Gandhi’s Nonviolence and Community Psychology for the Twenty-First Century

Abstract

The goal of this chapter is to show how twenty-first-century communities and modern community psychology would gain from a thorough analysis of communities of the Gandhian era. Along these lines, the chapter starts with a definition of community psychology and the related disciplines of ecological psychology and environmental psychology, moving on to Kelly’s fourfold model. It is clear that Gandhi had preempted all four of the factors delineated by Kelly, and, had developed techniques through which these principles can be incorporated in any community. The next part of the chapter describes some of the communities set up by Gandhi and the simple ways by which he obtained mutual cooperation and clarifies why Gandhi succeeded where veteran psychologist Skinner failed. One of the major problems being faced by communities the world over is the lack of community feeling. The importance given by Gandhi to “bread labor,” self-help groups and community activities such as spinning and all religion prayer meetings reveals how they can be utilized to create the missing links in communities. The role of personal vows clarifies how discipline can be inculcated, how self-control and self-reliance can be imbibed and dignity and respect for work can be inculcated. The third part of the chapter focuses on the Gandhian concept of “doosri azaadi” (second freedom), that is, freedom from poverty and despair, and the ways through which Gandhi attempted to lift people out of such despair and poverty. In all, it is evident that community psychology stands to gain considerably from an understanding and analysis of Gandhi’s ideas and even more so from the practical ways crafted by him. Some such communities, that are prospering even today, have found due place in this chapter to showcase that they are more sustainable, highlighting the relevance of Gandhi in the twenty-first century.