Gandhi Said What?

Q.You have often said that Western civilization is Satanic. What are its Satanic elements, and are none of these elements present in Indian civilization?

A.Western civilization is material, frankly material. It measures progress by the progress of matter—railways, conquest of disease, conquest of the air. These are the triumphs of civilization according to Western measure. No one says, ‘Now the people are more truthful or more humble.' I judge it by my own test and I use the word ‘Satanic' in describing it. You set such store by the temporal, external things. The essential of Eastern civilization is that it is spiritual, immaterial. The fruits of Western civilization the East may approach with avidity but with a sense of guilt. Your idea is the more you want the better you are, and you don't fall far short in your belief. Your civilization has gone from one stage to another. There is no end to it. You are proud of your conquest over nature, but this makes no appeal to me. You might see me fly tomorrow, but I should be feeling guilty about it. Suppose all your London tubes and buses were taken away. I should say, ‘Thank God I shall be able to walk to my quarters at Bow, even if it takes me three hours'.

Gandhi, Dec,1931