Physics in Perespective of Mahatma Gandhi

[Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav]

Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav

Gandhian Scholar

Gandhi Research Foundation, Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India

Contact No.- 09404955338

E-mail- [e-mail]

 

Physics in Perspective of Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi was very fond of physics. He knew it’s important very well. So he encourages students and youth for study of physics. He related it with spirituality also. He knew philosophy of physics also. He did not know the physics like today. Today physics is full of practical and very critical. But he its impotent that every student who have taken physics get job. Physics is a natural science. It involves the study of matter and its motion through space and time, along with related concepts such as energy and force. It is the general analysis of nature also. Mahatma Gandhi said that; “The schools under the present dispensation make no provision for teaching the science of religion. It has been given a place in the curriculum of this school. The pupils here will be trained in two occupations: (1) agriculture and (2) weaving. Incidental to these, they will get training in carpentry and smithy. They will also receive instruction in Physics, Chemistry, Botany and Zoology. In India, the foregoing occupations occupy the most important place and anyone who learns them will never have to go in search of a job.”1

Physics is one of the oldest academic disciplines. It was a part of natural philosophy. New ideas in physics often explain the fundamental mechanisms of other sciences, while opening new avenues of research in areas such as mathematics and philosophy. Mahatma Gandhi told; “I value education in the different sciences. Our children cannot have too much of chemistry and physics. And if these have not been attended to in the institutions in which I am directly supposed to be interested, it is because we have not the professors for the purpose and also because practical training in these sciences requires very expensive laboratories for which in the present state of uncertainty and infancy we are not ready.”2 Physics also makes significant contributions through advances in new technologies that arise from theoretical breakthroughs. Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “In the world, wherever people have swerved from the path of truth they have done so to evade such difficulties. There is no other motive for swerving from the path of truth. Human nature tries to avoid difficulties. It seeks an easy way out. The easy way takes one downhill, the difficult way leads one upwards. The rule of physics applies also to spiritual matters. An object drops heavily to the ground due to gravitation, whereas trying to lift it up makes one breathless.”3

In the philosophy of physics studies the fundamental philosophical questions underlying modern physics. The study of matter and energy are interactive. The philosophy of physics begins by reflecting on the basic metaphysical and epistemological questions posed by physics. Mahatma Gandhi gave the answer of Raghubir singh letter; “My answer to your first question is that if your mind really hankers after the degree or the knowledge that the college course gives you in physics you should rejoin the college.”4 Centuries ago, the study of causality, and of the fundamental nature of space, time, matter, and the universe were part of metaphysics. Today the philosophy of physics is essentially a part of the philosophy of science. Physicists utilize the scientific method to delineate the universals and constants governing physical phenomena, and the philosophy of physics reflects on the results of this empirical research.

Mahatma Gandhi wrote; “After reading the books of Jeans, I also feel that the book should give some knowledge about physics. This means that the scope of your undertaking becomes a little wider. I have merely thrown out a suggestion here.”5 Mahatma Gandhi suggested; “The student of physics gains an insight into his subject only when he is crazy after it. Those who obtain M.A. and B.A. degrees read day and night spend money and put themselves to great physical strain. From amongst those who make such efforts, only a few are successful at the first attempt. Those who fail do not despair but try again and again and only rest when they have passed. Mahatma Gandhi related physics with spirituality; “The scriptures have given us two immortal maxims. One of these is: “Ahimsa is the supreme Law of dharma.” The other is: “There is no other Law or dharma than truth.” These two maxims provide us the key to all lawful artha and Kama. Why should we then hesitate to act up to them? Strange as it may appear, the fact remains that people find the easiest of things oftentimes to be the most difficult to follow. The reason, to borrow a term from the science of physics, lies in our inertia. Physicists tell us that inertia is an essential and, in its own place a most useful, quality of matter, it is that alone which steadies the universe and prevents if from flying off at a tangent. But for it the latter would be a chaos of   “A Cry in the Wilderness”? But inertia becomes an incubus and a vice when it ties the mind down to old ruts. It is this kind of inertia which is responsible for our rooted prejudice that to practice pure ahimsa is difficult. It is up to us to get rid of this incubus. The first step in this direction is firmly to resolve that all untruth and himsa shall hereafter be taboo to us, whatever sacrifice it might seem to involve. For, the good these may seem to achieve is in appearance only, but in reality it is deadly poison. If our resolve is firm and our conviction clear, it would mean half the battle won, and the practice of these two qualities would come comparatively easy to us.”7

Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “You will become fully qualified if you devote one more year. Why should you become a coward after having spent two years? Hence, you must complete the term and gain whatever knowledge you can even if you are not appearing for the examination. Knowledge thus gained will never go waste. You must become proficient in physics, which is an interesting subject.”8 So we can say that Mahatma Gandhi was not only freedom fighter. He was a scientist of physics.

 

Reference:

 

1. VOL. 16 : 1 SEPTEMBER, 1917 - 23 APRIL, 1918; Page- 103
2. Young India, 12-3-1925
3. VOL. 51 : 6 JANUARY, 1931 - 28 APRIL, 1931; Page-  426
4. LETTER TO RAGHUBIR SINGH; May 26, 1931
5. VOL. 56 : 16 JUNE, 1932 - 4 SEPTEMBER, 1932; Page-  395
6. VOL. 69: 16 MAY, 1936- 19 OCTOBER, 1936; Page-  391
7. VOL. 79 : 16 JULY, 1940 - 27 DECEMBER, 1940; Page-  5
8. LETTER TO LILAVATI ASAR; February 5, 1942