The constructive programme was Mahatma Gandhi’s positive, creative vision for transforming Indian society from within while simultaneously laying the moral and social foundations for political freedom. For Gandhi, political independence without social regeneration would be hollow and unstable. He believed that Swaraj was not merely the transfer of power from British rulers to Indian elites, but the empowerment of the poorest and weakest individuals through self-reliance, moral discipline, and social reform. The constructive programme thus represented the ethical and practical dimension of Gandhian nationalism, focusing on everyday work that could be undertaken by ordinary people irrespective of the intensity of mass movements. At the heart of the constructive programme was communal harmony. Gandhi regarded Hindu–Muslim unity as essential for India’s survival as a nation. He consistently argued that religious diversity was not a weakness but a moral strength, provided it was grounded in mutual respect. Communal violence, in his view, negated Swaraj because it destroyed trust, compassion, and shared responsibility. Therefore, he urged constructive workers to actively promote dialogue, friendship, and cooperation across religious lines, even at great personal risk. The removal of untouchability occupied a central place in the programme. Gandhi considered untouchability a moral blot on Hindu society and a fundamental denial of human dignity. He renamed untouchables as Harijans, children of God, to affirm their equal worth. Through temple entry movements, shared dining, education, and personal example, Gandhi sought to eradicate caste-based discrimination. For him, freedom from British rule was meaningless if millions remained enslaved by social prejudice and humiliation. Khadi and village industries formed another core component. Gandhi believed that India’s economic impoverishment was closely linked to the destruction of indigenous crafts under colonial rule. Khadi symbolized self-reliance, dignity of labour, and resistance to exploitative industrial capitalism. Spinning was not merely an economic activity but a moral discipline that connected the educated elite with the masses. By reviving village industries, Gandhi aimed to provide employment, reduce poverty, and prevent excessive urbanization, which he saw as socially and morally corrosive. The promotion of village sanitation and hygiene was also emphasized. Gandhi insisted that freedom required healthy bodies and surroundings. He linked cleanliness with self-respect and civic responsibility, urging people to overcome social taboos associated with manual scavenging. By encouraging individuals to clean their own surroundings, Gandhi sought to dismantle hierarchies of labour and foster equality. Basic