The chapter in Hind Swaraj titled ‘Civilisation’ does not contain the famous phrase attributed to Gandhi. When asked for his view of Western civilisation, Gandhi is reported to have said: ‘It is a good idea.’ This was no vitriolic attack but a gentle admonition or reproach to indicate that Western civilisation was only at the stage of an idea, and not a historical development that had actually taken place!

The Mahatma’s views on civilisation do not take us entirely by surprise, for Gandhi has prepared the reader somewhat in his earlier comments on the British Parliament. Indeed, he gives us a broad hint of what is to follow in his preface to the English translation via his following remark: ‘But, I must frankly confess that I am not so much concerned about the stability of the Empire as I am about that of the ancient civilisation of India, which, in my opinion, represents the best that the world has ever seen.’

Gandhi is well known for his politeness, but he pulls no punches while attacking Western civilisation describing it as evil, with few, if any, redeeming features. As he writes: ‘The British Government in India constitutes a struggle between the Modern Civilisation which is the Kingdom of Satan (no less) and the Ancient Civilisation, which is the Kingdom of God.’

If there had been a real questioner in Hind Swaraj, and not Gandhi’s puppet, such a questioner might have been tempted to ask, in sarcastic humour or jest: ‘And where exactly does the medieval world fit in between these two kingdoms, Mahatma?’

Satan is invoked several times in Hind Swaraj, even though in polytheistic Hindu India,........

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