2nd INTERNAL ASSIGNMENT:

Foundation of Ethics

Submitted by
Angela Thomas
PRN: 17010126490
BBA LLB – E
1st year
Gandhi’s Principles of Ethics
Introduction

Mahatma Gandhi, The father of our nation, whose philosophy being eternal is based on the
basic human nature which has not changed since ages and was adopted after deliberate
analysis of various aspects that are involved in seeking justice in rightful manner.
His achievements and his life were extraordinary by all measures. Most importantly, Gandhi’s
life offers us vital lessons on living a meaningful, purpose-driven, and morally awake life. He
became the voice of sanity, and a beacon of hope for peace-minded and tolerant individuals
everywhere.

Although Gandhi was by no means perfect (he had his share of faults and flaws), he made
significant and seminal contributions that span across all dimensions of the society.

Gandhism is a body of ideas and principles that describes the inspiration, vision and the life work
of Mahatma Gandhi. The term "Gandhism" also encompasses what Gandhi ideas, words and
actions means to people around the world, and how they are used for guidance in building their
own future.1 His name has also become synonymous with nonviolence, social justice and civil
disobedience.2

The main 11 principles of Gandhi were Ahimsa (Nonviolence), Satya(Truth), Asteya(Non

stealing), Brahmacharya(Self Discipline), Asangraha(Non-possession),Sharisharma(Physical
Labour), Aswada(Control of palate), Sarvatra Bhayavarjana(Fearlesness), Sarva Dharma
samantya (Equality of all religion), Swadeshi(use of local goods) and Sparshbhavana(removal of
untouchability).

Analysis

Asteya (Non-stealing)

The practice of asteya demands that one must not steal, nor have the intent to steal another's
property through action, speech and thoughts3
One becomes guilty of theft even by using differently anything which one has received in trust
for use in a particular way, as well as by using a thing longer than the period for which it has
been lent. It is also theft if one receives anything which he does not really need. The fine truth at
the bottom of this principle is that Nature provides just enough, and no more, for our daily need.
Hence it is also a theft to possess anything more than one's minimum requirement.

1 Definition of Gandhism
2 Gandhi On Personal Leadership by Anand Kumarasamy
3 KN Tiwari (1998), Classical Indian Ethical Thought, Motilal Banarsidass, page 87
Gandhiji, however, gave a far wider connotation to stealing. According to him those members of
the family who use better facilities depriving the other members, are thieves. Even those who
enjoy luxuries not available to the lower strata of society are also thieves.

One who follows the principle of non-stealing will bring about a progressive reduction in his
wants for lavish forms of life. Much of the distressing poverty in this world is due to the
breaches of the principle of non-stealing by affluent people.4

Incidents

1) Robbers strike Delhi-Patna Rajdhani Express, steals jewellery and cash worth
lakhs5

On April 12, 2017, an incident took place between Mughalsarai (Uttar Pradesh) and
Buxar (Bihar) stations, under the east central railway. Patna robbers targeted the new
delhi-patna bound (12310) Rajdhani express and escaped with the stolen cash and
jewellery worth lakhs of rupees in the wee hours of Sunday.

2) Man arrested for stealing bags at IGI Airport 6

On September 15, 2017, a 23-year-old Air India (AI) SATS employee was arrested for
allegedly stealing a passenger’s bag at the India Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, New
Delhi. During analysis of the CCTV footage, the suspected person was identified as
Ghosal and he was carrying the stolen bag. One more bag was also found from his room
and on questioning, he said he had stolen it earlier.

Cases

1) Tarun Tyagi v CBI ( Supreme Court case- Decided On: 08.02.2017)7

In the case, the Appellant had stolen the 'source code' of a software known as 'Quick
Recovery' developed by the complainant's company and thereafter put it for sale on the
website of the Appellant company under the name 'Prodatadoctor'. The CBI took up the
investigation and seized certain documents and material from the office/residential
premises of the Appellant and had filed the charge sheet after completing the
investigation under Section 381 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, Section 66 of the
Information Technology Act, 2000 and Sections 63 and 63B of the Copyright Act, 1957.

4 Ideas borrowed from Gandhi foundation

5 Hindustan Times dated April 13,2017
6 India Today, dated Sept 16, 2017
7 MANU/SC/0179/2017
 2) Pintya @ Sunil @ Ignas Deepak Waghmare v The State of Maharashtra8

One Sudhir Manik Shinde is the complainant who was travelling on Bombay-Pune
Highway alongwith his friends on 22.11.2014 in the early morning of 23.11.2014, they
stopped the car near Lonavla, At that time, three persons between 25 to 30 years of age
having their faces muffled approached them and robbed off the complainant and all the
travelers in the car. They took away the ornaments of the female members and thus,
committed robbery of approximately Rs. 40,000 later during the investigation, found that
the applicant/accused was involved in a number of cases of robbery on the highway and
after obtaining necessary approvals, the offence under section 3(1)(2) and under section 4
of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act was registered.

From the following incidents and cases it is clear that the Gandhian principle of Asteya is still
not applicable in this world. Stealing is still prominent in most places. Stealing doesn’t just
include stealing cash or materials anymore, it also includes stealing of important documents,
files, programs etc.

Now a day’s people are also indulging in stealing trademarks, brand names and other intellectual
properties and are being caught up under sections of copyright acts and information technology
act.

A large proposition of these thieves include children between the age of 8-14, these kids are
either sent to this crime by their own parents as they lack the resources to feed their kids because
of poverty or by large mafias, who forcefully make these children steal for their personal benfits.

The main reason why stealing still has a high rate in India is because of the high poverty rate,
making it a necessary for people to steal for survival reasons, if poverty can be eradicated from
the society, acts pf stealing and burglary will largely reduce.
The need to steal also arises because of a lack of faith in ourselves to be able to create what we
need by ourselves, the only way to solve this is by creating opportunities for those kind of people
from where they can obtain the confidence needed.
Greed can also be considered as a major reason for stealing, we may not even be aware of
being greedy because its seeds are subtly planted everyday through the media, enticing
us to constantly desire and take more and more. The only way to overcome greed is by
being satisfied in what one already has, and by considering needs as priority in life over
luxurious wants. It is also necessary to curb jealousy and enmity towards others from one’s mind,
for following Asteya and to live in peace and harmony with each other like Gandhiji wanted.

8 2017 SCC OnLine Bom 7344

Conclusion
There are lot of things still needed to establish in order to make the people follow the gandhian
principle of Asteya. Asteya doesn’t only literally mean just not stealing money out of someone’s
pocket. It also means not hoarding materials that you don’t need, mindlessly consuming natural
resources, coveting other people’s possessions, or appropriating other people’s ideas.
And one of the most interesting interpretations of Asteya is the notion of not stealing the most
precious and non-renewable resource that of the earth, each and every person deserves an equal
preposition of the earth’s resources, everyone is equal in front of the earth and no one has the
right to misuse anything unwanted. So, a person who wishes to apply Asteya in his life ought to
lead such a simple life that he takes for himself from society only his minimum requirements.

We are not always aware of our real needs, and most of us improperly multiply our wants and
thus unconsciously, make thieves of ourselves. One who follows the observance of Non-stealing
will bring about a progressive reduction of his own wants. Much of the distressing poverty in this
world has risen out of the breaches of the principle of Non-stealing, hence it being a vicious
cycle the more one steals, more the other becomes poor. Money goes waste without being of any
real use.

Suggestions
In the famous play “The bishop’s candlesticks by Norman Mckinnell”, the convict who tries to
steal the bishop’s candlesticks and runs away, later is struck by the kindness and love showed to
him by the bishop results in him a major transformation in his character from a wild beast to a
well-mannered good man.
So this gives us the conclusion that, hate the sin but not the sinner, instead of punishing a thief
straightaway we should try to understand why they are into doing theses heinous acts and try to
bring them out of it with our kindness. By doing so we stick to our ethics and make possible
Mahatma Gandhi’s principle of Asteya applicable for the world’s betterment.

Bibliography

1) Gandhi and Gandhism by B.R.Ambedkar

2) Gandhi On Personal Leadership by Anand Kumarasamy
3) Classical Indian Ethical Thought by Motilal Banarsidass
4) Hindustan times
5) India Today
6) SCC Online
7) Manupatra
8) www.gandhifoundation.org