• MANAS KANDI

The concept of Nonviolence of M.K Gandhi is generally considered as a moral and political idea. It places him in the cosmopolitan tradition. Gandhi did not formulate any particular form of cosmopolitan theory. But Gandhi’s convictions regarding biotic community in general and human community in particular has embedded his ideas into rooted cosmopolitan tradition. He was more cosmopolitan in his life practices. More specifically his practice of Ahimsa (nonviolence) connects him in a significant way to cosmopolitan political thought. From Gandhian point of view, nonviolence follows unity and interdependence of human life. The unity and interdependence is core to his notion of advaita (non-duality). Advaita is basic to nonviolence and cosmopolitanism. Gandhi’s concept of nonviolence is based upon universal reciprocity. It is the interconnectedness of self and other. Gandhi’s recognition of unity of humanity and self as a shared humanity proves his stronghold of the idea of cosmopolitanism. Gandhi’s ‘ashram’ considered as a cosmopolitan community where he experimented philosophies like nonviolence. The harmonious existence of self and others in the ‘ashram’ develops cosmopolitan thinking. Gandhi thought individual above the state is the manifestation of cosmopolitan worldview. From cosmopolitan point of view nonviolence can be practised by the individual and by the state. For individual ‘Satyagraha’ is the mean of practicing nonviolence and for a state it is ‘shared sovereignty’. Gandhi’s nonviolence is a challenge to the violent nature of modern state. Sovereignty of the state was not acceptable to Gandhi. A nonviolent state only can be imagined through ‘ethics of togetherness’. The ethics of togetherness is one of the cardinal feature of cosmopolitanism. Gandhian cosmopolitan political thought entails the synthesis of individual autonomy and nonviolent action. The present study locates Gandhi’s nonviolence in broad area of cosmopolitanism.

Gandhi, nonviolence, cosmopolitanism, multiculturalism, self-other

"Gandhi’s Nonviolence as a Cosmopolitan Political Thought", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.11, Issue 3, page no.j1-j8, March-2024, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2403901.pdf

"Gandhi’s Nonviolence as a Cosmopolitan Political Thought", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.11, Issue 3, page no. ppj1-j8, March-2024, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2403901.pdf