Gandhiji’s thoughts related to use of machinery:

• According to Gandhiji the ‘Era of Machines’ was called so because machines dominated the production during that era.
• Some critics considered him as a person who opposes machines however, he was not against the machines but against inappropriate use of machines.
• He was against the thoughtless use of machines which replaced human labour and made labourers unemployed.

Gandhiji’s views regarding use of machines:
(A) Gandhiji recommended that such basic and simple machines should be used which could be owned and used by poor producers.

(B) According to him, those machines which facilitate the work of labour must be employed but those which replace labour and make labourers unemployed should not be used widely.

(C) Gandhiji did not oppose machines which were used for welfare of the poor.

(D) Machinery which reduce physical labour and saves time and funds should be widely employed. But at the same time he asked the society to beware against the use of machines which enhanced profits of a single individual or few individuals. As per him machines must be used for benefitting the society as a whole.

(E) He was against the use of machines which led to concentration of economic / power in the hands of a few people. He believed such machines become a means of exploitation of the poor by a few profit motivated rich people.
He asserted that machines are for human beings and human beings are not for machines and hence machines must not be used so widely that human beings become highly dependent on machines.