Social Service, Work & Reform Volume II M. K. Gandhi Compiled & Edited by: V. B. Kher First Published: December 1976 Printed and Published by Jitendra T. Desai Navajivan Publishing House Ahmedabad-380 014 INDIA Phone : 079 - 27540635, 27542634 E-mail :
[email protected] Website : www.navajivantrust.org Social Service, Work & Reform – Volume II EDITORIAL NOTE "To me political power is not an end but one of the means of enabling people to better their condition in every department of life." Young India, 2-7-1931 "Mere withdrawal of English is not independence. It means the consciousness in the average villager that he is the maker of his own destiny, he is his own legislator through his chosen representatives." Young India, 13-2-1930 When peaceful transfer of power to India was effected in a unique way, hopes were universally aroused that the non-violent revolution initiated by Gandhiji would be carried to its fruition in post-independent India. Three decades is comparatively a short span in a nation's life, but it is sufficiently indicative of the lines on which the country is proceeding. Seen in this light, it is undeniable that the revolution has soured on the way. In independent India the humble villager in the 7,00,000 villages dotting the map of the country was to come into his own. He was to be the maker of his destiny and, in effect, the future of the country. The dung heap in the village was to be transformed into a green common ensuring adequate ftod, clothing and shelter for its inhabitants.