Mahatma Gandhi’s Concept of seven sins.

(b) Discuss Mahatma Gandhi’s concept of seven sins.

    Mahatma Gandhi’s journal Young India published a list of seven social sins. Gandhi wrote that they applied to all individuals actions and had the ability to destroy the social fabric of the community . He listed the seven sins as below,

• Wealth without work
• Pleasure without conscience
• Science without humanity
• Commerce without morality
• Knowledge without character
• Religion without sacrifice
• Politics without principle

Wealth without work refers to profiteering without any actual labor. It encompasses all activities such as gambling, speculation, etc. The great depression caused by stock market crash and the 2008 financial crisis highlight the dangers and impermanence of acquiring wealth without labor.

Pleasure without conscience can be disastrous. It would encourage habits without moral reasoning. It would also result in the increased use of alcohols, drugs, etc.

Commerce without morality would result in over–exploitation of one particular section of the community at the cost of another. This would result in increased tension among communities and social friction.

Knowledge without character is more harmful than half knowledge. Without character knowledge can be used for destructive purposes.

Similarly, science without humanity would be blind to humanity. Though the foundation of nuclear energy and nuclear weapons are atomic energy both cater to very different objectives.

Religion Gandhi believed was to be about love, compassion and sacrifice. He believed that sacrifice was the ultimate form of devotion.

Gandhi considered politics without principle as aberration. To him thoughts and deeds were inseparable. He believed that a person cannot do right in one department whilst attempting to do wrong in another department.

These principles Gandhi considered were instrumental in holding the society together.