ABSTRACT
There is a variance between the poverty of Indian political theory and the complexity of Indian political reality. Tracing the poverty of political philosophy to the discussions in the West, this chapter argues that the same need not be the case with Indian political theory, though it has become so. This is evident in the complex ideas associated with M.K. Gandhi and his ingenious presentation of classical principles in a modern idiom, so that they are accessible even to common people. The chapter first identifies some interesting themes that are available in post-independence India as is noticeable in the relationships between Gandhi and three individuals: his son Harilal, Sardar Patel, and Mirabehn. This leads to a critical scrutiny of the ideas of non-violence and truth.
