BEYOND GROWTH: THE RELEVANCE OF MAHATMA GANDHI’S ETHICAL ECONOMICS IN TODAY’S ECOLOGICAL CRISIS

Abstract

This paper explores the profound relevance of Mahatma Gandhi’s economic and ethical philosophy in the context of today’s global environmental crisis. At a time when consumerism, industrial growth, and widening inequality are placing immense strain on the planet’s ecosystems, Gandhi’s vision offers a radically alternative path centered on simplicity, self-restraint, and justice. Drawing from contemporary global data on pollution, climate change, and inequality—as well as examples like the Bhopal Gas Tragedy—the paper critiques the current model of development that prioritizes the wealth and comfort of a global elite at the cost of the poor and the environment. Gandhi’s insistence on meeting the basic needs of the most vulnerable, and his belief that the earth has enough for everyone’s need but not for anyone’s greed, are examined as foundational principles for sustainable development. The paper concludes by emphasizing the urgency of re-centering development planning around the lived realities of the marginalized and adopting a model of economic progress that aligns with ecological balance and human dignity. In an age of climate breakdown and spiritual emptiness, Gandhi’s ethical economics appears not only relevant but necessary for a livable future.ethical economics appears not only relevant but necessary for a livable future.