Gandhi and Environment

Gandhi experimented with and wrote a great deal about simple living in harmony with the Nature, but he lived before the advent the present ecological crisis that we find today. Environment, according to Gandhi is the expression of God, is an evidence of the all pervasive reality. He believed that there is divinity in all life and that there is fundamental unity in diversity. Gandhi's faith in nature cure is also a step towards environmental protection. Nature cure implies two things – ideal way of life and faith in God which are conducive to the solidarity of environment. Gandhiji thus understood that it would be impossible for Indian to emulate western patterns of industrial development and he was against blind urbanization and industrialization in India. He knew that this would create ecological imbalance both at village and city levels. In our search for pleasure and affluence modern humanity has exploited nature without any moral restraint to such an extent that nature has been rendered almost incapable of sustaining healthy life. Affluence as a goal of development was not in Gandhiji's mind. He has holistic view of life. His development philosophy revolved round man, his society and nature.