Gandhiji’s Concept of Self Imposed Simplicity and Trusteeship

Mahatma Gandhi’s concept of Trusteeship is a better means to achieve equitable distribution of wealth and reduce poverty than the western idea of charity. According to Gandhiji, we are all in a way ‘robbers’. To accumulate things beyond our requirements is a type of ‘robbery’ as by doing this, we are depriving someone else of those things. This is also a type of violence. Nature is naturally balanced. Nature does not discriminate. His basic philosophy was that nature has provided sufficiently for everyone. There is enough for everyone’s need, but not for everyone’s greed. There is need to distinguish between ‘need’ and ‘want’. If everyone took only what they ‘needed’ there would be no shortage and no poverty. So what is the solution?

The path to alleviate poverty and reduce disparity in society is two-fold: 1) keep and use only what you need and 2) follow the principle of trusteeship.

In a speech given in London in 1931, Gandhi said that he had to pass through acid tests and face dilemmas when trying to keep away from untruth, unethical behavior, and the gains from political activity while still remaining in the ‘quagmire of politics’? Though initially he found this very difficult, with the passing of time, this became a source of happiness for him. Resolving this moral dilemma was a big load off his shoulders. “I could now devote my total energies to the service of the people”, he said.

Gandhi further clarified that if you have understood my message, you will eat simple food and only as much as your body requires, you will be satisfied with small living quarters, and keep your other ‘needs’ in life to the minimum. You will realize that if you follow this principle and possess fewer assets you will become purer and truer person. You will also realize that this body, given to you for a short time, is meant to be used towards service for others and not for your indulgence. Then your attitude will change towards clothes, food and clothes used for our body and for our survival.

Your predisposition towards your thoughts also should be aligned with your attitude towards material things. A person who fills his mind with useless knowledge is hoarder of information. The Gita in the 13th chapter says that knowledge which does not lead towards enlightenment and god are meaningless, but that does not mean that a person is to remain inactive or that one’s mind is to be kept empty. Every moment of your life should be filled with activity, but that activity has to be satvik (pure) and free of worry of the future.

In the Indian culture there is a special grace and dignity to keep our needs to the minimum. Parsi poet Malbari has said that the real wealthy is the one whose patron or master is god. There are countless people in India who consider it a virtue and are happy with simple living. Just as it is natural for the wealthy to be prideful and arrogant, it is natural to find qualities of patience, devotion to god, and ‘godliness’ in those living in simplicity. Realizing this maxim of life, one wealthy person had written to Gandhiji that he prayed to god to keep him poor and keep him away from greed of storing things for himself to the extent that he should not have desire to even store the next meal.

We have no right to hoard anything we do not need as long as every Indian does not have sufficient to eat and enough clothes to wear. In fact, Gandhi said, our ideal should be to achieve parity in living standards where every individual in the world should be able to live a decent life with minimum of efforts. But what is decent living standard? Simple living and high thinking should be our real mantra. As our ‘needs’ increase, our values start deteriorating. Happiness is not in possessing material things, but in being content with what we have. In this sense, man is his own friend or enemy; his salvation or bondage is in his own hands.

The idea of physical labour and self dependence is associated with the concept of voluntary or self-inflicted poverty. Gandhiji coined the term ‘jaat maihanat’ (self labour or self dependence) after reading about “bread labour” in Ruskin’s book Unto the Last. Tolstoy says, each one should labour for his own daily bread. Gandhi said, “If everybody lived by the sweat of his brow, the earth would be a paradise” (The Mind of Gandhi, page 200). The third chapter of Gita says those who eat without yagna are eating stolen food. Here the word yagna implies physical work. Even the Bible exhorts people to earn their bread through their own perspiration. If everyone earns their bread through their own labour, class differences would disappear. There would not be high and low class in society.

Trusteeship advocates that even if the rich have their wealth, it would not belong to them, but remain with them in trust to be used for the welfare of the needy. Gandhiji used several arguments and examples to show that the individual who understands the importance of labour automatically understands the truth about trusteeship and even follows it in his life.

Gandhi further elaborates that non violence will not take root in a person until he understands the real concept of selflabour. This is called constructive work. This is the essential means which will make one capable to take the path of nonviolence.

Such a person is self-dependent. Just like the different body parts work in unison but are also independent of each other, so is the society. A person should not require a servant to do his work for him. He should take care of his own needs. One should only bite as much as one can chew.

A man’s duty is to serve others selflessly. This is not possible unless the one has mastered control over one’s senses. A wealthy person who is free from hatred, selfishness and negativity can be a great asset to the society. From this rises a sense of paternalism and concept of trusteeship. The wealthy class should think this out, live happily, earn millions but ensure that you are aware that this wealth belongs to the people, to the society. If they do not understand this they will be slaves to their consumerism and become very unhappy.

According to Gandhi, trusteeship is the only answer to the present disparities and violence in the society. Whatever we have, we have received it from god. Therefore, wealth cannot be a personal property. It has to be used for the welfare of the whole mankind. The animal world lives on a day to day basis taking only as much as they need. In the nature no one hoards. Humans should do likewise.

Be a manager or administrator of your wealth. If you use your intelligence and skills to earn money through correct means then it is only right that that wealth be used for welfare activities. That is the right path, that is your duty, and that is the essence of all religion.

Several practical issues arise from this kind of thinking and these issues are discussed. After a detailed discussion in 1935 with the head and founder of the International Voluntary Service founded by Pierre Cérésole, Gandhiji even went to the extent of saying that the wealthy should not even accumulate money for their children. If they give them a good education, prepare them to make a living and become self-sufficient, then the next generation will also be ready to follow the principle of trusteeship and work towards their own and society’s welfare.

It was Gandhiji’s dream that in an independent India the poor would have all the same facilities and conveniences as the rich would have. He had cautioned that if the rich do not use their money and power for the benefit of the poor, then it was bound to lead to violent and bloody revolution. There were opponents to Gandhiji’s concept of trusteeship, but he had only one thing to say to them: my aim is only to establish an ideal economic equality. And if I want to bring about this equality, I have to empathize with the poorest among the poor. All his life Gandhiji endeavored to reach this state. The rich had no influence on Gandhi. On the contrary, many wealthy were with him adopting voluntarily to live an austere life and implementing the concept of trusteeship.

He said the rich should become the security of the poor. Non-violence and private wealth are mutually exclusive, they cannot go together. They have to select one of the two. The draft on trusteeship prepared at a meeting at Aga Khan Palace in 1952 by Pyarelal, Narharibhai, Kishorilal in the presence of Gandhiji was briefly as follows:

1. Trusteeship is a tool to turn the present capitalist economic system into one which is more equitable.
2. It is an opportunity for the capitalist class to change their attitude which will provide peace and happiness.
3. The trusteeship concept does not accept the principle of private ownership of wealth. The society allows a person to keep only what is necessary for his or her survival.
4. Use of ownership and wealth can be regulated only by the rules of trusteeship.
5. There is no scope for self interest or neglect towards society.
6. There should be limits set for minimum wages and maximum income. The disparity between the rich and poor should be fair and appropriate with the objective of eliminating the same altogether over a time.
7. Nature of production of goods should be based on the needs of the society.

From the book, New Trend in Philanthropy'