Third class in Indian railways: Journey of Social Advocacy: Insights on Indian Railway Travel

Mahatma Gandhi

2019-11 · Good Press

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In the book 'Third class in Indian railways', Mahatma Gandhi provides a poignant and insightful account of his experiences traveling in third-class compartments across India. Written in a simple and straightforward style, the book sheds light on the deplorable conditions faced by the common man in the Indian railway system during Gandhi's time. Through vivid descriptions and personal anecdotes, Gandhi emphasizes the need for reform and better treatment of third-class passengers. This work not only serves as a social commentary but also as a call to action for societal change in India. Gandhi's literary style is characterized by his direct and honest approach, reflecting his belief in the power of truth and simplicity. The book is a valuable contribution to Indian literature and a significant document in the history of social activism. Readers interested in Indian history, social reform, and Gandhi's philosophy will find this book to be a compelling and enlightening read.

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Mohandas Gandhi is well known as a political activist and pacifist who played a key role in achieving India's independence from Great Britain. Although born in Porbandar, India, to parents of the Vaisya (merchant) caste, he was given a modern education and eventually studied law in London. After returning briefly to India, Gandhi went to South Africa in 1893, where he spent the next 20 years working to secure Indian rights. It was during this time that he experimented with and developed his basic philosophy of life. Philosophically, Gandhi is best known for his ideas of satyagraha (truth-force) and ahimsa (nonharming). Intrinsic to the idea of truth-force is the correlation between truth and being; truth is not merely a mental correspondence with reality but a mode of existence. Hence, the power of the truth is not what one argues for but what one is. He developed this idea in conjunction with the principle of nonviolence, showing in his nationalist activities that the force of truth, expressed nonviolently, can be an irresistible political weapon against intolerance, racism, and social violence. Although his basic terminology and conceptual context were Hindu, Gandhi was impressed by the universal religious emphasis on the self-transformative power of love, drawing his inspiration from Christianity, Western philosophy, and Islam as well.