Synthesizing Sustainable Consumption And Development: A Gandhian Approach

- By Jomilin John*

Abstract

The principle of maximum production and maximum consumption has been widely practiced among the capitalist economic systems around the world. The idea of ‘development’ in recent times is narrowed down to two more limited goals such as increasing the rate of economic growth or modernizing the society. Sustainable development has become a widely discussed topic with world leaders and communities around the globe realizing the need to adopt restraint consumption practices to stop further exploitation of natural resources. A major contributor to this philosophy of sustainable development is M.K Gandhi who always believed that without understanding and practicing sustainable consumption in our lives, it will be mere rhetoric to talk about sustainable development. Studies in recent times have highlighted and focused mainly on sustainable consumption, a prerequisite for sustainable development from an economic or social perspective as propagated by international intellectuals and thinkers. However, there is a dearth of study highlighting the Gandhian idea on interlinking sustainable development and consumption. The paper seeks to study and critically analyze the philosophy of sustainable development and consumption from a Gandhian point of view. The need to re-approach the concept of development as proposed by Gandhi to curb increasing environmental degradation, inequalities, and what is referred to as ‘multidimensional poverty’ occurring due to exploitative practices by humans. Finally, evaluating how far the policies, laws, and practices by Indian leaders and communities were able to live up to the Gandhian teachings and philosophy on sustainable consumption-led development. Following the promise of ‘leaving no one behind’ people-centered approaches is the core of a response as propagated by M.K Gandhi. To conclude, in a world facing problems of survival, Gandhian path and philosophy can become the guiding light to find solutions for the same and would help restructure our lifestyles and actions in line with nature.

Introduction

Mahatma Gandhi once said, “What we do today, is our future”. The capitalist economic systems with the growth of globalization have been widely practicing maximum production and consumption around the world. As against this Gandhi offers an alternative paradigm. Gandhi offered the way and vision towards practicing sustainable consumption and on how to achieve sustainable development much before the global leaders formulated their agendas on the same. It is imperative to note that the Gandhian vision or contribution to the idea of ‘sustainability’ hasn’t received much attention globally as against the theories and principles propagated by international thinkers and intellectuals. Gandhi didn’t provide a broad definition of what exactly is sustainable consumption and development but has ardently shared the vision on the same. To establish the continued relevance of Gandhian development thoughts, it will be interesting to explore how much this concept of sustainable consumption and development is aligned with the Gandhian outlook and reinforce each other. It is also necessary to reapproach the concept of development and focus on how India was able to realize this vision of Gandhi through its sustainable economy models like ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ etc.

In the available literature on sustainable consumption-led development, the Gandhian approach on the same is missing. Accessible literature mostly pertains to the vision of sustainable development by international scholars and thinkers. Only a few studies have been undertaken to focus on the approach given by Gandhi on linking sustainable consumption with development.

Paul Hawken in his seminal 1993 book, The Ecology of Commerce defined sustainability as: “Sustainability is an economic state where the demands placed upon the environment by people and commerce can be met without reducing the capacity of the environment to provide for future generations. It can also be expressed in the simple terms of an economic golden rule for the restorative economy: Leave the world better than you found it, take no more than you need, try not to harm life or the environment, make amends if you do.” (Hawken, 1993) Exactly a decade ago, writing for a UN report, Chris Nelder had written: “As we look deeply into the question of how to make a better world, every direction leads to one essential fact: most of our current activities are not sustainable. …In our current market dynamics and resource utilization, we are, by definition, seeing to our demise. …..Our global transition to sustainability will have to be fundamental and profound, and undoubtedly a little painful. For most citizens of the world--and particularly for those in first world countries--it will mean tangible changes for every single one of us. The sooner we act, however, the less painful it will be.” (Nelder)

The review of available literature, therefore, suggests the need to highlight the Gandhian approach to understand the way towards attaining sustainable development by following restrained consumption practices and adopting a lifestyle in line with nature.

The paper seeks to investigate the central question, “To what extent currently dominant sustainable consumption and development propositions resonate with Gandhian values and principles”?

The objective of the paper is to examine and critically analyze the Gandhian approach on linking sustainable consumption and development with a major focus on the need to re-approach the idea of development as proposed by Gandhi and how the concept of self-reliance or Aatmanirbhar Bharat accentuated by Gandhi is adopted by India to attain a sustainable economy.

Regarding methodology, the paper draws from primary as well as secondary sources such as books and journals by Gandhi and on Gandhi by various scholars and thinkers such as ‘Hind Swaraj’, ‘India of my Dreams’, ‘Gandhi, Environment and Sustainable Future’ and documents published by the UN.

The scope of the paper is limited to studying Gandhian philosophy and vision on sustainable development and consumption and its relevance in this era of globalization.

The first part of the paper deals with the contextual background giving a glimpse of the growing culture of consumerism in today’s time and how it put the environment and the natural resources at risk. The second part deals with linking sustainable consumption and development with a special reference to the vision of Gandhi on the same. The third part broadly covers reapproaching the concept of development as proposed by Gandhi. The fourth part of the paper deals with the concept of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, realizing Gandhi’s vision of a sustainable economy. Finally, the paper ends with the conclusion highlighting the need to restructure our lifestyle and development practices in line with nature.

Contextual Background

In this era of technology-driven globalization and insatiable thirst to earn more to meet the ever-growing wants of people, the concept of sustainable consumption and development occupies an important space. World leaders and international agreements have time and again emphasized the need to adopt sustainable consumption practices due to the unbearable burden we are putting on the earth’s resources to meet our needs and more our wants. The advent of Covid-19 and other climate hazards in recent years has opened our eyes towards the need to limit our lifestyle practices and put less pressure on the environment by encouraging sustainable development within the country and around the world. To rethink this idea and to reapproach the concept of development, one can blindly refer to the teachings and the very life of Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi synthesized his philosophical and spiritual principles out of his deep knowledge of the religious traditions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Christianity, and Islam.

He emphasized how important is sustainable consumption to meet sustainable development goals.

Linking Sustainable Consumption and Development

The Oslo Symposium (1994) defines sustainable consumption as the “ use of goods and services that respond to basic needs and bring a better quality of life while minimizing the use of natural resources, toxic materials and emissions of waste and pollutants over the life cycle, so as not to jeopardize the needs of future generations”. (Symposium, 1994) The UN SDG 12 deals with ‘responsible consumption and production’. The reason behind adopting this primary goal is because of the so-called ‘development’ or ‘progress’ that we are achieving over these years by compromising the environment, by endangering systems on which our future development and survival depend. For e.g: each year 1.3 billion tons of food produced worth $1 trillion ends up rotted in bins of consumers as well retailers due to unregulated consumption practices by households, poor transportation facilities, etc. (Nations, n.d.) This leads to an emergency to develop recovery plans that would reverse current consumption and production trends to a sustainable one. A successful transition in this way can lead to environment recovery, improvement in energy and resource efficiency, active engagement in global environmental agreements, etc, and eventually leads to the realization of what we aspire to as ‘sustainable development. When consumption practices are reduced to meet basic needs it leads to less demand, reduces overproduction, and eventually leads to less pressure on the environment when coupled with sustainable technologies and strategies leads to sustainable development. Many intellectuals and thinkers including Nikola Tesla who is known as the ‘father of sustainable development has emphasized the need for sustainable consumption and development and have given their views and theories about the same over time. M.K Gandhi, the political ethicist, the father of the Indian nation has also contributed to this idea and has consistently urged people to adopt a sustainable way of production, consumption, and living practices. It is to be noted that Gandhi has not left any aspect of life untouched. (Joseph) He led a holistic life in tune with the principles of nature and environmental protection. Gandhi often urged people that to walk towards the path of spirituality, one needs to adopt a sustainable lifestyle, a non-violent lifestyle, limits material comforts, etc. But as against this, the recent theories of development emphasize more on bodily aspects and altogether ignore the intellectual and spiritual dimension of life as proposed by Gandhi which ultimately leads to policies and practices that are lopsided, truncated, and distorted. (Joseph)

Reapproaching The Concept Of Development

The economies of the west whether socialist or capitalist wanted material advancement of men because they thought that human happiness and material progress go together. Hence the word ‘development’ was given a narrow meaning and included industrialization, large-scale production, growing automation, ever-increasing wants, etc. Development for other countries including India meant ‘westernization’ following which promised to bring progress and prosperity. With westernization, material comforts increased but on the other hand, it also increased tensions, misery, diseases, unhappiness, etc. The world finally realized all the experiments made in the grab of different ‘isms’ have failed to deliver the goods to the commoner. M.K Gandhi provided a different approach to development. According to him, the present unrest is due to the neglect of moral values and the over importance given to matter and material needs. He focuses on three factors that are responsible for the misery that the world is facing today and that which hinders sustainable consumption and development:- (Gupta)

(i) Ever-increasing wants
(ii) Growing use of machines
(iii) Methods of distribution

(i) Environment

Gandhi was an environmentalist with the difference. His difference lies in how he believes that true development happens without compromising the environment. According to him man's relationship with the environment is like an intrauterine foetus that lies in the womb of the mother, meaning that all creations are getting nourished from the five elements in nature such as earth, water, fire, air, space, etc. (Tanmaya, p. 65) The concept of ‘sustainable development’ was highlighted in international conferences like the Stockholm conference of 1972 or the Rio Earth Summit of 1992 but the way to attain the same was raised much before by Gandhi. Even environmental philosophers like Arne Naess, the founder of Deep Ecology constantly acknowledged their debt to Gandhi on many occasions. Besides this, environmental activists like Sunderlal Bahuguna, Medha Patkar were inspired by the techniques of Gandhi. It is noteworthy to mention that Gandhi was the world’s early environmentalist in vision and the one who urged to adopt sustainable practices. Gandhi’s philosophy of life provides a sustainable development paradigm that is symbiotic with nature and the ecosystem. In the Gandhian frame of reference economy, ecology and spirituality are interrelated. That is why the Gandhian economy is often referred to as the ‘economy of the environment. (Joseph, p. 7)

(ii) Aparigraha

Gandhi believes that sustainable consumption relies on ‘Aparigraha’ or non-possession that involves consideration for others and requires one to limit one’s needs to the bare minimum. Gandhiji says: “In India, we have got three million of people having to be satisfied with one meal a day, and that meal consisting of a chapatti containing no fat in it, and a pinch of salt. You and I have no right to anything that we have until these three million are clothed and fed better. You and I, who ought to know better, must adjust our wants, and even undergo voluntary starvation so that they may be nursed, fed, and clothed.” (National Gandhi Museum, 2020) Gandhi had given a new meaning to the verse in Isha Upanishad - tena-tyaktena-bhunjeethah (enjoy the wealth by renouncing it). He said “Earn your crores by all means but understand that your wealth is not yours; it belongs to the people. Take what you require for your legitimate needs and use the remainder for society.” (Joseph, p. 5) He calls for the implementation of the doctrine of trusteeship and everyone should use the resources of nature with a sense of aparigraha to attain ‘Sarvodaya’ or the ‘common welfare of all. In this era of globalization, the applied theory of aparigraha could be a good interventionist tool besides being a crucial ecological arm to help retain the balance between man and nature to make a sustainable future possible. The essence of aparigraha is that ‘less’ actually yields ‘more’ — more peace and happiness from consuming less. In short, simple living and high thinking, as Gandhi would have put it.

(iii) Lifestyle

How we live has drastically changed due to international trade, technology and to be precise globalization. On one hand, millions around the world are not able to meet their basic needs while on the other hand, unsustainable lifestyle practices by some are putting the planet at risk. Through his exemplary life, Gandhi showed that mental happiness and simple living could form the basis of sustainability. Even after having enough resources to spend more, he lived in simple ashrams with no electricity or modern amenities, practiced permaculture, and even spun clothes for himself using the ‘charkha’. He further advocated a simple and satvik diet to maintain one’s health. His famous saying that the ‘earth provides us enough for our needs but not for our greed’ is still relevant and widely used in dealing with the concept of sustainability. Adopting a sustainable lifestyle leads to sustainable consumption practices. Simple, truthful living within one’s means, that is carrying capacity of the earth, exercising control on population, conflicts, wastage, and environmental rejuvenation are the keywords for such sustainable lifestyles. (Lyall, p. 42)

Aatmanirbhar Bharat: Realising Gandhi’s Vision of Sustainable Economy

India has come a long way in realizing the dreams and vision proposed by Gandhi. M.K Gandhi in his writings like, ‘ India of My Dreams’ and ‘Hind Swaraj’ ardently talks about India adopting an economic system wherein people would encourage sustainable consumption and production practices. His mission was to create a ‘Sarvodaya’ society that must be based on the law of non-violence or love, free from undue exploitation of nature. Gandhi wrote in ‘Hind Swaraj’ his mission to overcome the maladies of consumerism which leads to unsustainable lifestyles compromising nature - “We notice that the mind is a restless bird; the more it gets the more it wants and remains unsatisfied. The more we indulge our passions the more unbridled they become. Our ancestors, therefore, set a limit to our indulgences. They saw that happiness was largely a mental condition. A man is not necessarily happy because he is rich or unhappy. After all, he is poor. The rich are often seen to be unhappy, the poor to be happy. Millions will always remain poor. Observing all this, our ancestors dissuaded us from luxuries and pleasures.” (Gandhi, Hind Swaraj, 1910) This guiding principle of Gandhi encompasses even the vegetation and animal kingdom. It is significant to note that the Constitution of India has realized this vision of Gandhi in its fundamental duties. Article 51-A (g) of 42nd Amendment Act of 1976, Section 11states that “It shall be the duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife and to have compassion for living creatures". The earth is known as ‘Vasundhara’ or ‘Vasumati’. Vasu means wealth. To make our lives gratifying and blessed we can judiciously use wealth, but we do not have any right to exploit it. (Dharmadhikari, p. 15) The Directive Principles of State Policy have also acknowledged the Gandhian principles. For e.g: organizing village panchayats, creation of cottage industries, etc.

Gandhi has been very critical of industrialization. According to him ‘mania for mass production’ as promoted by industrialization is responsible for the word crisis. Due to this, production is concentrated in particular areas whereas distribution in other areas leads to unequal distribution of wealth and resources leaving behind many getting exploited over time. Gandhi focuses on a self-sufficient economy where production and distribution happen in respective areas leading to automatic regulation, fewer chances of fraud, and leaving no scope for speculation. (Gandhi, India of My Dreams) Gandhi was never against the use of machines but he welcomes those machines and tools which would help to ease the burden on the living machines i.e human labor. He is against destructive machinery that would replace or replicate the human efforts which lead to concentration of wealth in few hands and disregard million whose bread is snatched by it out of their mouths. (Gandhi, India of My Dreams) Realizing the dream of self-reliant India of Gandhi, the concept of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Make in India, Vocal for Local, etc took its origin. ‘Aatmanirbharta’ is similar to the concept of ‘Swadeshi’ but should be reinterpreted as a bridge between robust localization and inevitable globalization, complementary to one another and not diametrically opposed. It will also help in practicing sustainable consumption practices in line with sustainable development as desired by Gandhi.

Conclusion

Better late than never. Even a minuscule effort can change the world if its time has come. In a world facing problems of survival, Gandhian path and philosophy can become the guiding light to find solutions for the same and would help restructure our lifestyles and actions in line with nature. The future must seek sustainable levels of growth and distribution. There’s an urgent need to shift to sustainable consumption practices to supplement the goal of sustainable development as proposed by Gandhi. The relevance of Gandhi’s vision on sustainable consumption and development will never get obsolete. His life itself is the path that we need to follow.

References

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