Being completely dissatisfied with such a state of affairs, Gandhiji stood for a new social order, for which he advocated the following fundamental principles:
1. Brotherhood:
Brotherhood of mankind, the organic unity of the whole human race, was a matter of profound conviction for Gandhiji. He, therefore, despised all the artificial barriers of caste, creed, colour, birth, religion, wealth and power.
He raised the vocal alarm against untouchability and preached a common religion. He dreamt of classless society, a Sarvodaya Samaj, wherein every individual got equal opportunity for his or her fullest development.
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2. Citizenship:
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Gandhiji wanted to recreate a society in which the Government must guarantee freedom, justice and fraternity for all. Each individual must be trained to be a useful citizen, shouldering the responsibility and fulfilling the duties, he owes to the society.
3. Economic Equality:
Gandhiji knew how industrialization had brought in its trail, lure of mass production, over- profits, exploitation, accumulation of wealth, evils of capitalism, poverty of the workers, loss of personal joys of the worker and loss of skill of the craftsman.
He found villages being devastated, village worker’s life and profession becoming, insecure, village population moving industrial area, and indigenous craftsmanship, cottage industries and rural professions, being annihilated.
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He discovered that the growing industrial society was cutting at the roots of economic prosperity of the village community, and also the human ideal and humanitarianism. He was moved by the abject poverty of the hungry millions.
He, therefore, despised industrialization which made the rich richer and the poor poorer. He advocated decentralization of capital, promotion, distribution of wealth and income among the masses, absence of competition, cooperation and encouragement of the native skill of the craftsmen.
4. Sarvodaya Samaj:
This was the type of socialism be wanted, as opposed to the socialism of the Marxian type. He wanted the structure of the society to be built upon moral principles, huinanitarianism and equality. He expressed his dream in the following words:
“I shall work for a India in which the poorest shall feel that it is their country, in whose making they have an effective voice, an India in which there shall be no high class or low class of people, and India in which communities shall live in perfect harmony.”
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This he named as Sarvodaya Samaj, the chief characteristics of which were Love, Ahimsa, Truth and justice. The guiding factors of such a society would be the spiritual force, the moral code and the moral sanction. This code would help the society, to realize God.
The ideal of each citizen should be ‘service unto all’. There should be no domination and exploitation of any kind. A social order based on truth and Ahimsa would banish every type of exploitation – social, economic, religious or political. In such a society even the women should enjoy the same rights as men.