In Hind Swaraj, Gandhi critiques modern civilisation, law, medicine, and the British institutional legacy, arguing that true swaraj demands originality not imitation. He rejects adopting Western systems merely dressed in Indian clothes, warning that would lead to an “Englistan" not Hindustan.” 

For Gandhi, swaraj is not just political independence, but an inner transformation a renewal of ethics, self-restraint, and purpose. He distinguishes between “body force” (violent coercion) and “soul force” (moral persuasion), insisting that suffering born of truth can change hearts rather than destroy them. 

Language and thought play a central role: Gandhi stresses that leaders must break from colonial mentalities and speak in one’s own voice. He wrote Hind Swaraj first in Gujarati, then translated it into English, emphasising self-articulation rather than dependency.