What was/were the formative influence(s) on the philosophy of Mahatma

What was/were the formative influence(s) on the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi?

Gandhi was influenced by the 18th century Pranami sect that advocated the unity of faiths.
Gandhi was influenced by the theosophists.
Gandhi was an admirer of the writings of Romantics like Wordsworth.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1 and 2 only

2 and 3 only

1, 2 and 3

1 only

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-1 – 2017

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Statements 1 and 2 are correct regarding the formative influences on Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy. Statement 1 is correct; Gandhi was influenced by the Pranami sect, which his mother followed. This sect advocated the unity of faiths and tolerance, which aligned with Gandhi’s later views on religious harmony. Statement 2 is correct; Gandhi was influenced by the Theosophical Society and its literature, particularly during his time in London and South Africa. Theosophy’s emphasis on universal brotherhood, comparative religion, and interest in ancient Indian scriptures (like the Bhagavad Gita, which he first read through Theosophists) had a formative impact on him. Statement 3 is less certain as a *primary formative* influence compared to others like Ruskin, Tolstoy, Thoreau, and the Bhagavad Gita. While Gandhi was widely read and appreciated literature, Wordsworth is not typically listed among the core figures who shaped his fundamental philosophical tenets like Satyagraha or his economic/social ideas derived from Ruskin’s ‘Unto This Last’. Given the options, 1 and 2 are demonstrably formative influences.

– Gandhi was influenced by the Pranami sect’s concept of unity of faiths.
– Theosophy played a role in shaping his early interest in comparative religion and Indian scriptures.
– Other major influences include Ruskin, Tolstoy, Thoreau, and the Bhagavad Gita.

Gandhi synthesized influences from various sources, including Indian religious traditions, Western philosophy and literature, and his own experiences, to develop his unique philosophy of Satyagraha, non-violence, and Swaraj.

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