Gandhi & Rousseau

Thanks Sugandha for reminding me of my inquisitive student of Hindu College. Your question needs a very long answer, I am writing a paper on Rousseau for an edited book, I will add a special section on Rousseau and Gandhi with due acknowledgement. I will just confine to the relevance of his theory of Oceanic circle that was not relevant as a pragmatic alternative of modern society at that stage of modernity, that is of capitalist development and the penetration of the cash and the market in the economy. Gandhi's as well as Rousseau's alternatives were suitable to agrarian economy. This so-called post post modernity is nothing but particular stage (neoliberal) of modernity, i.e. capitalism. Historic leaders have historic importance, Gandhi's emphasis on decentralization and relative autonomy of lower democratic institution is relevant today or at any time. The only alternative to capitalism is socialism.