Definition

1. Noun:
   • Self-rule or independence: "swaraj" refers to self-governance or political independence, particularly in the context of India's movement for freedom from British colonial rule.
   • A movement for autonomy: The term is specifically associated with the Indian nationalist movement advocating for self-rule, as popularized by leaders like Mahatma Gandhi.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The concept of swaraj was central to India's struggle for independence. (Self-rule was a key idea in the freedom movement.)
  • Gandhi envisioned swaraj not just as political freedom, but as moral and spiritual self-reliance. (He saw self-rule as encompassing more than just governance.)

Advanced Usage

• "Swaraj as a philosophy": In Gandhi's thought, swaraj extended beyond politics to include individual self-discipline, economic self-sufficiency, and community autonomy.

  • For Gandhi, true swaraj meant every village governing itself. (He emphasized local self-rule.)

• "Swaraj in the modern context": The term is sometimes used in discussions of decentralized governance or post-colonial identity.

  • Debates about swaraj continue in contemporary Indian political thought. (The idea remains relevant.)

Variants and Related Words

• Swarajist (n): a supporter or advocate of swaraj.

  • The swarajists worked tirelessly for India's independence. (They were activists for self-rule.)

• Swarajya (n): a Sanskrit-derived term for self-rule, often used interchangeably with swaraj.

  • The newspaper Swarajya promoted nationalist ideas. (It was a publication advocating independence.)

Synonyms

• Self-rule: the principle of a country or group governing itself.
• Autonomy: the right or condition of self-government.
• Independence: freedom from external control.

Related Idioms

• "To achieve swaraj": to gain political independence through struggle.

  • India achieved swaraj in 1947. (India gained self-rule after the colonial period.)

• "Swaraj from within": a phrase used by Gandhi to mean personal self-mastery as a foundation for political freedom.

  • He taught that swaraj from within was necessary for external swaraj. (Inner discipline precedes outer independence.)