In his analysis of the term Swaraj, Gandhi was concerned with distinguishing between the full moral meaning of freedom and the narrow negative meaning of individual or national freedom. As he said, I do not know any word or phrase to answer in English. The root meaning of swaraj is self-rule. Swaraj may be rendered as disciplined rule from within. ‘Independence’ has no such limitation. Independence may mean licence to do as you like. Swaraj is positive. Independence is negative. The word ‘Swaraj’ is a sacred word, a Vedic word meaning self-rule and self-restraint and not freedom from all restraints which independence often means.

‘Swaraj’ means that freedom for an individual or a nation does not mean total isolation from others or an abdication of the very sense of a moral obligation towards others who are equally entitled to claim freedom for themselves.

Gandhi regarded this right to self-rule or freedom in the very nature of man as an autonomous moral agent, and that society and the continuation of community as dependent