Gandhi as a precursor of sustainable development

In Hind Swaraj, Gandhi had characterised modern civilization as a "disease" and a "nine days ’wonder". And even thirty years later, in 1938, he said." After the thirty years which I have since passed, have shown nothing to make me alter the views expounded in it". Barely two weeks before his death in January 1948, Gandhi made the rather prophetic statement that “this (modern) civilization is such that one has only to be patient, and it will be self-destroyed”. The issues of environmental protection and sustainable development are the most important issues of debate in most of the democratic countries in their search to establish a society based on human rights. The world is making development at a fast pace but leading to a society devoid of basic human rights e.g. pure air, clean water and other basic requirements of life and creating an order having extreme disparities between the rich and the poor. Hence, the problem needs to be addressed. The green house impact, ozone hole, the depletion of natural resources, the diminishing biodiversity and the unprecedented rate of species extinction all point out that the status of earth is not as healthy as it ought to be. To draw attention towards these issues a number of efforts are being made at international front. In fact, sustainable development is an answer to a great extent to solve these problems because sustainable development looks at present and future simultaneously. The five principles underlying sustainable development are: ecology, harmony, economic efficiency, conservation of resources including energy, local self reliance and equity with social justice. To achieve it, there is need of total transformation of the system and usher in a well-planned programme of environmental education with regard to long range ecological security. In fact, every country, individual and the whole human race should contribute towards the protection of environment and give way to sustainable development and protection of human rights of individuals as a whole.