Swaraj

Swarāj (स्वराज swa- self, raj rule) can mean generally self-governance or self-rule, and was used synonymously with home-rule by Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati and later on by Mahatma Gandhi, but the word usually refers to Gandhis concept for 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, Gandhis concept of Swaraj advocated Indias 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 Gandhis 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 peoples 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, and the Bhoodan movement, which presaged demands for land reform legislation throughout India, and which ultimately led to Indias discarding of the Zamindari system of land tenure and social organisation, were also inspired by the ideas of Swaraj.

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