Gandhian innovation is still very relevant

This year, we will be celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. For over a century, his thoughts, philosophy and vision had a profound impact on not only the Indian subcontinent but also across the world. If innovation is defined as original ideas implemented to change the way we live, Gandhi was definitely creative, with innovative ideas of great relevance even today.

During a period when many countries went through violent wars to free themselves from colonialism, the non-violent struggle was definitely an original idea. So was the idea that the fight for independence does not end with the end of colonial rule; the struggle to provide a dignified life to millions of Indians fighting poverty, gender discrimination, caste, class, etc continues.

The concept of self-reliance and dignity of labour has a great underlying message, especially in the age of industrialisation and digitalisation. Should we try to reduce work or value work? Economic value is often created by reducing work but the approach to consider work as a beautiful activity gave a different value to work and the people engaged in it.

Gandhi emphasised cleanliness but today we often get impressed with the visual impact of cleanliness. It is not just about clean homes, clean streets and clean cities. It is also about clean food, clean air and a mind which does not look down on people engaged in cleanliness. The outskirts of many cities are reeling with the pressure of waste generated; there is a skyline of hills which can be seen from parts of Ahmedabad in Gujarat. They are not natural hills but waste dumps which give out toxic air. Discarded e-waste on the outskirts of Bengaluru is often picked up by people unaware of health hazards. We need to realise that we cannot throw dirt outside our home and feel happy because ultimately the whole earth is our home.

A Gandhian NGO was requested by salt pan workers and migrant labour communities to start a residential school for boys since they found it difficult to travel and study in cities, but the NGO decided to first make one for girls because they were needier. Early in the 19th century, Japan made education compulsory and free for all children, resulting in a balanced society with a powerful human resource, enabling them to come out of the effects of war quickly. Systems and cities which take care of their weakest become strong in the long run.

How can people understand democracy if they have not experienced it? A child who has experienced dictatorship and discrimination at home in the family and at school cannot understand the values of democracy. Instead of making rules, the Gandhian NGO allowed the teenage children to make their own hostel rules in a democratic spirit and were surprised with the results. The ability to put across ideas, negotiate, bringing together consensus, being open to criticism and working towards a shared leadership are important skills to learn and value.

Helping all sections of society, bringing back dignity, respect and love for work; making clean sustainable cities; focus on education and instilling democratic values can have a long-term effect towards creating a strong nation. Gandhian thoughts can have a profound effect on innovative government policies. But are Gandhian creative ideas equally relevant for the corporate sector? We will continue with it in the next column.

The writer is a senior faculty with National Institute of Design. She likes to listen to the sound of stars when the night is still