Gandhi and the Parable of the Prodigal Son

This essay seeks to emphasize the important bearing which multiple and quotidian, personal contexts have on the biblical exegesis of Mohandas K. Gandhi. The essay focuses on Gandhi’s interpretation of the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11–32), asking in particular why Gandhi’s reading departs...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Damm, Alex (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Brill 2021
In: Biblical interpretation
Year: 2021, Volume: 29, Issue: 1, Pages: 90-105
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Luke / Non-violence / Satyaḡraha / Gandhi, Mohandas Karamchand 1869-1948 / Gāndhī, Harilāla 1888-1948 / Chandavarkar, Narayen G. 1855-1923
IxTheo Classification:HC New Testament
KBM Asia
Further subjects:B Parables
B Prodigal Son
B Gandhi
B Non-violence
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Summary:This essay seeks to emphasize the important bearing which multiple and quotidian, personal contexts have on the biblical exegesis of Mohandas K. Gandhi. The essay focuses on Gandhi’s interpretation of the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11–32), asking in particular why Gandhi’s reading departs from the parable’s literal sense. While the most evident reason for Gandhi’s distinctive interpretation is his philosophy of satyagraha or non-violent resistance, there emerge behind this appeal, several more precise contexts that plausibly contributed to Gandhi conceiving of satyagraha as the parable’s interpretive key. These contexts included political exigencies that Gandhi faced in mid-1920; his relationship with his son Harilal; and the profile of one of his interlocutors, Sir Narayan Chandavarkar. This essay emphasizes the importance of such varied and personal contexts that merge to help shape Gandhi’s interpretation, and closes with implications for further study of biblical exegesis by Gandhi and more generally in the global south.
ISSN:1568-5152
Contains:Enthalten in: Biblical interpretation
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1163/15685152-00284P04