Hinduism, as viewed by Gandhi, is nothing but spiritual secularism and a service-oriented way of life based upon the highest principles of ethics and morality. That was why he was able to assert without any hesitation that his devotion to truth had drawn him to politics and those who believed that religion had nothing to do with politics did not understand what religion meant.
Gandhi's interpretation of Hinduism becomes clear from his reply to the three questions from Dr. Radhakrishnan. The questions were: What is your religion? How are you led to it? What is its bearing on social life?
Gandhi's answer to the first question: "My religion is Hinduism which, for me, is the religion of humanity and includes the best of all religions known to me".
To the second question, he said: " ... I am led to my. religion through truth and non-violence. I often describe my religion as religion of truth. Of late, instead of saying God is Truth, I have been saying Truth is God. We are all sparks of truth. The sum total of these sparks is indescribable, as yet unknown truth; which is God. I am daily led nearer to it by constant prayer"
To the third question, Gandhi replied: "The bearing of this religion on social life is, or has to be, seen in one's daily social contact. To be true to such religion, one has to lose oneself in continuous and continuing service of all in life. Realisation of truth is impossible without a complete merging of oneself in and identification with this limitless ocean of life. Hence, for me, there is no escape from social service; there is no happiness on earth beyond or apart from it. In this scheme, there is nothing low, nothing high. For all is one, though we seem to be many."
Gandhi elaborated: "The deeper I study Hinduism, the stronger becomes the belief in me that Hinduism is as broad as the universe. Something within me tells me that, for all the deep veneration I show to several religions, I am all the more a Hindu, nonetheless for it".
... The need for building a healthy India demands that Hinduism, as seen by Gandhi, should not be ignored as an instrument of state policy.
Power can corrupt. But it can also ennoble. It can elevate the wielder to a higher pedestal and transform him into a nobler creature. The tragedy of contemporary India has been that power has largely remained in the hands of those who were seldom inspired by a nobler purpose. And those who have that purpose do not get the opportunity, rather, the system denies it ... The ethical foundation of Hinduism, as interpreted by Gandhi (can) provide "an awakened conscience" to an individual and make him an honest, just and compassionate component of society ...
Hinduism, as (defined) by Gandhi ... It does not go against any other religion. Nor is it incompatible with the constitutional goals of equality, fraternity, liberty and justice ... (Source: The BJP Today, 1-15 December, 1997)
