Question

What was the view of Mahatma Gandhi about religion?
A. Religion above all things in society
B. It is the basic need for any country’s growth and progress
C. By religion, Gandhi meant moral values.
D. None of the above.

Answer 1

Hint: Gandhi dedicated a great deal of time and energy throughout his life to fostering Hindu- Muslim unity and fasted on many occasions for his cause as well. Hundreds and thousands of Hindus and Muslims were murdered in Punjab, Bengal and Bihar in the aftermath of the partition of the world. Gandhi plunged himself into a fight to repair the breach between the two parties. Not only between the Hindus and the Muslims, but among all parts of the people who believe India to be their home, Gandhi wanted communal harmony and peace, no matter what faith they might belong to.

Complete answer:
 Religion is a matter of faith and we always prefer to assume that it is independent of reason or logical inquiry. As religion becomes an object of research, emotional defence and biased probing both reflect the lack of integrity in motives. When people of various religions meet, we have enough show of both in most discussions on religious issues. For they are easily piqued or annoyed by the other's point of view when certain debaters analyse or even try to research each other.

Even though he was raised in a devout Vaishnava family, Gandhiji was an atheist. During three subsequent years (1888-91) in London, he 'crossed the Sahara of atheism' in the words of his autobiography. Gandhi remained a believing, challenging and tolerant Hindu for the remainder of his life, even when he was the leader of India's national movement. In due course, with a team of talented colleagues of different religious hues, he was blessed with different forms of knowledge regarding gods and beliefs. These included the agnostic mystic Jawaharlal Nehru, the scholar-ascetic Vinoba Bhave, and the realist Vallabhbhai Patel, who prayed quietly but remained apart from the gods.

Mahatma Gandhi's mission was not only to humanise religion but also to moralise it. He would reject any religious doctrine, which was in conflict with morality. Gandhi refers to 'God' as 'Truth' and this has very important bearings. The word 'Truth' has a much wider connotation than the term 'God'. Religion and morality, according to Gandhi, are inseparably connected to each other. To Gandhi, "There is no religion higher than truth and Righteousness." Almost all the world's great religions prize morality. Gandhi's focus on morality helped his ideals achieve a universalistic perspective.

Hence, the correct answer is option (C).

Note: Gandhi was born a Hindu, but his idea of Hinduism was his own. He encouraged contact with other religions, in particular Christian doctrines, while retaining strong roots in ancient Hinduism. He had no doubt in this that he would not do any injustice to Hinduism or depart from its basic teachings, for his conviction remained that whatever new elements it came up against, Hinduism would assimilate and synthesise.