M.K. Gandhi on Gujarati Language and Literature

Abstract

This paper analyzes M.K. Gandhi's ideas on Gujarati language and literature. It aims to understand what kind of language and literature he tried to create and what influence his attempts had on Gujarati society, both in his own time and in later periods. Gandhi stressed the importance of developing a language and literature which all people, regardless of educational background and religious affiliation, could share in common. Thus he repeatedly advocated ‘simple' Gujarati and encouraged writers to develop literature for the ‘people'. Yet, at the same time, his ideas on ‘correct' Gujarati and ‘useful' literature often reflected those of high-caste Hindu literati. Furthermore, in his ‘experiment', Gandhi assigned these literati a leading role, and thus contributed to the enhancement of their leadership. This, in turn, often resulted in the imposition of their conceptions of language and literature on those who did not share them. Although Gandhi's influence can be still observed in post-colonial Gujarat, it is also important to take note of more recent attempts among the Adivasis and the Kachchhis to educate their children through their own languages, and those among the Dalits to promote their own literature.