The Concept of Human Liberation in Gandhi’s Social Philosophy and Balasuriya’s Social Theology

One reality that the world has battled with since ancient times is the reality of oppression and degradation of the human person. Oppression of one person by another or a group of persons by another group is a stack reality of life. People or persons who have been oppressed have often cried out for freedom or liberation from whatever oppresses them. The term “liberation” is a very common term that is heralded here and there. What is the real meaning of the term “liberation” or “human liberation?” It is not possible to examine all the shades of meanings and understanding that this term carries. The objective of this paper is to hermeneutically and analytically decipher and break open the meaning of the concept of human liberation as presented in some of the works of Mahatma Gandhi and Tissa Balaruisya. The paper will equally make a comparative appraisal of their understanding of human liberation in their teachings, advocacy, and practices. The paper finds and concludes that both of them were deeply involved in advocating and working for the liberation of human beings from social, political, economic, and other forms of oppression on earth, while they were open to the full liberation that can only be obtained in the hereafter