Non-violence
The question of the viability of non-violence as a political method is easily the central theme in this essay. For Orwell, the question is urgent. He's writing the essay after the Second World War, in the early stages of the Cold War when the sabre-rattling between the Soviet Union and the West has begun. The nuclear arms race will soon define global politics. While Orwell feels that Gandhi's method may have flaws and may not be universally applicable, he is unwilling to dismiss it. At the very least, he feels, a conversation about non-violence is needed.
The process of decolonization
This essay presents an important discussion of the processes of decolonization. As Orwell argues, Satyagraha seems an effective tool in the achievement of national self-determination, specifically in the context of the British rule in India. In that case, there was a free press that was able to broadcast and sensationalize Gandhi’s actions. This helped Gandhi cultivate support for his cause. This would not have been the case under totalitarian conditions, Orwell says. In this way, Orwell opens a discussion of the unique conditions that will shape any given political struggle, revolution or process of decolonization. India’s case was affected by a number of specific conditions. One of these was the fact that a Labor government was in power at the time of decolonization. Orwell argues that had Winston Churchill been Prime Minister, the process of Indian decolonization would likely have been bloody. In this way, Orwell shows that there can be no universal standard for the process of decolonization. Each unique case will have its own conditions and players who will effect the outcome of their given historical situation.
Impact of war
Along with non-violence, war is an important central theme in “Reflections on Gandhi.” It is precisely the destructive impact of modern warfare that Orwell fears, stating that he doubts that the world could survive a third world war. Though Orwell is skeptical about the effectiveness of Satyagraha in international politics, he is also skeptical about western pacifism. He presents a breakdown of the process and means of non-violence as a tool for decolonization. He doesn’t know whether or not it would be effective in other contexts. Still, he feels that there may be something of value in it at least worth discussing, at a time when the world is facing the threat of nuclear annihilation.
Asceticism
Asceticism, the process of abstaining from indulgences, pleasures and excesses, is vital to Gandhi’s political method of Satyagraha. While the ascetic aspect of Satyagraha derives from a religious worldview, as Orwell points out, the purpose of it is not ultimately religious, as might be typical of other ascetic practices. Indeed, the asceticism involved in Satyagraha has an entirely worldly, political purpose. The point of abstaining from indulgences in this case, is to eliminate any self-serving agenda from a political struggle. Yet Orwell points out that its roots remain religious. It is impossible, he suggests, to separate Gandhi’s Hinduism from his politics of asceticism.
Totalitarianism
One important theme in “Reflections on Gandhi” is the looming threat of totalitarianism. Orwell argues that under a totalitarian regime, Gandhi’s method wouldn’t gain any momentum, as there would be no free press to publicize it. On top of this, his method depends on the freedom of assembly, which would not be allowed under a totalitarian regime, such as that of the USSR. Orwell’s reference to the Soviet Union here is not haphazard. Soviet totalitarianism factors into the essay more broadly as Orwell analyzes global politics and evaluates Cold War tensions.
Western leftism
Western leftists, particularly anarchists and pacifists, Orwell says, commonly mistake Gandhi as one of their own. One of Orwell’s agendas in the essay is to distinguish Gandhi’s politics from that of Western leftists. He does this by showing the religious roots of Satyagraha—roots that he claims are ultimately anti-humanist. In the process of breaking down Gandhi’s form of non-violence and distinguishing it from Western pacifism, he presents a critique of Western leftism. The topic of Western leftism also arises when he references the fact that a Labour government was in power at the time of Indian independence. Had it been a Conservative government, he says, the outcome of decolonization would have been much different.
Saintliness
The essay, which opens with a declamation of saintliness, naturally presents a critique of the role of the saint in broader society. Gandhi is easily associated with saintliness because of his ascetic tendencies and ultimately because of the sacrifice he made of his life for the sake of a greater good. But Orwell is suspicious of saintliness as a political force. He doesn't believe the saint is a viable model for political actors on a broader scale, and wonders whether Gandhi's methods could be transferable to "mere humans," instead of saints.
