is an Indian contribution to Political Theory. Gandhi was a political activist responding creatively to the sociopolitical and economic circumstances in which he was located. Hind Swaraj is an alternative to modern socio-economic political thought. It is a critique of excessiveness of materialistic western society. It is a pointer to down side of modern civilization, i.e. colonialism, neo-colonialism, violence, alienation etc. It is also a pointer to political democracy because political democracy without social democracy is not a democracy at all. Through Hind Swaraj Mahatma Gandhi wanted to establish self-esteem of individual and moral regeneration of India. Hind Swaraj is a source book for evaluation of India and Indians. Revisiting Hind Swaraj is a key book to understanding not only Gandhi’s life and thought but also to present dilemmas arising out of technology, industrialization and globalization. It provides an alternative as to how an oppressed class can fight. It also provides an alternative to individuals, society and the state. This book will be useful not only for converting the converters but also the young mind, particularly, youth who are in search of icon.
