Thoreau and Gandhi: The Two Harbingers of World Peace

Through this paper titled ‘Thoreau and Mahatma Gandhi: The Two Harbingers of World Peace’, I have tried to trace the influence of the philosophy of Henry David Thoreau on Mahatma Gandhi and how the latter employed Thoreau's novel and lofty concept of Civil Disobedience as a form of passive resistance in his freedom struggle for India. Civil Disobedience is a peaceful yet powerful weapon that can be employed to meet a just end. It is not confined to a specific age or a specific race or a specific gender. It is a transcendental force that emanates from within to bring about a reformation within and without. Both Thoreau and Gandhi after having experimented with this powerful weapon in order to bring about a harmonious revolution for positive change and later having witnessed its efficacy, endorsed it and made it the Mantra of their lives. The philosophy of both Thoreau and Gandhi is of vital importance in a world torn apart in terms of sectarianism, communalism and intolerance and needs to be disseminated ardently which I humbly attempt to do through this paper.

My study included qualitative methods which mainly included textual analysis and interpretation of the various works related to the subject.

The touchstones of the philosophy by which Thoreau and Gandhi are time tested potent weapons for bringing about self transformation and change. However, they need to be practiced not preached!