Gandhi's Views & Work For Village Development
Village Republic & Village Service

In 1934 Gandhiji resigned from the Indian National Congress over his differences with other leaders on the purity of ends and means. He established the "All India Village Industries Association" at Wardha and devoted most of his time towards reorganization of Indian villages. Gandhiji started experiments in rural life-style such as revival of village crafts and agro processing industries, village cleanliness, diet reforms, etc., so that villages could be developed as ideal surroundings to live in. He concentrated on the removal of untouchability also.

Before moving to Sevagram village in April 1936, Gandhiji had started experiments in various industries at Wardha. He trained many workers in rural reconstruction work such as making Neera from palm trees, jaggery, etc. and in diary, leather work, pottery, oil pressing, bee-keeping etc. He shifted the headquarter of All India Spinners' Association to Sevagram.

In Sevagram Ashram Neera was served every morning. Gandhiji believed that hand spinning hand weaving i.e. Khadi cloth was the hub around which all the village industries could prosper. With this solar like system, he thought he could rebuild and preserve the Indian village culture.

When a nation would become free with its own efforts various experiments would be needed to prepare for the development of the economic conditions of the masses. Gandhiji anticipated this and took steps in that direction. Though Gandhiji accepted village life, he could not tolerate ignorance, uncleanliness, laziness jealousy in the villages.

Since 1936 till his last, Sevagram Ashram remained his headquarters. Gandhiji had organized various constructive work institutions to guide the nation on the road to nonviolent reconstruction of its socio-economic base. The man who fought the mightiest empire in the world, had also simultaneously developed and demonstrated a new way of constructive work for the establishment of a non-exploitative and non-violent social order. This was his ideal in life and a message for the mankind.

Gandhiji had launched three nationwide movements of Satyagraha. First was the Civil Disobedience in 1921-22. It was suspended later because of breakdown of the moral discipline and eruption of violence against the British. Second was the Salt March in 1930. The third was the Quit India Movement of 1942. India became free in 1947.
 

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