Which Indian businessman favoured ‘healthy capitalism’ in helping Gandhiji to work towards a ‘common object’?

Ghanshyam Das Birla was a prominent Indian industrialist who maintained a close relationship with Mahatma Gandhi and supported the nationalist cause through his economic vision. Birla advocated for 'healthy capitalism,' a concept where Indian capital would support the national movement and work towards the 'common object' of self-reliance and independence. Unlike the exploitative nature of colonial capitalism, Birla believed that Indian industrialists should act as trustees of wealth, aligning with Gandhi's philosophy. While other industrialists like Ambalal Sarabhai were involved in specific labor disputes like the 1918 Ahmedabad Mill Strike , it was Birla who most consistently articulated the role of indigenous capital in the freedom struggle. His support was instrumental in bridging the gap between the Congress leadership and the business community, ensuring that the economic interests of Indian industry were represented within the broader nationalist framework [2].

Sources

1. [1] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 39: After Nehru... > Appendices ✫ 811 > p. 811
2. [2] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 22: Nationalist Response in the Wake of World War II > Ideas on Economy > p. 426