The Moral and Social Philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi

By Prof. (Dr.) Namita Nimbalkar | University of Mumbai

Learners enrolled: 36

Have you ever paused to reflect on what shaped Mahatma Gandhi’s distinctive ideas and actions? This course invites you to critically engage with the philosophical foundations of Gandhi’s moral and social philosophy. Together, we will explore the many facets of his thought—his nuanced views on the meaning and nature of truth (Satya), non-violence (Ahimsa), Satyagraha, Hind Swaraj, Swadeshi, Sarvodaya, environment, sustainable development, youth, economics, and much more. What makes this course unique is its personal touch. Along with the lectures, you will listen to an insightful interview and experience the soulful resonance of bhajans, which bring Gandhi’s philosophy to life in a way that is both intellectually stimulating and personally meaningful. This course is the result of a collaborative effort by experts from diverse disciplines and institutions across India. Their collective insights ensure that your learning experience is not only comprehensive but also engaging and relevant to contemporary challenges. We invite you to join us in this exploration and discover how Gandhi’s ideas continue to offer guidance and provoke thought in today’s complex world.

Summary

Course Status :	Upcoming
Course Type :	Core
Language for course content :	English
Duration :	10 weeks
Category :	Philosophy
Credit Points :	3
Level :	Postgraduate
Start Date :	14 Jul 2025
End Date :	31 Oct 2025
Enrollment Ends :	31 Aug 2025
Exam Date :
NCrF Level	6.5
Industry Details :	Education and Research Sector

Page Visits

Books and references

- Bharathi, K. S. (2000). Mahatma Gandhi: Man of millennium. S. Chand and Company

- Brown, J. M. (2011). Gandhi: Prisoner of hope (2nd ed.). Yale University Press

- Chakrabarty, B. (2014). Mahatma Gandhi as a political philosopher. Routledge

- Dhawan, G. (1990). The political philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi (1st ed. 1946). The Gandhi Peace Foundation

- Gandhi, M. K. (1958). Hind swaraj, or Indian home rule. Navajivan Publishing House

- Gandhi, M. K. (2008). My experiments with truth. Navajivan Publishing House

- Geetha, V. (Ed.). (2004). Soul force. Tara Publishing

- Guha, R. (2018). Gandhi: The years that changed the world, 1914-1948. Penguin Allen Lane

- Hardiman, D. (2003). Gandhi: In his times and ours. Permanent Black

- Iyer, R. (1991). The moral and political thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi: Civilization, politics and religion. Oxford University Press

- Nimbalkar, N. (2017). Gandhi’s quest for religion and communal harmony. Navvishnu Publication in association with University of Mumbai

- Parel, A. J. (Ed.). (1997). Hind swaraj and other writings (2005 ed.). Cambridge University Press

- Parekh, B. (1995). Gandhi’s political philosophy: A critical examination. Ajanta Publications

- Raghuramaraju, A. (Ed.). (2010). Debating Gandhi: A reader. Oxford University Press

- Weber, T. (2006). Gandhi, Gandhism, and Gandhians. Lotus Collections

Instructor bio

Prof. (Dr.) Namita Nimbalkar

University of Mumbai

Professor, Department of Philosophy, University of Mumbai

- Author of 2 books and over 55 research papers published at national and international levels

- Certified Philosophical Counsellor

- Former Director, Gandhian Studies Centre, B.K. Birla College of Arts, Science, and Commerce, Kalyan ( 2005 – 2013)

- Completed 01 Major and 05 Minor Research Projects

- Member, Board of Studies in Philosophy, Hindu Studies, and Foundation Courses at autonomous colleges and universities across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi.

- Experienced in curriculum development, academic administration, and fostering interdisciplinary learning

- Committed to innovative and student-centric pedagogy, with a keen interest in leveraging digital platforms for higher education

- Coordinated and participated in online teaching initiatives and MOOCs

Course certificate

- Internal Assessment - Weekly assessments released in the course shall be considered for Internal Marks and will carry 30% for the Overall Result. Out of all weekly assignments, the best/top five scores will be considered for the final Internal Assessment marks.

- End-term Assessment - The final exam shall be conducted by NTA, and will carry 70% for the overall Result.

- All students who obtain 40% marks in the internal assessment and 40% marks in the end-term proctored exam separately will be eligible for the SWAYAM Credit Certificate.

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