In today’s digital age, historical figures are often reduced to memes or binaries of saints and sinners. Mahatma Gandhi defies such simplification, yet his legacy is tested by the algorithms shaping modern discourse.

Gandhi vs Algorithmic/Digital World

• Meaning of Swaraj: Gandhi’s ideas demand patience and immersion, but today’s culture of reels and short posts discourages such depth.
  • His notion of Swaraj went beyond political independence to emphasise self-mastery, self-examination, and inner transformation.
  • In contrast, online activism focuses only on defeating external opponents without any call for self-improvement.
• Beyond the Revolution: Gandhi asked the difficult question of what happens after the revolution, stressing the need for a moral society based on the sanctity of life.
  • He promoted inclusivity, the middle path, and consensus-driven progress instead of rigid ideological positions.
  • Digital algorithms, by contrast, maximise polarisation, outrage, and sensationalism to sustain attention.
  • Gandhi’s methods such as fasting and silent marches were slow and deliberate, whereas digital platforms thrive on noisy amplification.
• Ahimsa as Active Force: Gandhi saw Ahimsa as an active moral force that sought to humanise the adversary.
  • However, online discourses often promote trolling, doxxing, and public shaming, which amount to psychological violence.
• Satya as Experiment: Gandhi’s concept of Satya was a lifelong experiment in seeking higher truth with humility and openness to being wrong. 
  • In contrast, the post-truth era treats truth as subjective, where “my truth” outweighs “the truth.” 
  • Echo chambers and algorithms further fragment discourse, making common ground elusive.
• Gandhi as a Human Leader: Gandhi presented himself as a man in constant evolution, openly acknowledging his errors and weaknesses.
  • Today’s politics depends on personal branding and the projection of a flawless image, leaving no room for self-correction.
  • Digital algorithms institutionalise the absence of self-critique and treat vulnerability as weakness.

Conclusion

Gandhi’s paradigm of coexistence, inclusivity, and truth-seeking remain relevant in the polarised digital world. To engage with Gandhi in all his complexity is a quiet act of resistance against the binaries imposed by algorithms.

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