Mahatma Gandhi

Summary

Mahatma Gandhi's daily routine began at 4 AM with prayers in silence, accompanied by devotional songs from the Bhagavad Gita in dim light. He followed this with a light breakfast of goat’s milk, grapes, or honey and hot water. After work, he took a warm bath and breakfast at 10 AM, consisting of curd, fruits, and occasionally aerated curd. He reserved the afternoon for rest, editorial work, and correspondence, often spinning yarn or taking short naps. Evening prayers around 7 PM preceded meetings and interviews, with dinner (a repeat of breakfast) consumed slowly. He prioritized spinning yarn daily, often continuing late into the night if interrupted earlier. He preferred sleeping outdoors unless the weather was unfavorable. Gandhi’s speeches focused on practical steps toward Swaraj (self-rule), emphasizing boycotting foreign cloth, using Khadi, abandoning intoxicants, unity across religions, abolishing untouchability, and supporting the Congress through donations. His economic ideology prioritized meeting basic needs (food, shelter, clothing) for all, rejecting excess consumption, advocating self-sufficiency at individual, village, and national levels, and opposing monopolies on essentials. He supported nationalizing large industries, restricting machinery, prohibiting trade in opium and wine, and discouraging alms-giving to promote self-reliance. He stressed equitable wealth distribution and dignity in labor. During the Salt Satyagraha, Gandhi reorganized his followers, retaining only committed volunteers and establishing rules for conduct. His campaigns addressed social, economic, and political injustices, aiming for Swaraj through nonviolent resistance.