Why Gandhi Now? Using Grassroots Postmodernism to Bring Gandhi to Bear Upon the Urgent Present

• In Event: Why Gandhi Now? Reclaiming Education for the Social Majorities

Abstract

Objectives
Why Gandhi now? In answer to this question, this paper selects and studies seven grassroots movements that are bringing peace and justice to the social majorities at the grassroots. In studying and analyzing these seven selected peoples’ movements, contrasts will be drawn between the practical relevance of Gandhi at the grassroots and studies of Gandhi within the “Ivory Tower”. This presentation’s research on the application of Gandhian ideas and ideals at the grassroots among the “social majorities” (Esteva and Prakash 1998) will celebrate diversity in its selection of seven peoples’ movements. Diversity of cultures and languages, questions and challenges will demonstrate that Gandhi belongs not to just his people in India; rather, he is the moving spirit that cannot be confined to the ravages of five centuries of colonialist war and violence. In the thickets of contemporary darkness, despair, and hopelessness, Gandhi’s path towards peace and social justice continues to be walked in the 21st century by thousands of marginalized communities, ones moved by the same hopes and ideals that defined Gandhi’s Salt March (Prakash 2011 a,b). Millions walk today in Gandhi’s footsteps of peace, even if they neither know his name nor history (Fleischman 1997, Hopkins 2009, Norberg-Hodge 2010, Shiva 2008). His tenacity, courage and capacity to have hope in hard times lives on in the human spirit.

Theoretical Framework
Postmodern social thought defines and distinguishes the theoretical framework of this presentation. Gandhi was writing for common men and women bearing the burdens of colonialism. He refused to write for politicians, professionals, and academics. Postmodern social thought that moves people from personal ideals to public action transforming civil society shapes the questions and answers guiding this paper.

Methods
This paper will draw upon diverse portraits of Gandhi and the vibrant grassroots movements described by in the literature and media in different countries, cultures and contexts.

Results
Studying the Gandhi who continues mobilizing millions of people at the grassroots will hopefully move academics to struggle more successfully for reforming and transforming the academy. Gandhi’s ideals applied in the academy could halt its assembly lines: humans functioning successfully in schools, colleges and universities that operate as “sorting machines” rather than educating for democracy as Dewey urged a century ago without success.

Significance
This paper demonstrates that Gandhi’s marginalization by academics does not prevent him from being the social thinker of the 21st century for common women and men moved to change civil society in every State that proclaims itself “democratic”. Just as Gandhi moved Martin Luther King to demand peace and social justice in the heart of darkness, when our nation continued to be plagued by centuries of slavery, he continues to move the millions of laborers indentured to “developed First Worlders” in our maquiladores and sweatshops; serving our addictions to stuff and the consumptive life of convenience that defines life on and off campuses, this is the topic to which I speak.

Author

• Madhu Suri SURI Prakash, The Pennsylvania State University