Strict Vegetarian Diet
Consumed only plant-based foods, avoiding meat, eggs, and alcohol. Prioritized seasonal vegetables, fruits, and whole grains like wheat and millets.
Daily Fasting Rituals
Regularly abstained from solid foods for spiritual clarity and physical detoxification. Often consumed only fruit juices or water during fasts.
4 AM Morning Routine
Woke at dawn for prayer, meditation, and planning the day. Followed by physical labor like cleaning or gardening.
Manual Scavenging Practice
Personally cleaned toilets and waste areas to reject caste hierarchies. Advocated sanitation as a communal responsibility.
Khadi Spinning Daily
Spun cotton thread daily on a charkha (spinning wheel) to produce khadi cloth. Integrated this into morning/evening routines.
Minimum Material Possessions
Owned only essential items: a watch, spectacles, and writing materials. Rejected luxury goods and excess clothing.
Truthful Communication Pledge
Avoided lies and exaggeration in all interactions. Admitted mistakes publicly through writings and speeches.
Interfaith Study Sessions
Read scriptures from multiple religions daily, including the Bhagavad Gita, Quran, and Bible. Discussed teachings with diverse groups.
Silence Mondays
Observed a day of silence weekly to conserve energy for reflection. Communicated via written notes when necessary.
Cold Water Baths
Bathed with unheated water, even in winter. Practiced hydrotherapy for physical vigor.
Handwritten Correspondence
Wrote letters daily to activists, critics, and family. Authored over 50,000 pages on ethics, politics, and health.
Noonday Sun Exposure
Sat in direct sunlight for 10-15 minutes daily during massage or meditation. Believed it boosted vitality.
Proactive Fasting Apologies
Began fasts to atone for personal or communal errors. Continued until corrective actions were taken.
Village Sanitation Campaigns
Organized clean-water initiatives and waste management systems in rural areas. Trained locals in hygiene practices.
Milk Abstinence Vow
Avoided cow/buffalo milk for 6 years, substituting goat milk. Later resumed dairy for health reasons.
Evening Community Walks
Walked 5-8 km daily post-dinner with ashram members. Discussed social issues during strolls.
Native Language Advocacy
Spoke/wrote primarily in Gujarati and Hindi. Critiqued English-medium elitism in education.
Herbal Medicine Preference
Used neem, turmeric, and ashwagandha for minor ailments. Avoided synthetic drugs unless critically ill.
Pro-Black Clothing Choice
Wore only hand-spun white or black khadi. Avoided colored dyes as wasteful.
Non-Ownership of Homes
Lived in ashrams or donated properties. Never purchased personal real estate.