કિશોરલાલ મશરૂવાળાનો કર્મિવિચાર

Summary

This article examines Kishorlal Mashruwala’s views on karma. Mashruwala, a Gandhian thinker and educationist, wrote “Karmavichar” to reinterpret the doctrine of karma in a modern ethical context. The author summarises Mashruwala’s distinction between past karma (prārabdha) and present actions (kriyamāṇa), emphasising that although circumstances are influenced by previous deeds, individuals remain free to choose their responses. The article notes that Mashruwala rejects fatalistic and ritualistic interpretations and instead advocates self‑discipline, non‑violence and truthfulness as means to liberation. Drawing on Jain and Hindu philosophies, he treats karma as a psychological process: habits and mental dispositions can be transformed through awareness and compassion. Mashruwala links individual karma with social ethics, arguing that collective karma operates through social institutions and that social reform is part of spiritual practice. The article concludes that Mashruwala’s reinterpretation aligns the doctrine of karma with Gandhian ideals of self‑reliance and social justice.