Every week, we feature excerpts by Gandhi that lend insight into his values and personal practices.

He continuously stressed the importance of self-governance, specially at the personal level. That's why when a journalist asked him: "Do you prefer English people as governing race to other races?", he replied: "I have no choice to make. I do not want to be governed except by myself." Was Gandhi an Anarchist?

Enlightened Anarchy (Jan 01, 1939)

"Political power, in my opinion, cannot be our ultimate aim. It is one of the means used by men and women for their all-round advancement. The power to control national life through national representatives is called political power. Representatives will become unnecessary if the national life becomes so perfect as to be self-controlled. It will then be a state of enlightened anarchy in which each person will become her and his own ruler. He will conduct himself in such a way that his behaviour will not hamper the well-being of his neighbours. In an ideal State there will be no political institution and therefore no political power. That is why Thoreau has said in his classic statement that that government is the best which governs the least." 

M.K Gandhi

Sarvodaya, January, 1939

Source: ​CWMG Vol. 74  page 380

Be the Change: This week, observe a part of your life that seems to be under your "self control" and explore where your sub-conscious mind's tendencies carry it.