P. Richman (Religion)
4 HU, CD, WRi, 4 Hours
Fall Semester FYSP 172-01 MWF 1:30-2:20
Mohandas Gandhi (1869-1948) was among the most radical religious thinkers of the 20th century. He shaped India’s fight for independence from colonial rule by developing a rigorous form of nonviolent resistance called satyagraha, “holding fast to truth.” Much of his power to inspire followers emerged from his deft and thoughtful rethinking of religious symbols. He also experimented with personal and social transformation through cultivation of ascetic practices, formation of egalitarian communal living spaces, and development of self-reliance based on fasting and renunciation of material possessions. This seminar begins with a close look at Gandhi’s own writings from his autobiography, his manifesto on Indian self-rule, and selections from his newspaper articles. The remainder of the course assesses his intellectual frameworks and major campaigns from religious, historical, psychological, and political perspectives. Gandhi’s beliefs and methods elicited strong responses: both his admirers and his critics find his writings provide a great deal with which to argue.