The Moral and Social Philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi

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

Learners enrolled: 296

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

Course layout

Week 1 - Determinative Influence on Gandhi’s Thought Process, Towards an Understanding of Mahatma Gandhi’s Philosophy – Prof Welukar

Week 2 - Influence of the Upanishad on Mahatma Gandhi’s Thoughts, Mahatma Gandhi and the Bhagavad Gita, Ram Rajya and its Significance – Mahatma Gandhi’s Perspective, Mahatma Gandhi on Religious Understanding

Week 3 - Mahatma Gandhi on the Notion of God and Relation of Man to God, Mahatma Gandhi’s Arguments to prove the Existence of God, Mahatma Gandhi on the Problem of Evil, Mahatma Gandhi on Means and Ends, Towards an Understanding of Mahatma Gandhi’s Philosophy – Prof Welukar

Week 4 - Mahatma Gandhi’s Perspective on Idol Worship, Temples, Fasting and Prayer, Mahatma Gandhi and Eleven Vows, Mahatma Gandhi’s Interpretation of Seven Sins in Social Context, Interpretation of Mahatma Gandhi’s Favourite Bhajans (Hymns)

Week 5 - The Influence of Religious Traditions on the Formulation of the Concept of Non – Violence in the Gandhian Dictum, The meaning of Truth in Gandhian context, God is Truth and Truth is God, Mahatma Gandhi’s Notion of Structural Ahimsa, The Relevance and Vision of Non-Violent Society

Week 6 - Genesis and Scope of Satyagraha, Satyagraha as Expounded by Gandhi: A Critical Appraisal, Techniques and Application of Satyagraha by Mahatma Gandhi in Public Domain, The Limitations and Success of Satyagraha with Case Studies – I, The Limitations and Success of Satyagraha with Case Studies -II

Week 7 - Mahatma Gandhi’s Notion of Swaraj, Hind Swaraj – The Seminal Work of Mahatma Gandhi, Critique of Modern Civilization and Culture

Week 8 - Swadeshi – Broad and Narrow Concept, Basic Principles of Sarvodaya, Sarvodaya Movement and Social Change, Social Harmony

Week 9 - Mahatma Gandhi’s Perspective on Language, Women, Gandhi’s Concept of Education and its Ethical Perspective for the Development of Peace

Week 10 - Constructive Program and Sustainable Development Goals, Mahatma Gandhi and Environment, Towards an Understanding of Mahatma Gandhi’s Philosophy – Prof Welukar

Week 11 - Gandhian Thoughts on Village Economy, The Impact of Industrialization on Village Economy, The Economics of Khadi, Gandhian Economics: Relevance of Gandhian Economics Today

Week 12 - Gandhian Economics: Sustainable Development In Gandhian Thoughts, Gandhian Trusteeship and Corporate Social Responsibility, Interpretation of Mahatma Gandhi’s Favourite Bhajans (Hymns), Mahatma Gandhi’s Vision for Youth: Empowerment, Enlightenment and Change

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

Dear Students,

Please take note of the following eligibility criteria if you are pursuing this course for certification or credit transfer:

For SWAYAM Exam (conducted by NTA): A minimum of 40% Marks in Internal Assessments is required to be eligible for the SWAYAM Certificate. The Best/Top five scores from the weekly assignments will be considered while calculating your final internal assessment marks.

For University-Conducted Exam: You must complete at least 75% of the Internal Assessments to qualify for the university’s end-term examination.

Thank You.