Impact of Covid-19 and relevance of Social Thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi

Abstract

We are facing a global crisis unlike any in the world since last century. The outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic has affected the entire human social-economic life and all segments of the population. Evidences shows that besides impact on health and economy, it has adversely affected the social infrastructure, values and practices within the society. A huge social crisis of unemployment and migration of poor and middle-class workers has emerged both from Pandemic and its aftermath. The common man, including people living in poverty situations, older persons, persons with disabilities, youth, and indigenous peoples has been affected badly. In this challenging situation, Gandhi’s social thoughts and his philosophy have become very useful today. Gandhi believed in the unity of human life, which is a synthetic whole. There can be no problems that are purely moral, economic, political, social, individual or collective. They are inextricably intertwined. Gandhi always dreamed and made efforts for economic transformation through social change. Thus, what is needed today is commitment to action on a massive scale, to make opportunities equally good for all. And whatever action is proposed it must be in the Gandhian way, an exercise of moral force. Implementation of the concept of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat' is the real Gandhian way of moving forward in this direction. It’s an attempt to increase self-reliance in social life by promoting ‘Vocal for Local’ and ‘Local for Global’. In fact, Gandhi has advocated for a system, in which despite of social diversity, the society should act and grow together. He introduced The Constructive Programme as blueprint for the social regeneration of India, Gandhi felt that real progress of India lies in its villages. He wanted the youth to make village life their goal, which has its roots in the ancient civilization of India. Gandhi especially called upon the youth to undertake the task for they are the real torchbearers of the future, in whose hands India had great future and this is actually need of the hour today. This paper is an attempt to examine the social thoughts and ideas of Mahatma Gandhi and discuss their relevance in situation apparent during and after covid-19.